Date: January 25, 2014
Location: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
Event: 3rd ODI, India vs. New Zealand
The five-match ODI series hung nicely in the balance. India had claimed the first match in Napier, but New Zealand had chased down a formidable total at Seddon Park to level the series 1-1.
Now, the teams arrived at Eden Park in Auckland for the crucial third encounter. Eden Park was a notoriously difficult ground for touring teams to adapt to. Originally designed as a rugby stadium, its cricket boundaries were highly unorthodox—featuring a standard square boundary but astonishingly short straight boundaries.
Up in the broadcasting box, the commentary team looked over the pre-match statistics, their focus firmly locked on one particular Indian player.
"A very warm welcome to Eden Park in Auckland, ladies and gentlemen," Harsha Bhogle announced over the television feed. "The series is tied, the sun is shining, and we have a flat, hard pitch awaiting the players. I am joined by former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull and Ian Smith. Gentlemen, before we talk about the pitch, we simply have to look at the numbers flashing on our screens right now."
A graphic appeared on the broadcast.
SIDDANTH DEVA - THE IMPENDING MILESTONES
Current ODI Runs: 7,859
Current ODI Wickets: 199
"It is quite staggering," Simon Doull noted, shaking his head. "Siddanth Deva is just one wicket away from exactly two hundred ODI wickets. And he needs exactly 141 runs today to cross the 8,000-run mark. If he achieves both... he completes an all-round double that puts him in a very rare echelon of cricketing history. And he is doing this before his twenty-third birthday."
"We have seen great all-rounders achieve this double," Harsha Bhogle added. "Players like Jacques Kallis, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Shahid Afridi. But reaching this specific double milestone is something most all-rounders achieve at age 32 or 33. For Siddanth to be on the verge of doing it at 22 is an incredible level of consistency."
Down in the middle, Ravi Shastri stood with the two captains, MS Dhoni and Brendon McCullum.
"Welcome to the toss for the third ODI," Shastri said over the stadium speakers. "Brendon McCullum has the coin. MS Dhoni to call."
Dhoni called tails. The coin landed on the pitch.
"It is tails. India wins the toss," the match referee confirmed.
"MS, a crucial toss on a unique ground. What are you going to do?" Shastri asked.
"We are going to bat first today, Ravi," Dhoni answered calmly. "The pitch looks very hard and true. It's a beautiful day, and the short straight boundaries mean we can put a strong total on the board if we build a good platform. We want to apply scoreboard pressure."
"Thanks, MS. Brendon, you are bowling first. How does that fit your plans?"
"We would have bowled first anyway," McCullum smiled, his competitive edge visible. "There might be a little bit of moisture early on. Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan have been bowling well with the new ball. If we can get through the Indian top order early, we can restrict them."
The umpires walked out to the middle, holding the two white Duke balls. The New Zealand fielding unit took their positions.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma walked out to the crease, but Brendon McCullum's assessment of the early conditions proved accurate.
Tim Southee found immediate, late swing. In the fourth over, Dhawan tried to drive a ball that held its line, catching the outside edge, and was comfortably taken by Luke Ronchi behind the stumps. Rohit Sharma fell four overs later, trapped LBW by a sharp inswinger from McClenaghan.
Shikhar Dhawan: c Ronchi b Southee 12 (15)
Rohit Sharma: lbw b McClenaghan 14 (22)
The score was 38 for 2 in the 9th over. The Eden Park crowd, packed with local Kiwi supporters, cheered as India found themselves in early trouble.
Virat Kohli walked out to the middle, tapping gloves with Siddanth Deva, who had just arrived at the crease.
"They are pitching it up and letting it swing, Sid," Kohli warned, adjusting his helmet.
"Play it straight, Cheeku," Siddanth replied smoothly. "The straight boundaries are barely sixty meters here. If it's full, just punch it past the bowler. Don't hit across the line."
Siddanth took his guard against Tim Southee.
For the next ten overs, Siddanth and Kohli orchestrated a steady rebuilding phase. Siddanth recognized that the pitch was perfect for batting once the initial swing died down. He used his height and timing to casually punch the fast bowlers down the ground, utilizing the geometry of Eden Park to collect easy boundaries.
