The team bus of the Sunrisers Hyderabad moved slowly through the evening streets of Mumbai. It was time for Qualifier 1. The first semi-final of the 2017 Indian Premier League.
The players looked out of the windows. They were heading to the Wankhede Stadium.
When the bus pulled into the stadium grounds, the noise was already incredibly loud. The players grabbed their kit bags and walked into the away dressing room.
The stadium was a sea of blue. Mumbai Indians fans filled almost every seat in the stands. They wore blue shirts and waved blue flags. Here and there, a very small patch of orange could be seen where the traveling Sunrisers Hyderabad fans sat together.
Many famous people came to watch the match. Movie actors and television stars sat in the premium stands.
In the VIP corporate box, the atmosphere was relaxed. Kalanithi Maran and his daughter Kavya Maran, the owners of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, sat in the front row. They wore simple orange shirts and talked quietly.
Next to them sat Krithika and her sister Anjali. They were joined by Candice Warner and some of the other wives of the players.
Krithika was sitting on the carpeted floor of the VIP box, playing with David Warner's young daughter, Ivy. Anjali was holding a small toy cricket bat, and Ivy was laughing, trying to grab it from her hands.
Down on the field, near the boundary rope, the Mumbai Indians owners sat on their traditional blue sofa. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani chatted with their team management.
Up in the main broadcast box, Danny Morrison and Pommie Mbangwa sat behind the desk for the pre-match show.
"Welcome to the Wankhede Stadium, everyone!" Danny Morrison said into the camera, his voice full of energy. "It is time for Qualifier 1! The Mumbai Indians against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The winner goes straight to the final."
"It is a massive game, Danny," Pommie Mbangwa agreed. "Let's talk about the teams. Sunrisers Hyderabad finished at the top of the table. They have been the best team in the tournament so far. Their bowling attack is incredible. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Mohammed Siraj, Siddanth Deva, and Yuzvendra Chahal. The less we talk about the bowlers, the better, because they have been flawless."
"But what about their batting, Pommie?" Danny asked.
"Their top four batsmen are in the form of their lives," Pommie explained. "David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, and Sanju Samson. But that is also their only weakness. Because the top four have played so well all season and chased down every target, their middle order has not been tested at all. Players like Deepak Hooda and Rashid Khan have barely spent any time in the middle. If Mumbai can get early wickets tonight, the Sunrisers middle order might struggle under pressure."
"That is a great point, Pommie," Danny said. "And Mumbai Indians have the bowlers to get those early wickets. Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah are very dangerous with the new ball. Mumbai also has a very deep batting lineup with Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard. They have the home advantage tonight. The crowd is completely blue. It will be a huge test for Hyderabad."
Down on the pitch, Ravi Shastri stood ready for the toss.
Rohit Sharma and Siddanth Deva walked out to the center.
"I have the two captains," Ravi Shastri announced to the stadium. "Rohit Sharma has the coin. Siddanth, you call."
Rohit flipped the coin high into the air.
"Heads," Siddanth called.
The coin landed on the pitch and rolled on the grass.
"It is tails," Ravi said. "Mumbai Indians win the toss."
Ravi turned to Rohit. "Rohit, what is your decision?"
"We will bowl first, Ravi bhai," Rohit said. "The pitch looks good, but we like chasing targets on our home ground. The dew will make it easier to bat in the second innings. The crowd will be behind us."
Ravi turned to Siddanth. "Siddanth, you are batting first. Are you ready for this?"
"Yes, Ravi bhai," Siddanth replied. "The players are fully rested and ready. We will try to set a big total."
The two captains shook hands and walked back to their dugouts.
The umpires walked out to the middle. The Mumbai Indians players ran onto the field. The crowd cheered loudly.
David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan walked out to open the batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Lasith Malinga took the new ball for Mumbai.
0.1 Malinga ran in and bowled a fast, in-swinging yorker aimed straight at the toes. David Warner tried to get his bat down. He was late. The ball hit his front pad right in front of the stumps. The Mumbai players appealed loudly. The umpire raised his finger immediately.
