A/N: For those of you who are asking why he is in fifth position in the batting order. First of all, it is IPL. I don't put much importance on it; IPL is just entertainment.
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The atmosphere at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi was thick with tension. This was Qualifier 2 of the 2016 IPL season. The stakes could not be higher: the winner would board a flight to Bengaluru to face Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Grand Finale, while the loser's campaign would come to an abrupt, heartbreaking end.
Up in the commentary box, Ravi Shastri's booming voice set the tone for the evening.
"Welcome to the high-stakes business end of the Indian Premier League, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, it's a clash of titans. The defending champions, Gautam Gambhir's Kolkata Knight Riders—the men who lifted the silverware in 2015—are up against the most clinical bowling machine of the season, Siddanth Deva's Sunrisers Hyderabad!"
"It's a mouth-watering contest, Ravi," Harsha Bhogle chimed in, pointing toward the pitch animations on the screen. "The Kotla deck tonight looks like a paradise for batsmen. The groundsmen have shaved off every blade of grass. It's hard, it's flat, and the ball is going to fly. But there is a massive tactical variable tonight—heavy atmospheric moisture. The dew is expected to set in early, and that is going to make chasing a very attractive option."
Down on the pristine turf, the two captains stood alongside match referee Javagal Srinath and presenter Danny Morrison. Gautam Gambhir flipped the coin high into the air. Siddanth called heads. The coin bounced on the hard dirt and settled. Tails.
"Gautam, you've won the toss in this massive knockout game," Danny Morrison beamed, shoving the microphone forward. "What is KKR going to do tonight?"
"We're going to bowl first, Danny," Gambhir said, his expression completely locked in. "We've seen the weather reports, and the dew is going to be a major factor later in the evening. It's going to make gripping the ball very difficult for our spinners. We want to put them under pressure early, restrict them, and chase whatever they put up. We are playing our same proven eleven: myself, Robin, Manish, Suryakumar, Yusuf, Shakib, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Morne Morkel, and Umesh Yadav."
Morrison turned his attention to the Indian national vice captain. "Siddanth, you lose the flip, and you're setting a target. How do you assess this, and are there any changes?"
"No changes for us, Danny," Siddanth replied calmly, adjusting his Purple cap. "We are sticking with the exact same eleven: Shikhar, David, Kane, Sanju, myself, Ben Cutting, Deepak Hooda, Yuzi Chahal, Karn Sharma, Trent Boult, and Bhuvi. We would have preferred to bowl first as well given the conditions, but a knockout game is all about scoreboard pressure. We have the firepower to post a massive total, and we trust our bowling unit to defend whatever we put on the board."
High above the roaring Kotla crowd, in the VIP box, the atmosphere was a mix of nervous anticipation and loud banter.
"Delhi heat is ridiculous even at night," Sameer complained, grabbing a cold mocktail from the buffet spread. "I don't know how they are out there wearing helmets and full pads."
"They're elite athletes, Sameer, not couch potatoes," Arjun Reddy smirked.
Feroz chuckled, leaning against the glass partition.
Standing right next to him was Krithika, wearing a simple Orange top and jeans. Her eyes were fixed entirely on the pitch.
"You nervous, Krithi?" Riya asked, walking up beside her with Kavya and Anjali.
"A little," Krithika admitted softly. "Knockout games are always unpredictable."
"Oh, please," Anjali grinned, holding up her phone to capture the stadium atmosphere for her vlog. "Bava is going to hit them out of the park. Just watch."
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The white Kookaburra ball gleamed under the powerful floodlights as David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan strode out to the middle. Gambhir tossed the new ball to his premier fast bowler, Umesh Yadav.
Over 1: Umesh Yadav to David Warner
Ball 0.1: Umesh steamed in from the Pavilion End, delivering a fiery 143 km/h length ball slanting across Warner. The Australian opener watched it closely, offering a respectful leave.
Ball 0.2: Umesh corrected his line, angling it into the off-stump on a good length. Warner stepped across and solidly punched it to short cover. No run.
