Date: October 10, 2013
Location: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot, Gujarat
Event: One-Off T20I, India vs. Australia
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot was a vibrant, deafening bowl of noise. Over twenty-five thousand fans had packed into the stands, waving the Indian tricolor. The air was warm and humid, typical of a Gujarat evening in October, but a slight breeze swept across the lush green outfield.
This one-off T20 International marked the official beginning of the highly anticipated limited-overs series against George Bailey's Australian side.
High up in the broadcasting box, the commentary team looked down at the freshly rolled 22 yards.
"A very warm welcome to everyone joining us from around the world," Harsha Bhogle's voice kicked off the broadcast. "We are in Rajkot for what promises to be an absolute blockbuster of a T20 match. India taking on Australia. The rivalry between these two sides has only intensified over the last few years. I am joined by Sunil Gavaskar and Ian Bishop. Sunny, looking at this pitch, the batsmen must be licking their lips."
"Absolutely, Harsha," Sunil Gavaskar agreed, evaluating the surface. "It is a typical Rajkot wicket. Flat, hard, and offering very little to the bowlers. The ball will come onto the bat beautifully. The boundaries here are relatively short, too. We are in for a high-scoring contest."
"The critical factor today will be the dew," Ian Bishop added from the other side of the desk. "As the evening progresses, the outfield will get wet. The team bowling second is going to struggle to grip the ball. The toss is going to be incredibly important."
Down in the middle, Ravi Shastri stood by the pitch with the two captains: MS Dhoni and George Bailey.
"Welcome to the center for the toss," Shastri's voice boomed over the stadium speakers. "George Bailey has the coin. MS Dhoni to call."
Bailey flipped the coin high into the air.
"Tails," Dhoni called out.
The coin landed on the pitch. The match referee peered down. "It is tails. India wins the toss."
"MS, you've won the toss. What are you going to do?" Shastri asked.
"We are going to bowl first, Ravi," Dhoni answered simply. "The pitch looks fantastic for batting, but there is a heavy dew expected later in the evening. We prefer to chase and know exactly what target is in front of us."
"Your team is coming off a great warm-up camp. What is your playing eleven today?"
"We have Shikhar and Rohit opening," Dhoni confirmed. "Virat, Siddanth, Suresh, Yuvraj Singh makes his return to the side today, myself, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bhuvi, and Ishant."
"Thanks, MS. George, you are batting first. Would you have bowled as well?"
"Probably, yes," Bailey smiled easily. "The dew is a factor, but setting a total on a good wicket has its own advantages. We have some explosive guys at the top of the order. If we can get off to a flyer, we can put scoreboard pressure on them. Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson will open for us."
"Best of luck to both captains. We are ready for action."
---
The umpires walked out to the middle, followed by the Indian fielding unit. MS Dhoni set his field, pushing his fielders to the edge of the 30-yard circle.
Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson strode out to the crease.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the new ball.
"Here we go," Harsha Bhogle announced. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Aaron Finch. The crowd is absolutely buzzing."
Bhuvneshwar started well, finding a hint of inward movement. But Finch was in a brutal mood. In the second over, facing Ishant Sharma, Finch stepped out of his crease and lofted a length delivery clean over long-off for the first six of the match.
Maddinson followed suit, cutting Bhuvneshwar past point for a boundary.
The Australian openers utilized the Powerplay restrictions flawlessly. They hit through the line of the ball, targeting the straight boundaries. By the end of the fourth over, Australia had raced to 42 for no loss.
MS Dhoni realized the pace bowlers were struggling to contain the aggression on the flat deck. He signaled for a bowling change, tossing the ball to Siddanth Deva for the fifth over.
"Siddanth Deva comes into the attack," Ian Bishop noted. "First change for India. He has genuine pace, but he will need to be very precise here. Finch is looking incredibly dangerous."
Siddanth marked his run-up. Finch, having played under Siddanth's captaincy for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL just a few months prior, grinned and tapped the pitch.
"Go easy on your IPL opener, Skip," Finch called out playfully, resting his bat on his shoulder. "We're on the same side in April."
Siddanth offered a slight, knowing smile as he tossed the white ball from hand to hand.
"It's October, Aaron," Siddanth replied. "And you're wearing yellow."