"Out! First ball of the match!" Danny Morrison shouted on the broadcast. "What a start for Mumbai! Malinga traps Warner LBW on the very first delivery. The Wankhede is going crazy!"
David Warner walked off without scoring. The stadium noise was deafening.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were 0 for 1.
Kane Williamson walked out to bat at number three.
0.2 Malinga bowled a good length ball. Williamson defended it straight back. No run.
0.3 Malinga bowled on the pads. Williamson flicked it to deep square leg for a single.
0.4 Malinga bowled to Dhawan. Dhawan pushed the ball to cover. No run.
0.5 Malinga bowled a fast bouncer. Dhawan ducked under it. No run.
0.6 Malinga bowled a full delivery. Dhawan drove it straight to mid-off. No run.
The first over ended. Sunrisers were 1 for 1.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled the second over.
1.1 Bumrah bowled a length ball. Williamson pushed it to the off-side for a single.
1.2 Bumrah bowled a fast ball outside the off-stump to Dhawan. Dhawan tried to play a big cover drive. He didn't move his feet. The ball took a thick outside edge and flew to the slip fielder. Kieron Pollard caught it easily.
"Another wicket!" Pommie Mbangwa yelled. "Shikhar Dhawan is gone! Bumrah strikes in his first over. Mumbai Indians are on fire tonight! The Sunrisers top order is falling apart."
Shikhar Dhawan walked back to the dugout.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were 2 for 2.
Sanju Samson walked out to bat at number four.
1.3 Bumrah bowled to Samson. Samson defended it from the crease. No run.
1.4 Bumrah bowled on the pads. Samson pushed it to the leg side for a single.
1.5 Bumrah bowled to Williamson. Williamson defended it softly. No run.
1.6 Bumrah bowled a full toss. Williamson drove it to mid-on for a single.
In the third over, Malinga bowled quietly. Samson and Williamson took three singles.
Sunrisers were 7 for 2 after three overs.
Krunal Pandya came on to bowl the fourth over with his left-arm spin.
3.1 Krunal bowled flat. Samson pushed it for a single.
3.2 Krunal bowled to Williamson. Williamson tried to play a cut shot. The ball spun back in sharply. It hit his bat, then hit his pad, and rolled slowly onto the stumps. The bails fell off.
"Bowled him!" Danny Morrison said loudly. "Williamson chops it on! The Sunrisers top order has completely collapsed. This is exactly what we talked about in the pre-match show."
Kane Williamson walked off.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were 8 for 3 in the fourth over.
Up in the VIP box, Krithika moved to the edge of her seat. While the rest of the management looked nervous, she clapped fiercely, shouting words of encouragement that were swallowed by the loud Mumbai crowd.
Siddanth Deva picked up his bat and walked out of the dugout.
The Mumbai crowd cheered. They were happy to see wickets falling.
Siddanth walked to the crease. He looked at the scoreboard. 8 for 3.
3.3 Krunal Pandya bowled to Siddanth. Siddanth stepped forward and defended the ball straight down the pitch. No run.
3.4 Krunal bowled wider. Siddanth pushed it to the point fielder. No run.
3.5 Krunal bowled on the middle stump. Siddanth drove it to long-off for a single.
3.6 Krunal bowled to Samson. Samson defended it. No run.
The fourth over ended. Sunrisers were 9 for 3.
Mitchell McClenaghan bowled the fifth over.
4.1 McClenaghan bowled a short ball. Siddanth pulled it hard along the ground to deep square leg for a single.
4.2 McClenaghan bowled to Samson. Samson tried to pull the ball over the infield. He hit it straight up in the air. The mid-wicket fielder ran back and caught it safely.
"Four down!" Pommie Mbangwa shouted. "Sanju Samson is gone now! The short ball works for McClenaghan. Sunrisers are in deep trouble."
Sunrisers Hyderabad were 10 for 4.
Deepak Hooda walked out to bat. The untested middle order was now at the crease.