Ball 0.3: Umesh dragged his length back slightly. Warner anticipated the short ball, rocked back instantly, and violently pulled it through square leg for the first boundary of the match.
[Live Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"And he is away! Classic David Warner. He picks the length so early on this flat deck. If you bowl short tonight, you are asking for absolute trouble."
Ball 0.4: Umesh went full and wide, trying to entice an error. Warner aggressively sliced it down toward backward point, calling for a sharp single. Dhawan sprinted hard to complete the rotation.
Ball 0.5: Umesh delivered a rapid 145 km/h full delivery on the middle-stump line. Dhawan showed magnificent balance, leaning into a textbook cover drive that pierced the infield and raced away to the ropes.
Ball 0.6: Umesh bowled a tight, back-of-a-length ball on middle. Dhawan tucked it softly out to deep square leg, easily jogging across for a single to keep the strike for the next over.
Score: SRH 10/0
Morne Morkel took the ball from the other end, using his towering frame to extract steep, terrifying bounce.
Over 2: Morne Morkel to Shikhar Dhawan
Ball 1.1: Morkel hit the deck hard at 144 km/h. The ball reared up sharply toward Dhawan's chest. Dhawan calmly dropped his wrists, letting the ball carry through to Robin Uthappa.
Ball 1.2: Morkel went wide outside off. Dhawan flashed hard but missed the connection entirely.
Ball 1.3: Morkel targeted the off-stump. Dhawan checked his shot, pushing it gently to the right of mid-off for a quick single.
Ball 1.4: Morkel delivered a short ball aimed at the ribcage. Warner picked it up cleanly, hooking it fine down the leg side for a boundary.
Ball 1.5: Morkel attempted a full-pitched yorker. Warner cleared his front leg and smashed it powerfully back past the bowler, clearing the mid-on fielder with ease for a one-bounce four.
Ball 1.6: Morkel rolled his fingers over the seam, dropping the pace to 122 km/h. Warner adjusted quickly, tapping it toward point and scrambling across for a single to retain strike.
Score: SRH 20/0
The opening duo continued their calculated assault against the pace attack, lifting the score to 52/0 by the conclusion of the fifth over. Desperate to break the momentum, Gambhir brought on his mystery spinner, Sunil Narine.
Over 6: Sunil Narine to David Warner
Ball 5.1: Narine tossed up a carrom ball. Warner tried to play an expansive sweep but misread the variation. The ball struck his front pad. A massive appeal rose from the KKR camp, but the umpire shook his head—the ball had pitched outside leg.
Ball 5.2: Narine pushed this one flatter and quicker at 98 km/h. Warner forced it down to long-off for a single.
Ball 5.3: Narine floated a conventional off-break. Dhawan stepped out of his crease and knocked it down to long-on for a comfortable single.
Ball 5.4: Narine pulled his length back, darting it in quickly. Warner, eager to maximize the final powerplay over, backed away to carve it over extra cover. The ball gripped, took a thick outside edge, and flew straight into Uthappa's waiting gloves.
[Live Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"In the air... and taken! Narine provides the magic touch! Warner played a brilliant cameo, but Narine's deception wins this round. That is a massive wicket for KKR!"
(David Warner c Uthappa b Narine 35 off 17 balls)
Ball 5.5: Kane Williamson walked out at number three, stepping into the cauldron with his signature icy calm demeanor. Narine bowled a flawless line on off-stump. Williamson safely defended it.
Ball 5.6: Narine floated it wide. Williamson opened the face of his bat, guiding it toward short third man for a quick single to get off the mark.
Score: SRH 55/1
With the fielding restrictions lifted, Gambhir deployed Piyush Chawla and Shakib Al Hasan to squeeze the run rate. Williamson and Dhawan accumulated runs methodically, treating the spin duo with respect and relying on pristine strike rotation.