"This is very smart batting from Deva," Ian Smith observed as Siddanth moved into the thirties. "He isn't trying to pull or cut, where the boundaries are much longer. He is just presenting the full face of the bat and pushing it straight back past the bowler. On this ground, a firm push is a guaranteed four."
Kohli matched Deva's tempo. The pair rotated the strike seamlessly, frustrating the New Zealand bowlers.
They pushed the score past 150. Siddanth brought up his half-century off 42 balls, offering a brief nod to the dressing room before refocusing on the next delivery.
When the part-time spin of Kane Williamson was introduced to break the rhythm, Siddanth stepped into a higher gear. He danced down the track and launched Williamson cleanly into the straight stands for two big sixes.
The partnership swelled to 145 runs before Kohli, batting on a superb 68, tried to clear the long-on boundary against Corey Anderson and found the fielder.
Virat Kohli: c Southee b Anderson 68 (72)
The score was 183 for 3 in the 32nd over. MS Dhoni walked out to join Siddanth.
With eighteen overs remaining, the platform was perfectly set.
"You're seeing it well, Sid. Keep going," Dhoni instructed calmly, getting off the mark with a quick single. "I'll feed you the strike."
Siddanth, batting on 82, shifted gears with smooth, practiced intent. He didn't just target the straight boundaries anymore; he began manipulating the entire field. When McClenaghan tried to bowl wide yorkers, Siddanth shuffled across his stumps and sliced the ball backward of point. When Southee attempted bouncers, Siddanth hooked them securely into the stands.
He brought up his century off just 78 balls with a crisp boundary through extra cover.
"There it is! A magnificent century for Siddanth Deva!" Harsha Bhogle called out as Siddanth raised his bat to a standing ovation from the traveling Indian fans. "He walked in under pressure at 38 for 2, completely stabilized the innings, and is now putting India in a very strong position."
But Siddanth wasn't finished.
As the innings crossed the 40th over, the television broadcasters put the graphic back on the screen. Siddanth was on 115. He needed exactly 26 more runs to cross the 8,000-run milestone.
The New Zealand bowlers tried everything. McCullum spread the field, but Siddanth was operating at his peak.
In the 42nd over, facing Corey Anderson, Siddanth stepped out of his crease and launched a massive, soaring six over long-on. However, the sheer force of the impact resonated with a sharp, unnatural crack that echoed through the stump microphone.
Siddanth finished his follow-through and looked down at his bat. The thick English willow had split right down the middle.
Siddanth held the broken bat up, signaling the dressing room for a replacement.
"Well, that tells you exactly how hard he is hitting the ball today!" Ian Smith chuckled in the commentary box as a substitute player ran out with a selection of new bats. "He has literally broken his bat in half hitting that six. Corey Anderson must be wondering what he has to do to keep him quiet."
Siddanth selected a fresh bat, tapped it on the pitch, and immediately resumed his innings.
As he crossed into the 130s, a distinct, rhythmic chant began to echo around Eden Park. The 'Bharat Army' contingent in the stands had done the math. They knew exactly how many runs he needed to reach the 8,000-run milestone.
"Ten more! Ten more!" the crowd chanted in unison.
Siddanth hit a boundary past point.
"Six more! Six more!" the stadium roared.
In the 45th over, facing the pace of Adam Milne, Siddanth was batting on 135. He needed six runs.
Milne bowled a fast, 145 kmph length delivery. Siddanth stepped out, made room, and drove it elegantly through the covers for four.
He was on 139.
"Two more! Two more!" the Indian fans chanted. The Indian dressing room was on its feet. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ravindra Jadeja were standing at the edge of the balcony in anticipation.
Milne steamed in for the next delivery, opting for a slower, back-of-the-hand ball.
Siddanth read the variation early. He waited patiently on his back foot, opened the face of his bat, and elegantly guided the ball past the diving short third man. The ball raced across the lush Eden Park outfield and crossed the boundary ropes.
Down the pitch, MS Dhoni broke into a proud smile and started clapping his batting gloves together.
"And he gets there in style!" Harsha Bhogle shouted, his voice carrying genuine excitement over the broadcast. "Four runs! Siddanth Deva crosses 8,000 runs in One Day International cricket! At twenty-two years of age, he is officially the youngest player in the history of the sport to reach the mark. It is a phenomenal achievement!"
