The "debutant" label peeled off Siddanth Deva like old skin. In the span of a week, he had transitioned from the bench-warming tactical messenger to the regular on the team sheet.
The Deccan Chargers were no longer the "Deccan Floppers." They were a team that had found its balance. And at the fulcrum of that balance was Siddanth.
Match 6: (vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Location: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
"Welcome to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium!" Harsha Bhogle's voice was warm and infectious over the broadcast. "The narrative today isn't just about the points table; it's about the future of Indian cricket. Two young men, friends, teammates just a month ago in Malaysia, now standing on opposite sides of the battle line. Virat Kohli for the Challengers, Siddanth Deva for the Chargers. The Battle of the Blue Colts!"
RCB, batting first, had started poorly. Their opener had fallen to RP Singh in the first over.
Out walked Virat Kohli. He walked out with the swagger of a man who owned the stadium. He marked his guard, spun his bat, and looked up at Siddanth. A small, competitive smirk played on Kohli's lips.
Siddanth didn't smile back. He adjusted his grip on the white Kookaburra.
"Here we go," Ravi Shastri's voice boomed. "Deva with the new ball. Kohli on strike. This is what the crowd paid to see. Pace versus attitude."
Ball 1: Siddanth ran in. Length ball, shaping away.
Kohli connected beautifully, a crisp punch through the covers. Four.
"Shot!" Shastri yelled. "Don't bowl there to him! That is bread and butter for the young man from Delhi. He leans into it and says, 'Thank you very much!'"
Ball 2: Siddanth went shorter. 148kph.
Kohli swiveled and pulled it along the ground to deep square leg. Two runs.
"He's picking the length early," Sunil Gavaskar noted. "Kohli is standing outside the crease, negating the swing. Deva needs to think here. Pace alone won't rattle him."
Siddanth walked back. He activated Predator's Focus (Lv. 2).
Okay, Virat. You want to play on the front foot? Let's see how your balance holds.
Ball 3: Siddanth ran in. He bowled the "Heavy Ball." Back of a length, hitting the deck hard at 145kph, aimed at the splice.
Kohli, expecting full or short, was caught in between. The ball jagged back, cramping him. It hit the inside edge with a jarring thud and died on the pitch.
"Ooh, that's a nasty one," Harsha said. "Bit of extra bounce, nipping back in. Kohli looked a bit hurried there. That's the 'heavy ball' the fast bowlers talk about."
Ball 4: The Trap.
Siddanth widened his angle on the crease. He ran in and floated one up. 150kph, but wide. A tempting half-volley outside off-stump.
It screamed, Drive me.
Kohli's eyes lit up. He threw his hands at it.
But Siddanth had used Sleight of Hand to impart backspin. The ball held in the pitch. Kohli was early.
The ball flew off the thick outside edge, high to point. Herschelle Gibbs didn't even have to dive.
OUT. Virat Kohli c. Gibbs b. Deva 6.
"GONE! HE'S GONE!" Danny Morrison screamed into the mic. "The trap was set, the bait was taken, and the fish is in the net! Deva threw it wide, tempted the drive, and Kohli couldn't resist! Gibbs swallows it! The Hyderabad crowd goes beserk! Deva wins the first round!"
Siddanth just stood there, giving Kohli a small, polite nod. Kohli shook his head, a rueful smile breaking through, and walked off.
DC restricted RCB to 140. In the chase, Gilchrist smashed 60. Siddanth came in at the death.
He faced Zaheer Khan. He shuffled across and scooped him over fine leg.
"Oh, stop it!" Harsha laughed. "That is audacious! Facing India's premier fast bowler, and he plays the 'dil-scoop'! This boy has no fear!"
Result: Deccan Chargers Won by 6 wickets.
The Post-Match:
The teams mingled. A heavy arm draped around Siddanth's neck.
"You planned that, didn't you?" Kohli growled, headlocking him.
"Planned what?" Siddanth laughed.
"That wide half-volley. You knew I'd go for it."
"I just put the ball there, Virat," Siddanth grinned. "You hit it to Herschelle."
Kohli punched his arm. "Enjoy it. Next time... I'm hitting that ball into the parking lot. See you soon."
"See you soon," Siddanth murmurred.
Match 7: (vs. Chennai Super Kings)
Location: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk
If RCB was a brawl, Chennai was a chess match in a sauna. The humidity was oppressive. The yellow sea of fans was deafening.
Dhoni won the toss and batted. The CSK openers, Matthew Hayden and Stephen Fleming, were giants.
Siddanth came on as first change. 40 for 0 in 5 overs. Hayden was walking down the track.
"Here comes the young sensation," Laxman Sivaramakrishnan said on commentary. "But this is a different challenge. Matthew Hayden is imposing. He stands out of his crease and bullies bowlers. Deva needs to be smart."
Siddanth vs. Hayden:
Don't bowl short to Hayden. Bowl at his toes.
Siddanth bowled 151kph.