But in the eleventh over, Dhawan decided to break the shackles. Facing Chawla, Dhawan danced down the track, attempting a massive launch over long-on. He didn't get under the ball properly; it hovered high toward the boundary line where Andre Russell judged it perfectly to take the catch. Dhawan was gone for 42 off 31 balls.
Sanju Samson strode out at number four with clear instructions to keep the pressure on. He showed immediate intent, striking two beautiful boundaries off Shakib, but his cameo was violently cut short in the thirteenth over by Umesh Yadav. Hurried by a 144 km/h bouncer, Samson top-edged a pull shot directly to Uthappa, falling for 12.
SRH was suddenly 112/3 with 45 balls left in the innings.
The Kotla crowd erupted into a thunderous, rolling roar. In the VIP box, Anjali grabbed Krithika's arm and shook it excitedly. "Here he comes! Show time!"
"And here walks the captain. You can feel the electricity, Ravi! Let's not forget the history here. Rewind to the 2014 IPL Final—the intense, bitter rivalry between Gautam Gambhir, Shakib Al Hasan, and Siddanth Deva. The KKR camp remembers exactly what Deva did to them to snatch that trophy. Gambhir has immediately brought his fielders inside the circle to apply the squeeze."
Siddanth didn't jog; he walked to the crease with measured steps, his eyes analyzing Gambhir's attacking field placements.
Ball 12.4: Umesh bowled a high-pace delivery wide outside off. Siddanth opened the face of his bat cleanly, guiding it to third man for an easy single to get off the mark.
Ball 12.5: Umesh aimed for the pads. Williamson flicked it elegantly into the gap at deep mid-wicket for a single.
Ball 12.6: Umesh unleashed a 147 km/h yorker right at the toes. Siddanth brought his bat down with blinding speed, digging it out to mid-on. No run.
Score: SRH 114/3
Gambhir brought Piyush Chawla back for the fourteenth over, desperate to remove Siddanth before he could settle. It was a tactical gamble that spectacularly backfired.
Over 14: Piyush Chawla to Kane Williamson
Ball 13.1: Chawla delivered a wrong'un. Williamson picked it cleanly from the hand, pushing it into cover for a sharp single.
Ball 13.2: Chawla tossed it up full outside off. Siddanth stepped into it beautifully, executing an exquisite cover drive that effortlessly beat the sweeper to the boundary.
Ball 13.3: Chawla pulled his length back to adjust. Siddanth rocked back instantly, punching it through extra cover for a hard-run brace.
Ball 13.4: Chawla bowled a flatter delivery on leg stump. Siddanth tucked it away safely into the mid-wicket pocket for a single.
Ball 13.5: Chawla floated it up. Williamson leaned forward, driving it down to long-on to rotate the strike.
Ball 13.6: Chawla made the mistake of dropping it short. Siddanth swiveled on his back foot in a flash, generating terrifying bat speed purely from his wrists, and launched the ball a massive 85 meters into the deep square leg stands for a colossal six.
"What an authoritative shot! He might be officially off the market after that internet-breaking proposal video, but out here in the middle, Siddanth Deva is still making bowlers pay a very heavy price!"
Score: SRH 129/3
The boundary scoring exploded. Siddanth and Williamson targeted the middle overs with surgical precision. They milked Shakib for 14 runs in the fifteenth, and took Morne Morkel apart for 15 runs in the sixteenth.
Gambhir, looking increasingly panicked, threw the ball to his ultimate death-overs specialist, Andre Russell, for the seventeenth over.
Over 17: Andre Russell to Kane Williamson
Ball 16.1: Russell charged in, banging a heavy slower ball into the surface. Williamson mistimed the pull, sending it down to deep square leg for a single.
Ball 16.2: Russell nailed a 141 km/h yorker on off-stump. Siddanth jammed his bat down, getting an inside edge onto his pads and scrambling for a sharp single.
Ball 16.3: Russell targeted the base of the stumps again. Williamson backed away to access the off-side but was completely beaten by the late tailing movement. The ball smashed into the leg stump.