4.3 McClenaghan bowled to Hooda. Hooda defended it. No run.
4.4 McClenaghan bowled full. Hooda pushed it to mid-off. No run.
4.5 McClenaghan bowled a bouncer. Hooda ducked. No run.
4.6 McClenaghan bowled a slower ball. Hooda defended it. No run.
The fifth over ended. Sunrisers were 10 for 4.
Siddanth walked down the pitch and tapped his bat. He looked at Hooda.
"Do not play risky shots. Block the good balls. Push the ball into the gaps and take singles. Do not try to hit boundaries. I will take care of everything. Just give me the strike."
Hooda nodded nervously.
Siddanth went back to his crease. He knew he had to play differently today. He couldn't trust the other batsmen to score runs. He had to score all the runs himself.
Krunal Pandya bowled the sixth over.
5.1 Krunal bowled to Siddanth. Siddanth stepped out of his crease and hit the ball over the bowler's head for a boundary. Four runs.
5.2 Krunal bowled flatter. Siddanth rocked back and cut the ball past point for four runs.
5.3 Krunal bowled wide. Siddanth hit it to deep cover for a single.
5.4 Krunal bowled to Hooda. Hooda defended it. No run.
5.5 Krunal bowled again. Hooda pushed it to the leg side for a single.
5.6 Krunal bowled to Siddanth. Siddanth swept the ball to fine leg for a single.
The powerplay ended. Sunrisers were 21 for 4.
The field spread out.
Harbhajan Singh came on to bowl the seventh over.
6.1 Harbhajan bowled full. Siddanth played a reverse sweep. He hit the ball over the short third-man fielder for four runs.
6.2 Harbhajan bowled on the pads. Siddanth flicked it behind square leg for two runs.
6.3 Harbhajan bowled a slower ball. Siddanth stepped out and hit it over long-on for a six.
"He is fighting back!" Danny Morrison said on the commentary. "Siddanth Deva is playing a lone hand here. He is hitting the ball everywhere."
6.4 Harbhajan bowled flat. Siddanth took a single.
6.5 Harbhajan bowled to Hooda. Hooda pushed it for a single.
6.6 Harbhajan bowled to Siddanth. Siddanth took a single to keep the strike.
The game moved forward. Siddanth scored runs quickly. Hooda survived for a few overs, taking singles and giving the strike to Siddanth.
In the tenth over, the score reached 65 for 4. Siddanth had scored 45 of those runs.
10.1 Hardik Pandya bowled to Hooda. Hooda forgot Siddanth's advice. He tried to hit a big shot over mid-wicket. He missed the ball completely. The ball hit his stumps.
Deepak Hooda was out for 5 runs. Sunrisers were 65 for 5.
Rashid Khan walked out to bat.
Siddanth walked down the pitch immediately.
"Do not swing your bat," Siddanth told Rashid firmly. "Block everything. When you face the last ball of an over, do not take a run. I need to face all the deliveries from now on. I will farm the strike."
Rashid nodded.
10.2 Hardik bowled to Rashid. Rashid defended it. No run.
10.3 Hardik bowled again. Rashid pushed it to cover. No run.
10.4 Hardik bowled a short ball. Rashid ducked. No run.
10.5 Hardik bowled on the stumps. Rashid defended. No run.
10.6 Hardik bowled full. Rashid pushed it to mid-off and stayed in his crease. No run.
The eleventh over began. McClenaghan was bowling. Siddanth was on strike.
11.1 McClenaghan bowled a length ball. Siddanth hit a six over point.
11.2 McClenaghan bowled a bouncer. Siddanth pulled it for four runs.
11.3 McClenaghan bowled full. Siddanth drove it for four runs.
11.4 McClenaghan bowled a slower ball. Siddanth hit it over mid-off for two runs.
11.5 McClenaghan bowled wide. Siddanth hit the ball to deep cover, went to a fielder and did not run.
11.6 McClenaghan bowled on the stumps. Siddanth pushed it to long-on and ran a single.
Siddanth kept the strike. He did this for the next four overs.
The score slowly climbed. Siddanth reached his half-century. Then he reached 70 runs.