Siddanth ran in and hit the deck hard. He bowled a rapid 142 kmph back-of-a-length delivery, angling it sharply into Finch's body. Finch, cramped for room by his franchise captain, could only tuck it toward square leg for a single.
Maddinson came on strike. The young left-hander tried to make room by backing away to the leg side. Siddanth anticipated the movement. He followed the batsman, bowling a sharp, rising delivery aimed at the ribcage. Maddinson attempted an awkward pull shot, but the ball hurried onto him. It took the top edge and ballooned into the air.
MS Dhoni jogged forward from behind the stumps and took a simple catch.
"Caught! Deva strikes in his first over!" Gavaskar called out. "Excellent bowling. He saw Maddinson backing away and followed him with a sharp, rising delivery. India gets the breakthrough they desperately needed."
Nic Maddinson: c Dhoni b Deva 12 (16)
Despite the wicket, Aaron Finch refused to slow down. Shane Watson joined him at the crease, and the two Australians launched a counter-attack against the Indian spinners.
R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja found it incredibly difficult to grip the ball as the dew settled heavily on the outfield earlier than expected. Between every single delivery, the spinners were aggressively wiping the soap-like white leather with a dry towel. It was a stark reality check of exactly why MS Dhoni had chosen to chase.
Finch swept Ashwin powerfully into the stands, while Watson drove forcefully through the covers.
In the 9th over, Finch stepped back and absolutely hammered a drive toward the deep point boundary. It looked like a certain four, but Ravindra Jadeja, playing on his home Saurashtra turf, sprinted across the grass and executed a breathtaking, full-length diving stop right on the boundary rope, saving three crucial runs.
The Rajkot crowd erupted, chanting, "Jaddu! Jaddu!" proving that a massive fielding effort could shift the momentum just as much as a wicket.
Finch brought up his half-century in just 27 balls, raising his bat to the applauding Australian dressing room.
"Finch is putting on a clinic here in Rajkot," Harsha Bhogle observed as the score reached 110 for 1 in the 11th over. "He is hitting the ball incredibly clean. The Indian bowlers are searching for answers."
Shane Watson played a brief, aggressive cameo of 22 before he tried to clear the long-on boundary against Jadeja and was safely caught by Shikhar Dhawan.
Glenn Maxwell walked out to the middle. Known as 'The Big Show', Maxwell immediately began employing his unorthodox reverse sweeps and switch-hits, constantly disrupting the bowlers' lengths.
By the 15th over, Australia had compiled a massive 155 for 2. They were targeting a score well past 200.
MS Dhoni brought Siddanth back into the attack for the death overs.
"Take the pace off, Sid," Dhoni advised as he handed him the ball. "The ball is getting wet, but the pitch is still holding up slightly if you roll your fingers."
Siddanth nodded. He bowled the 16th over to Maxwell.
Siddanth knew Maxwell was obsessed with the reverse sweep. Before his run-up, Siddanth deliberately waved Bhuvneshwar Kumar at short third man back by five yards, making the gap look incredibly inviting.
On the very first delivery, Maxwell attempted his trademark reverse sweep. But Siddanth didn't bowl full; he bowled a wide, 125 kmph off-cutter.
Maxwell, cramped by the lack of pace, threw his hands at it, catching a thick top edge. The ball went high into the night sky, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar settled under it for a comfortable catch right where he had been moved.
"Got him! Deva removes the dangerous Maxwell!" Ian Bishop shouted. "Brilliant variation in pace and a fantastic field trap. He kept the ball away from Maxwell's hitting arc, and it pays off."
Glenn Maxwell: c Kumar b Deva 17 (11)
George Bailey walked out to the middle to join Finch. He immediately adopted his famously unorthodox, completely closed batting stance, practically pointing his back toward the bowler.
MS Dhoni adjusted his fielders, looking at the Australian captain's bizarre setup.
"I still have absolutely no idea where he's looking when he stands like that," Dhoni muttered casually to Siddanth at first slip.
Up in the box, Harsha Bhogle echoed the sentiment. "George Bailey turning his back to the bowler again. It defies all coaching manuals, but it somehow works for him."