[Live Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Bowled him! Russell strikes! He hits the base of the leg stump! Williamson departs for a highly valuable 46, but KKR are bleeding runs at the other end."
(Kane Williamson b Russell 46 off 29 balls)
Ball 16.4: Ben Cutting walked out to join his captain. Russell greeted him with a sharp bouncer. Cutting dipped his head, letting it sail through.
Ball 16.5: Russell bowled a full delivery. Cutting drilled it hard down to long-on for a single to get off strike.
Ball 16.6: Russell tried a wide yorker to Siddanth. Siddanth anticipated it perfectly, shuffling across his crease and slicing it behind point for a boundary.
Score: SRH 165/4
With only 18 balls left, Siddanth went into absolute hyper-drive.
Over 18: Umesh Yadav to Siddanth Deva
Ball 17.1: Umesh bowled a length ball at 144 km/h. Siddanth stepped out, converted it into a half-volley, and smoked it flat and hard over the bowler's head. The ball crashed violently into the sight screen for six.
Ball 17.2: Umesh attempted a wide yorker. Siddanth stretched out his arms, squeezing it past backward point for a quick double.
Ball 17.3: Umesh, feeling the immense pressure, tried a slower variation. Siddanth read it from the hand, waited patiently on his back foot, and launched it deep into the mid-wicket stands for another massive six.
Ball 17.4: Umesh missed his yorker, serving a low full toss on the pads. Siddanth flicked it off his wrists effortlessly over fine leg for a boundary, bringing up a sensational half-century in just 19 balls.
Ball 17.5: Umesh executed a decent wide yorker. Siddanth dug it out toward cover, jogging across for a single.
Ball 17.6: Umesh went full to Cutting, who hammered it down to long-on for a single to keep Siddanth on strike.
Score: SRH 185/4
In the VIP box, Sameer was high-fiving Feroz, while Krithika watched with a soft smile.
Over 19: Andre Russell to Siddanth Deva
Ball 18.1: Russell went for a wide yorker. Siddanth shuffled outside off and inventively scooped it over short fine leg for a boundary.
Ball 18.2: Russell delivered a furious bouncer. Siddanth didn't flinch, pulling it cleanly over the backward square leg rope into the crowd for a towering six.
At the non-striker's end, Ben Cutting just leaned on his bat and shook his head in disbelief, realizing he was batting alongside an alien. The broadcast cameras quickly cut to the SRH ownership table in the stands, showing Kavya Maran standing on her feet, clapping enthusiastically with a massive, delighted smile as her captain decimated the KKR attack.
Ball 18.3: Russell tried a slower cutter. Siddanth read it early, waited on his back foot, and punched it past extra cover for another boundary.
Ball 18.4: Russell hit a good length on middle. Siddanth drove it firmly to long-on for a single.
Ball 18.5: Russell bowled a full toss. Cutting smashed it down to long-off for a single.
Ball 18.6: Russell executed a solid blockhole delivery. Siddanth dug it out smoothly to long-on, sprinting hard for a single to keep the strike.
Score: SRH 202/4
The crowd was deafening as Morne Morkel took the ball for the final six deliveries.
Over 20: Morne Morkel to Siddanth Deva
Ball 19.1: Morkel fired a high chest bouncer to start. Siddanth hooked it powerfully over fine leg for a maximum.
Ball 19.2: Morkel went full and wide next. Siddanth stepped across, opening the face to slice it beautifully over point for a boundary.
Ball 19.3: Morkel attempted a slower bouncer. Siddanth stood tall, slapping it over mid-off for another boundary.
Ball 19.4: Morkel executed a perfect yorker. Siddanth jammed his bat down, squeezing it to long-on and pushing Cutting for an intense double.
Ball 19.5: Morkel bowled a low full toss. Siddanth stepped out, clearing his front leg to launch it over long-on for a towering six.