The Mumbai Indians bowlers tried everything. They bowled short. They bowled wide. They bowled slower balls. But Siddanth hit everything. He played ramp shots over the wicketkeeper. He played reverse sweeps against the fast bowlers. He stepped across his stumps and flicked the ball over fine leg.
"He is a genius!" Pommie Mbangwa said. "He is hitting the ball all around the stadium; no one is safe. The Mumbai fielders don't know where to stand."
The crowd at the Wankhede Stadium went very quiet. They were watching one man fight against their entire team. On the boundary sofa, Nita Ambani looked nervous.
In the sixteenth over, Rashid Khan was run out trying to sacrifice his wicket to get Siddanth on strike.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar walked out to bat.
By the end of the sixteenth over, Sunrisers Hyderabad were 125 for 6.
The seventeenth over began. Hardik Pandya had the ball.
16.1 Hardik bowled a length ball. Siddanth stepped out and hit it straight down the ground for four runs.
16.2 Hardik bowled wide. Siddanth cut it past point for a single.
16.3 Hardik bowled to Bhuvneshwar. Bhuvi pushed the ball to mid-on and ran a quick single.
16.4 Hardik bowled a short ball to Siddanth. Siddanth pulled it over deep square leg for a six.
16.5 Hardik bowled full. Siddanth drove it through the covers for two runs.
16.6 Hardik bowled a slower ball. Siddanth waited and pushed it to long-off for a single.
Siddanth kept the strike.
The eighteenth over began. Jasprit Bumrah had the ball.
17.1 Bumrah bowled a fast yorker. Siddanth dug it out and ran a single.
17.2 Bumrah bowled a bouncer to Bhuvneshwar. Bhuvi ducked. No run.
17.3 Bumrah bowled full. Bhuvi pushed it to point and ran a quick single.
Siddanth was back on strike.
17.4 Bumrah ran in. He bowled a fast delivery outside the off-stump.
Just as Bumrah released the ball, Siddanth shifted his feet. He changed his grip on the bat handle mid-throw, turning his entire body to stand like a left-handed batsman. He swung the bat and hit a massive switch-hit over the third-man boundary for a six.
"Did you see that?!" Danny Morrison screamed into the microphone. "That is unbelievable skill!"
Krithika was on her feet instantly. She pumped her fist in the air and cheered at the top of her lungs, unbothered by the stunned silence of the Mumbai Indians fans sitting in the nearby corporate boxes.
17.5 Bumrah bowled a full toss under pressure. Siddanth hit it straight past the bowler for four runs.
17.6 Bumrah bowled a slower ball. Siddanth pushed it to deep cover for a single.
Siddanth kept the strike. He was now on 96 runs.
The nineteenth over began. Mitchell McClenaghan had the ball.
Siddanth was on strike. He did not care about the century milestone. He just wanted to hit boundaries and score maximum runs for the team.
18.1 McClenaghan ran in and bowled a length ball. Siddanth stepped forward and hit it clean over the long-on boundary for a massive six.
"A magnificent century by the captain!" Pommie Mbangwa shouted. "He walked in when the team was 8 for 3. The team is now 154 for 6, and he has scored 102 of those runs. He did not even look at the scoreboard. He just kept hitting boundaries."
He didn't celebrate. He just tapped his bat on the pitch and looked at the bowler, ready for the next ball.
18.2 McClenaghan bowled a wide yorker. Siddanth opened the face of his bat and squeezed the ball past the short third-man fielder for a boundary. Four runs.
18.3 McClenaghan bowled a short bouncer. Siddanth pulled it fiercely over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a six.
18.4 McClenaghan bowled a slower ball. Siddanth hit it over extra cover. The fielder chased it down. Siddanth and Bhuvi ran two runs.
18.5 McClenaghan bowled full on the pads. Siddanth flicked it behind square leg for four runs.
It was the final ball of the nineteenth over.
18.6 McClenaghan bowled a wide delivery. Siddanth reached out and pushed the ball to deep point. He ran a single.
Siddanth kept the strike for the final over. He had played all six balls of the nineteenth over and scored 23 runs.
The twentieth over began. Lasith Malinga had the ball.