He fired a laser-guided yorker at Hayden's boots. Hayden dug it out hurriedly.
"That is rapid," Ravi Shastri noted. "151 clicks. And right at the base. Hayden had to hurry."
Two balls later. Siddanth ran in. Same action. 110kph slower ball.
Hayden stepped out, swung his Mongoose bat, and was through the shot before the ball arrived. The ball dipped and rattled the leg stump.
WICKET 1.
"KNOCKED HIM OVER!" Shastri bellowed. "The Mongoose has been tamed! Deva completely outfoxed the big Australian! Pace on, pace on... pace OFF! The off-stump takes a walk! What a delivery!"
Siddanth roared. The Chepauk crowd went silent.
The middle overs were a squeeze. He trapped Raina LBW. WICKET 2.
Then, the death overs. MS Dhoni walked in.
"And listen to this noise!" Harsha said. "Dhoni versus Deva. The finisher versus the prodigy."
The 19th over. Dhoni on strike.
Ball 3: Dhoni was setting for the helicopter. Siddanth saw the backlift.
He ran in. He bowled a "heavy" bouncer at the left shoulder. 146kph.
Dhoni was cramped. He mistimed the pull, looping it safely to no-man's land. Two runs.
"Smart," Gavaskar analyzed. "He saw Dhoni waiting for the full length. He banged it in to the body. Didn't give him the room to swing the arms. That is a thinking cricketer."
Ball 6: Badrinath on strike. Siddanth bowled the perfect 152kph yorker. The stumps shattered.
WICKET 3.
CSK posted 144 for 6.
The Chase:
145 on a turning track. Gilchrist fell early. Siddanth walked in at 120 for 3.
He anchored. He used Sleight of Hand to work Muralitharan into gaps.
"Look at those wrists," L. Siva marveled. "He's not fighting the spin. He's playing with it. Murali is trying to turn it past the bat, and Deva is just guiding it late. Soft hands. Very mature."
Siddanth scored an unbeaten 15 off 8 balls, guiding DC home.
Result: Deccan Chargers Won by 5 wickets.
The Post-Match:
Dhoni stopped Siddanth in the handshake line. He held his hand for a second longer.
"Good variation," Dhoni said, his voice calm. "You read the batsman well. You didn't give me the length I wanted in the 19th."
"Thank you, sir."
Dhoni looked him up and down. "Keep playing like this, and you'll be wearing Blue very soon. We need death bowlers."
Siddanth stood there as Dhoni walked away. We need death bowlers.
Match 8: (vs. Rajasthan Royals)
Location: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
The first leg had been a humiliation. 110 all out.
Warne won the toss and fielded. "Let's see if they've learned," he smirked.
They had. Gilchrist and Gibbs put on 80. When Gilchrist fell, Siddanth was promoted to number 3.
"Interesting move," Harsha Bhogle said. "Sending the youngster up to face the master. Warne spun a web around them in Jaipur. Can Deva handle the wizard?"
Warne brought himself on immediately.
Ball 1: Warne tossed it up, drifting in.
Siddanth charged to defend, smothering the spin.
"Good footwork," Shastri noted. "Kill the spin at the source. Don't let it bite."
Warne chirped. "Don't want to hit me today, junior?"
Ball 2: The flipper. Faster.
Siddanth picked it up. He rocked back and cut it late.
FOUR.
"Beautifully played!" Harsha cried. "Read it out of the hand, went back, and used the pace. That is high-class batting."
Ball 3: Warne tossed it wider.
Siddanth saw the trap. He stepped across and swept hard and flat.
FOUR.
"He is sweeping Warne!" Morrison yelled. "He is taking the attack to the King of Spin! This young man is fearless!"
Siddanth scored a brisk 40 off 22 balls. The psychological hold was broken. DC posted 185 for 5.
The Second Innings:
Rajasthan's chase stalled. Siddanth took the new ball.
In his first over, he faced Graeme Smith. He bowled a line outside off. Smith tried to drive.
The ball nipped back in—the wobble. Through the gate.
WICKET 1.
"Castled him!" Shastri shouted. "Smith leaves a gap between bat and pad, and Deva drives a truck through it! That nipped back beautifully."
Then, Yusuf Pathan. The dangerous hitter.
Siddanth bowled a 150kph bouncer. Pathan was late. It hit his helmet.
The next ball, Pathan was rattled. LBW to a full swinging delivery.
WICKET 2.
"He softened him up with the bouncer and finished him with the full one!" Gavaskar praised. "Classic fast bowling setup. Deva is too hot to handle tonight!"
Rajasthan folded for 140.
Result: Deccan Chargers Won by 45 runs.
The Post-Match:
In the dressing room, the mood was buoyant. Gilchrist stood on a bench.
"Right! Listen up! We started like headless chickens. Now? We look dangerous."
He pointed at Siddanth. "And this bloke? If he bowls any faster, we're going to need a new keeper, because my hands are falling off!"
The room erupted in laughter. Siddanth sat back, sipping a recovery shake.