Ball 19.6: On the final ball, Morkel went wide and slow. Siddanth reached out, sweeping it cleanly over cover for a final boundary.
[Live Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"An incredible, unbeaten 82 off just 31 deliveries from the captain! Sunrisers Hyderabad finish with a monstrous 230 for 4! Kolkata Knight Riders are going to need a miracle to chase this down."
Second Innings
The required run rate stood at a massive 11.55 runs per over before a single ball was even bowled. Heavy dew had begun to coat the grass blades, making the outfield incredibly slick. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa walked out with an impossible mountain to climb.
Over 1: Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Gautam Gambhir
Ball 0.1: Bhuvi found a hint of swing despite the moisture, pitching on a good length outside off. Gambhir watched it pass.
Ball 0.2: Bhuvi bowled slightly fuller. Gambhir stepped out and lofted it cleanly over covers for a boundary.
Ball 0.3: Bhuvi adjusted, pulling his length back. Gambhir defended it to mid-off.
Ball 0.4: Bhuvi targeted middle stump. Gambhir tucked it to square leg for a quick single.
Ball 0.5: Uthappa on strike. Bhuvi delivered an immaculate outswinger. Uthappa flashed hard but was beaten.
Ball 0.6: Bhuvi hit a tight line on off-stump. Uthappa pushed it to point. No run.
Score: KKR 5/0
Trent Boult operated from the other end at an express 145 km/h. The sheer pressure of the scoreboard bore down instantly. In the third over, trying to force Bhuvi over the top, Gambhir was completely trapped by a late-dipping inswinger that struck his pad dead in front. The umpire's finger rose immediately. Gambhir was gone for 12.
In the fifth over, Boult produced a 146 km/h inswinging thunderbolt that bypassed Uthappa's defense entirely, sending his off-stump cartwheeling. KKR crawled to 42/2 by the end of the powerplay.
Siddanth brought himself into the attack for the seventh over.
[Live Commentary - Harsha Bhogle]:"Here comes the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. The dew is heavy, but Siddanth Deva doesn't rely on swing; he relies on terrifying pace. Let's see how Manish Pandey handles this."
Over 7: Siddanth Deva to Manish Pandey
Ball 6.1: Siddanth roared in, unleashing a brutal 152 km/h hard length ball. Pandey defended solidly off his back foot.
Ball 6.2: Siddanth dialed up the pace to 154 km/h on an off-stump line. Pandey searched for a guide to third man but missed the edge by a fraction.
Ball 6.3: Siddanth executed a sharp, rising bouncer. Pandey dropped underneath it quickly.
Ball 6.4: Siddanth went fuller. Pandey drove it crisply to deep extra cover for a single.
Ball 6.5: Suryakumar Yadav on strike. Siddanth bowled a heavy, tailing delivery at 155 km/h. Suryakumar tucked it awkwardly off his ribs to square leg for a single.
Ball 6.6: Siddanth closed the over with a pinpoint yorker. Pandey managed to jam his bat down, squeezing it to mid-on. No run.
Score: KKR 44/2
Siddanth gave away just two runs in his opening over. The pressure was suffocating. He returned for his second over in the ninth.
Over 9: Siddanth Deva to Manish Pandey
Ball 8.1: Siddanth started with a 154 km/h delivery angled into Pandey's pads. Pandey flicked it to deep square leg for a single.
Ball 8.2: Siddanth targeted Yusuf Pathan with a fiery bouncer. Pathan executed a hurried pull, top-edging it toward fine leg, but the ball landed safely in a vacant pocket for a single.
Ball 8.3: Siddanth hit a good length, seaming it away cleanly. Pandey left it alone.
Ball 8.4: Siddanth bowled a full, straight delivery. Pandey pushed it toward mid-off, scrambling for an incredibly tight single.
Ball 8.5: Siddanth targeted Pathan's toes with a blistering 151 km/h yorker. Pathan did well to dig it out for a single.