Finch, however, continued his onslaught at the other end. He moved into the eighties, punishing Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 17th and 18th overs.
In the 19th over, Siddanth returned for his final six deliveries. Finch was on strike, batting on a spectacular 88.
Siddanth didn't bother with variations this time. He ran in with explosive power, hitting his delivery stride perfectly. He bowled a fast, 144 kmph yorker on the first ball, which Finch could only dig out for a single. George Bailey managed a single on the next ball.
On the third delivery, Siddanth delivered a beautifully disguised slower bouncer. Finch went for a massive pull shot, but the lack of pace meant he was through his shot entirely too early. The ball caught the toe of the bat and lobbed gently back to Siddanth, who completed an easy return catch.
"Caught and bowled! Finch falls for 89!" Harsha Bhogle announced over the cheering crowd. "A fantastic innings comes to an end, but Siddanth Deva has done a magnificent job pulling things back for India. That is his third wicket of the night."
Aaron Finch: c & b Deva 89 (52)
Siddanth finished his four-over spell with excellent figures of 3 for 28.
In the final over, Ishant Sharma conceded a few boundaries to James Faulkner, but India managed to keep the Australian total just under the 200-run mark.
AUSTRALIA: 195/5 (20 Overs)
"A very formidable total posted by Australia," Sunil Gavaskar summarized during the innings break. "195 is a massive score, even on a flat track like this. Aaron Finch was spectacular. Siddanth Deva was the pick of the bowlers for India, picking up three crucial wickets to stop the score from reaching 210. The dew is definitely heavily set on the grass now, which will aid the Indian batsmen, but chasing nearly ten runs an over from the start is going to require a very special effort."
---
Inside the Indian dressing room, the atmosphere was focused. MS Dhoni kept the instructions simple.
"The outfield is wet, the ball will skid nicely onto the bat," Dhoni told his team. "We need a strong powerplay. Use the pace of the ball, find the gaps, and build the platform early."
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma walked out to open the run chase.
Clint McKay and Nathan Coulter-Nile took the new balls for Australia. The Indian openers started with clear, aggressive intent right from the first delivery. Dhawan found the boundary in the first over, driving McKay beautifully through the covers. Rohit Sharma looked exceptionally elegant, picking the gaps on the leg side with effortless flicks.
"It is a beautiful contrast of styles at the crease today," Sunil Gavaskar pointed out on the commentary. "Look at Shikhar Dhawan. He is slashing hard, grunting with effort, and physically muscling the ball through the covers. And then you look at Rohit Sharma. He barely seems to swing his bat. He uses pure timing and that famous 'extra second' he seems to possess to effortlessly flick the ball into the stands. It is pure, lazy elegance."
The pair raced to 65 for no loss by the end of the Powerplay, bringing the massive Rajkot crowd to its feet.
"This is exactly the start India needed," Harsha Bhogle noted. "The openers have taken the sting out of the Australian new ball attack. They are cruising at over ten runs an over."
But in the 7th over, Clint McKay found his length. He bowled a tight delivery that jagged slightly off the seam. Dhawan, attempting an expansive square cut, got a thick outside edge. Brad Haddin took a comfortable catch behind the stumps.
"Edged and gone! McKay strikes!" Bishop called out. "Dhawan played a blistering knock, but that was a loose shot. Australia finally breaks the opening stand."
Shikhar Dhawan: c Haddin b McKay 38 (21)
Virat Kohli walked in at number three. The Delhi batsman immediately got busy, whipping his second delivery for a boundary through mid-wicket. Kohli and Rohit maintained the aggressive tempo, continuously rotating the strike and punishing any bad balls. Kohli hit a rapid 25 to keep the required run rate well under control before attempting to clear long-off against Coulter-Nile and finding Aaron Finch inside the circle.
Virat Kohli: c Finch b Coulter-Nile 25 (15)
The score was 105 for 2 in the 11th over.
Siddanth Deva walked down the pavilion steps, his heavy bat in hand, taking his place at the crease alongside Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, batting on a beautifully constructed half-century, continued to anchor the innings. He pushed the score to 125 before mistiming a lofted drive off Shane Watson in the 13th over, safely caught at mid-off.