Siddanth smiled, tapping gloves with Dhoni in the middle of the pitch. He offered a quick raise of his bat to the roaring fans, but his focus quickly snapped back to the scoreboard. There were still four overs left.
Siddanth played the final overs with clear aggression. He took 22 runs off the 48th over bowled by Southee, finding the boundaries with ease.
He finished the innings entirely unbeaten, putting on a batting clinic that left the New Zealand bowlers looking for answers.
INDIA: 358/4 (50 Overs)
Siddanth Deva: 165 Not Out (112 balls, 16 Fours, 6 Sixes)
MS Dhoni: 42 Not Out (30 balls)
As the players began to walk off the pitch, Brendon McCullum didn't just head to the dressing room. The New Zealand captain jogged out of his way to intercept Siddanth near the boundary line.
McCullum took off his cap and extended his hand.
"Absolute masterclass, mate," McCullum said with a genuine, appreciative smile, shaking Siddanth's hand firmly. "We tried everything, but we had nowhere to bowl to you today. Brilliant knock."
"Thanks, Brendon," Siddanth smiled respectfully. "You guys made us work for it early on."
"A monumental total set by India," Simon Doull summarized during the innings break. "358 for 4. Siddanth Deva walks off with 165 not out. He paced the innings perfectly, hit the milestones, and then accelerated brilliantly at the death. New Zealand has a massive mountain to climb to stay alive in this series."
Inside the Indian dressing room, the atmosphere was focused.
"We don't relax," Dhoni told his bowlers firmly, tossing a bottle of water to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. "358 is a huge score, but this ground has short straight boundaries. Hit your lengths. Bhuvi, Shami, take the new balls and look for swing."
Martin Guptill and Jesse Ryder walked out to open the run chase for New Zealand.
The Indian opening bowlers started well. Bhuvneshwar Kumar utilized the evening conditions, swinging the ball away from the right-handers. Shami hit the deck hard.
In the fifth over, Shami forced an error from Jesse Ryder, finding the outside edge which was comfortably caught by Ashwin at first slip.
However, Kane Williamson walked in at number three and immediately stabilized the innings alongside Guptill. The two batsmen played with great intent, navigating the swinging ball and punishing the bad deliveries. They pushed the score to 62 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay.
"Siddanth Deva comes into the attack as the first change," Harsha Bhogle noted. "He has just scored a brilliant 165 with the bat. Now, he has the ball in his hand. And let's not forget the second half of this historic equation. He is sitting on 199 ODI wickets."
As Siddanth marked his run-up, taking the ball from the umpire, Virat Kohli jogged up to him from the slip cordon.
Virat had a mischievous, highly competitive grin on his face.
"You know, Sid, 199 is a cursed number in cricket," Virat joked, attempting to playfully jinx his teammate. "I'm just saying, watch you bowl ten overs of absolute fire today and get zero wickets because someone in the deep keeps dropping catches. It happens to the best of us."
"Just catch the ball if it comes to you, Cheeku," Siddanth replied dryly, spinning the ball in his hand.
Siddanth turned and ran in. He assessed the pitch and the batsman. Martin Guptill was on strike, batting on 38, looking to play aggressively down the ground.
Siddanth steamed in. He didn't bowl an off-cutter or a slower ball. He relied on his genuine pace. The ball left his hand at 146 kmph, a heavy, back-of-a-length delivery that angled sharply into Guptill's ribcage.
Guptill, expecting the ball to be pitched up, was cramped for room. He tried to awkwardly fend it away on the leg side, but the extra bounce hurried onto him. The ball caught the splice of the bat and lobbed softly into the air toward short mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja, stationed perfectly, took two steps forward and took a simple, safe catch.
"CAUGHT! HE HAS DONE IT!" Simon Doull called out as the Indian players swarmed Siddanth in the middle of the pitch. "First over of his spell, and he breaks the partnership! But more importantly, the Devil of cricket picks up his 200th ODI wicket!"
Siddanth high-fived his teammates, laughing as he turned and shot Virat Kohli a distinctly smug, silent look, completely shutting down the jinx attempt. Virat just threw his hands up, laughing as he patted Siddanth on the back.
"This is a wonderful moment," Harsha Bhogle added, his voice ringing with admiration as the broadcast showed Siddanth raising the ball to the cheering crowd. "8,000 runs and 200 wickets! He is the youngest man in the history of the sport to achieve this double, and let's not forget, he becomes only the 8th Indian bowler in history to cross the 200-wicket mark in ODIs. To combine that with his batting records is truly special."