Ball 8.6: Siddanth bowled a 156 km/h delivery on middle. Desperate to find a boundary to release the pressure, Pandey advanced down the track to loft it straight. He mistimed it completely against the pace; the ball soared high toward mid-on where Kane Williamson ran back to take a brilliantly judged catch.
[Live Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"Wicket! The pressure gets to him! Manish Pandey tried to take on the pace but is caught in the deep! KKR are sliding fast!"
(Manish Pandey c Williamson b Deva 18)
Score: KKR 55/4
Chahal and Karn Sharma bowled tightly through the middle overs, using the massive scoreboard pressure to tie the batsmen in knots. Karn Sharma got Shakib Al Hasan stumped in the twelfth over, bringing the dangerous Andre Russell to the crease.
Siddanth brought himself back for his third over in the thirteenth to lock things down.
Over 13: Siddanth Deva to Andre Russell
Ball 12.1: Siddanth steamed in and delivered a perfect, 152 km/h yorker. Russell barely got his bat down in time, blocking it back to the bowler.
Ball 12.2: Siddanth bowled a sharp bouncer that climbed over the shoulder. Russell swayed out of the way.
Ball 12.3: Siddanth delivered a wide slower cutter at 120 km/h. Russell swung hard but met only thin air.
Ball 12.4: Siddanth went back to high pace, a 151 km/h length ball. Russell fiercely punched it to cover for a single.
Ball 12.5: Yusuf Pathan on strike. Siddanth offered a low full toss on the pads. Pathan clipped it away to deep square leg for a single.
Ball 12.6: Siddanth completed the over with another unplayable yorker to Russell. No run.
Score: KKR 74/5
With the required rate crossing an impossible 22 runs per over, Siddanth returned to bowl his final over in the fifteenth.
Over 15: Siddanth Deva to Andre Russell
Ball 14.1: Siddanth fired a 152 km/h yorker right at the base of middle stump. Russell scrambled to block.
Ball 14.2: Siddanth hurled a rapid bouncer. Russell attempted a massive pull, but the sheer pace beat the rotation of his bat.
Ball 14.3: Siddanth hit a good length outside off. Russell slashed it hard down to deep point for a single.
Ball 14.4: Pathan worked a full delivery down to long-on for a single.
Ball 14.5: Russell back on strike. Siddanth sprinted in, his release absolutely flawless. He delivered a 151 km/h ball that pitched on middle and seamed away sharply to click the top of off-stump, bypassing Russell's defensive block entirely. The off-stump cartwheeled violently out of the ground.
[Live Commentary - Ravi Shastri]:"Clean bowled! Absolute genius from Siddanth Deva! Andre Russell has been completely beaten for pace and late movement. That is a thunderbolt! A masterclass in fast bowling!"
(Andre Russell b Deva 15)
Ball 14.6: Sunil Narine walked out. Siddanth fired a rapid yorker that Narine managed to squeeze out to point for a single.
Score: KKR 82/6
Siddanth finished his magnificent four-over spell with figures of 2/12. On a pitch where his team scored 230, he conceded at an economy of just 3.00.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Trent Boult returned to systematically close out the remaining overs, picking up Yusuf Pathan and Sunil Narine. KKR's lower order managed to drag the total to a dismal 124/8 by the end of their 20 overs, falling completely short of the mark.
As the final delivery ended in a dot ball, the Sunrisers players gathered in the center, sharing relaxed smiles and handshakes.
[Live Commentary - Sunil Gavaskar]:"And the defending champions are officially out of the race! Sunrisers Hyderabad win Qualifier 2 by a massive 106 runs! A majestic total set up by their captain's unbeaten 82, backed by a clinical, suffocating bowling performance. Siddanth Deva's men are marching straight into the Grand Finale."
Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings: 230/4 (20 Overs)
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: 124/8 (20 Overs)
SIDDANTH DEVA
Batting
82* Runs (31 Balls) — 6 Fours, 6 Sixes
Bowling
4.0 Overs — 12 Runs — 2 Wickets (Econ: 3.00)