"A brilliant innings from Rohit Sharma comes to an end," Sunil Gavaskar praised as the opener walked off. "52 off 35 balls. He has set a magnificent platform for the middle order. The required run rate is completely under control now. India needs 71 runs from 42 balls."
Rohit Sharma: c Faulkner b Watson 52 (35)
Yuvraj Singh, making his highly emotional comeback to the national side, walked out down the pavilion steps.
The Rajkot crowd rose to their feet, giving the beloved veteran a deafening, sustained standing ovation. The noise washed over the stadium, a beautiful tribute to a man who had fought his way back to the blue jersey.
Siddanth Deva, waiting at the non-striker's end, tapped his bat on the pitch as Yuvraj arrived at the crease.
"Welcome back, Yuvi bhai," Siddanth smiled warmly, stepping aside to let him take his guard. "The stage is yours."
With the platform firmly set, the middle order had the freedom to attack.
Yuvraj Singh looked in sublime touch. He took the initiative, lofting Xavier Doherty for a massive six over mid-wicket. Siddanth matched him perfectly, rotating the strike and aggressively punishing James Faulkner with consecutive boundaries through the off-side.
"This is a beautiful partnership," Ian Bishop boomed. "Yuvraj is turning back the clock, and Deva is just effortlessly piercing the gaps. They are making this chase look like a walk in the park."
Yuvraj raced to a blistering 42 off just 20 deliveries, hitting three towering sixes before getting caught behind off Shane Watson in the 17th over.
Yuvraj Singh: c Haddin b Watson 42 (20)
MS Dhoni walked out to join his Vice-Captain. India needed just 12 runs off the final 18 balls.
Siddanth, batting on a rapid 24, decided to finish it quickly. Dhoni walked up, tapping the pitch. "12 off 18? Let's just finish it this over. I'm hungry and the hotel is serving good butter chicken tonight."
Siddanth just nodded. In the 18th over, facing Clint McKay, Siddanth stepped across his stumps and scooped a full delivery over short fine leg for a boundary. On the fourth ball of the over, he stood tall and punched a back-of-a-length delivery straight down the ground for another crisp four.
In the 19th over, Dhoni finished the match with a trademark boundary through mid-wicket.
INDIA: 197/4 (18.4 Overs)
Siddanth Deva: 45 Not Out
MS Dhoni: 8 Not Out (3 balls)
The Indian dressing room stood up, applauding the clinical finish. The top order had laid a flawless foundation, and the middle order had executed the chase with ruthless efficiency.
---
The presentation ceremony was held on the edge of the outfield, the stadium floodlights cutting through the warm night air.
Ravi Shastri stood at the podium. "What a fantastic run chase we have witnessed here in Rajkot! India chases down 196 with ease against a quality Australian attack. I have with me the Man of the Match, for a beautiful half-century that set the perfect platform... Rohit Sharma!"
Rohit walked up, grinning widely, and accepted the trophy.
"Rohit, 52 off 35 balls. You made it look effortless out there tonight. How did it feel?"
"It felt great, Ravi," Rohit smiled. "The pitch was fantastic for batting, the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. Shikhar and I just wanted to give the team a strong start in the Powerplay because we knew chasing nearly ten an over could get tricky later on. We hit a few boundaries early, and that took the pressure off the middle order."
"A brilliant knock. Congratulations, Rohit."
Shastri then called up MS Dhoni for the captain's interview.
"MS, chasing 196 is never easy in T20 cricket, but your top order made it look like a stroll in the park."
Dhoni adjusted the microphone, his expression calm. "It was a very good performance, Ravi. The bowlers pulled it back nicely in the last few overs. Siddanth bowled a crucial spell to get those three wickets, which restricted them from going past 210. In the chase, the openers gave us a great start. Rohit and Shikhar took all the pressure off, and then Yuvraj and Sid finished it very clinically."
"You take a lot of momentum into the ODI series now."
"Yes, it's a good start," Dhoni nodded. "The ODI series will be a different challenge, but the boys are looking in good touch. We just have to keep executing our plans."
The limited-overs series had officially begun, and India had firmly drawn first blood.
[SIDDANTH DEVA MATCH STATS: Batting: 45 (29 balls) | Bowling: 3 for 28 (4 overs)]*