Martin Guptill: c Jadeja b Deva 38 (35)
The milestone wicket stalled the New Zealand top order, and Siddanth bowled with excellent rhythm.
In his second over, bowling to the dangerous Ross Taylor, Siddanth utilized his impeccable wrist position. He bowled a 142 kmph delivery that pitched on middle and seamed away late. Taylor, drawn into the drive, caught a thick outside edge that flew straight to MS Dhoni.
"Edged and taken! Deva is on a roll right now!" Ian Smith called out. "Ross Taylor is gone for a duck! The New Zealand chase has hit a roadblock."
Ross Taylor: c Dhoni b Deva 0 (4)
Brendon McCullum, the aggressive New Zealand captain, walked out to the middle. He tried to counter-attack, stepping down the pitch to disrupt Siddanth's length.
Siddanth saw him advance and rolled his fingers over the seam, delivering a beautifully disguised 118 kmph off-cutter. McCullum was through his shot entirely too early. The ball dipped, missed the bat, and crashed into the middle stump.
"Bowled him! A lovely slower ball!" Harsha Bhogle cheered. "Siddanth Deva has three! He is running through the New Zealand batting lineup!"
Brendon McCullum: b Deva 12 (10)
With the score at 95 for 4, the run chase was effectively derailed. But Siddanth continued his strong performance.
He returned for his second spell in the middle overs, operating with clinical efficiency. He trapped Corey Anderson LBW with a searing, 145 kmph inswinging yorker.
Two overs later, he bowled a sharp, rising bouncer to Luke Ronchi, who gloved it straight to Suresh Raina at leg gully.
"That is a five-wicket haul for the Vice-Captain!" Simon Doull announced as Siddanth raised the ball again. "He scored 165 runs, and he has just taken 5 for 22. This is one of the best all-round performances we have seen in an ODI match."
The Indian spinners, Ashwin and Jadeja, kept the lower order quiet.
In the 42nd over, with nine wickets down, MS Dhoni threw the ball back to Siddanth to finish the match.
Siddanth ran in and bowled a fast, full delivery to Mitchell McClenaghan. The tailender swung wildly, missed the line entirely, and his off-stump was knocked backward.
"And that is the end of the match!" Harsha Bhogle concluded as the Indian team converged in the center of the pitch. "Siddanth Deva knocks over the final wicket to finish with figures of 6 for 28! India wins by a massive margin of 165 runs! They take a 2-1 lead in the series."
NEW ZEALAND: 193 All Out (41.4 Overs)
As his teammates celebrated the victory, Siddanth didn't just walk off the pitch. Before heading to the boundary, he walked politely over to the on-field umpire.
"Excuse me, sir," Siddanth asked with a respectful smile. "Would you mind if I kept the match ball?"
The umpire smiled back, nodding in understanding of the double milestone the young man had just achieved, and handed the scuffed white Duke ball over. Siddanth tucked it safely into his pocket as a souvenir.
---
The post-match presentation was held on the outfield, the bright stadium floodlights illuminating the stage. The Indian fans in the stands were chanting loudly, celebrating a dominant victory.
Simon Doull stood at the podium with the microphone, holding the Man of the Match trophy.
"A completely one-sided affair today," Doull addressed the crowd. "India posted 358 and then bowled New Zealand out for 193. There is absolutely no doubt about the Man of the Match today. For an unbeaten 165, six wickets, and crossing the 8,000 runs and 200 wickets double... Siddanth Deva!"
The crowd cheered as Siddanth jogged up to the podium, looking relaxed despite the heavy all-round workload.
"Siddanth, what a phenomenal day for you," Doull praised, handing him the award. "You walked in early when it was swinging, scored 165, and then came out and took 6 for 28. Have you ever had a better day on a cricket field?"
Siddanth smiled warmly into the microphone. "Thank you, Simon. It was definitely one of those days where everything clicked. The pitch was fantastic for batting once the new balls lost their shine, and Virat and Mahi bhai built great partnerships with me to set the platform."
"Let's talk about the milestone," Doull pressed. "You are officially the youngest player to reach 8,000 runs and 200 wickets. Has it sunk in yet?"
"I honestly wasn't thinking about the numbers when I was out there," Siddanth replied smoothly, his tone grounded. "The primary goal was just to post a total past 340. The records are very special, and it is an honor to be mentioned alongside the great all-rounders, but the real satisfaction comes from winning the game and taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The bowlers executed their plans well today."
"Your bowling was very sharp today. That slower ball to McCullum was an excellent delivery."
"The straight boundaries are short here at Eden Park," Siddanth explained. "If you give them pace, they will clear the ropes. I just tried to vary my pace and use the surface. Luckily, they went straight to the fielders today."
"A brilliant all-round performance. Congratulations, Siddanth."
The Auckland match was in the history books. Siddanth Deva had delivered an excellent all-round performance, cementing his milestones and keeping the Indian team firmly on the winning path.
---
By the time the players boarded the bus back to the hotel, the internet was completely saturated with the absurdity of what had just happened in Auckland. The hashtags #DevaDouble and#8Kand200 dominated social media.
Twitter:
@HarshaBhogle: 8000 runs. 200 wickets. 165 not out. 6 for 28. All at 22 years old. We are officially out of adjectives for Siddanth Deva.
@CricketStatGeek: Fastest to 8k runs & 200 wickets. Youngest to 8k runs & 200 wickets. The record books need a separate volume just for him.
@VirenderSehwag: What a knock Sid! Scoring 165 and then taking 6 wickets? Leave something for the rest of the boys! 😂👏
@NZCricketFans: Can we please check Siddanth Deva's birth certificate? There is no way a 22-year-old just did that to our team at Eden Park. 😭
@CricCrazyJohns: He literally broke his bat in half hitting a six off Corey Anderson. The absolute raw power is insane.
@BCCI: A monumental day for Indian Cricket! Siddanth Deva joins the elite 8000 runs & 200 wickets club. 🇮🇳 #NZvIND
@MumbaiIndians_Fan: I don't care which IPL team you support. When Deva is in the blue jersey, he is a Devil. 165* and 6/28 is video game stuff.
@SportsJourno_Raj: The best all-round ODI performance in the history of the game? Viv Richards? Kapil Dev? No, Siddanth Deva at Auckland.
@TrollCricket: Bowlers: "We got two quick wickets!" / The Devil walking out at No. 4: "You really thought you had a chance, didn't you?" 165 runs and 6 wickets is straight up demonic behavior. 🔥
@StatsGuru_IND: Deva's batting average just went up again. Bowlers around the world are currently forming a support group.
Vibe (NEXUS):
@kavya_s: 165 runs and he still looks like a model. How does he not sweat?! 🥵
@cricket_lover_06: When he broke that English willow bat... I felt that in my soul. Pure power.
@nexus_fanboy: Anyone else chanting "Ten more!" at their TV? The crowd at Eden Park was incredible!
@akatsuki_member: The Devil's genjutsu was too strong for the Kiwis today. 👁️
@rohit_fan_45: Bro took the phrase "fine, I'll do it myself" way too literally today.
@nz_tears: Pls spare us in the next match Siddanth. Our bowlers have families. 😭
@history_nerd: Youngest to 8K and 200 wickets. We are literally watching history live.
@shikhar_squad: Gabbar and Deva are the deadliest combo. Love the dressing room vibes.
@random_user: I downloaded this app just to follow him. Best decision ever.
@sneha_r: The polite smile when asking for the match ball. Get you a man who can do both. 🥺
@upsc_motivation: Dedication, hard work, and focus. Siddanth Deva is the ultimate inspiration.
@zoro_lost_again: Bro scored 165 and then bowled 146 kmph. Are we sure he is human?
@devil_worshipper: You can prepare for the swing, you can prepare for the bounce, but you can't prepare for the Devil. 6/28 is madness. 😈
@mahi_magic: Dhoni's smile when Deva hit that boundary to reach 8k runs was everything. 💛
@hyderabadi_boi: Biryani power working at 100% efficiency in Auckland!
@cricket_daily: Greatest all-round performance in ODI history. The Devil leaves no debate.
[SIDDANTH DEVA MATCH STATS: Batting: 165 (112 balls) | Bowling: 6 for 28 (8.4 overs)]*
[CAREER MILESTONE: 8,024 ODI Runs | 205 ODI Wickets]