Siddanth was on strike.
19.1 Malinga ran in and bowled a slower length delivery. Siddanth waited deep in his crease and hit a huge slog sweep over the deep square leg boundary for a six.
19.2 Malinga ran in and fired a perfect, pinpoint yorker straight on the middle stump. It was a ball that would bowl any normal batsman.
Siddanth stepped slightly to the leg side, opened the face of the bat, jammed it into the ground, and somehow squeezed the ball with immense power past the extra cover fielder. The ball raced to the boundary. Four runs.
"That is impossible!" Danny Morrison yelled. "He just hit a perfect Malinga yorker for a boundary to deep extra cover! How is he doing this?"
19.3 Malinga, feeling the pressure, tried to bowl wide outside the off-stump.
Just as Malinga's arm came over, Siddanth shifted his feet again. He changed his grip and his stance, turning into a left-handed batsman in a split second. He brought the bat down and hit another massive switch-hit over the point boundary for a six.
The Wankhede crowd was completely silent. They could not believe what they were watching.
19.4 Malinga bowled a fast bouncer. Siddanth pulled it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder threw the ball back quickly. Siddanth and Bhuvi ran two runs.
19.5 Malinga bowled a low full toss on the pads. Siddanth flicked it beautifully past the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. Four runs.
It was the final ball of the innings.
19.6 Malinga ran in and bowled a slower ball outside the off-stump.
Siddanth stepped forward, bent his back knee, and hit a huge shot over the long-off boundary. The ball sailed far into the stands for a six.
The innings ended.
Siddanth had played all 12 balls in the final two overs. He scored 23 runs in the nineteenth over and 28 runs in the twentieth over.
Sunrisers Hyderabad finished their innings at 209 for 6.
Siddanth Deva walked off the field not out on 142 runs. He had batted for 66 balls.
The rest of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team combined had scored just 67 runs.
The Wankhede crowd finally stood up. They clapped for him as he walked back to the dressing room. Even the Mumbai Indians players, Rohit Sharma and Lasith Malinga, walked over to shake his hand, appreciating his incredible lone fight against their entire team.
In the VIP box, Kalanithi Maran and Kavya Maran clapped proudly. Krithika jumped to her feet and cheered for him louder than anyone else in the box, shouting his name excitedly as she watched him walk up the steps holding his bat high.
---
The innings break at the Wankhede Stadium lasted for fifteen minutes.
Inside the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room, the atmosphere was completely different from an hour ago. The early panic of the top-order collapse was gone. Siddanth Deva's lone fight of 142 not out had given them a massive total of 209 runs.
Siddanth sat on a bench, a towel draped around his neck. He drank from a water bottle slowly. He had batted for over an hour and a half in the Mumbai humidity. He did not look tired. He looked completely focused.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Trent Boult stood near the tactical board. Siddanth stood up and walked over to them.
"The pitch is still very good for batting," Siddanth told his opening bowlers. "The dew is going to come down soon. The ball will get wet. We cannot afford to bowl wide. Keep it straight. Attack the stumps. We need early wickets, or Rohit and Pollard will chase this down."
The bowlers nodded. They picked up their fielding caps.
Up in the VIP box, Krithika sat back in her chair. She handed Ivy back to Candice Warner. Krithika looked out at the field, feeling much more relaxed now that Sunrisers had a good total. Next to her, Kavya Maran was smiling, drinking a cup of coffee.
On the other side of the stadium, sitting on the blue boundary sofa, Nita Ambani looked very concerned. She talked quickly with Akash Ambani. Chasing 210 runs in a semi-final was a very difficult task, even for the Mumbai Indians on their home ground.
In the broadcast box, Danny Morrison and Pommie Mbangwa were back on the air.
"Welcome back to the Wankhede, everyone!" Danny Morrison shouted. "What a first innings we just saw! Siddanth Deva played one of the best innings in the history of this tournament. Now, it is time for the chase. Mumbai Indians need 210 runs to go to the final."
"It is a huge target, Danny," Pommie Mbangwa said. "But if any team can chase it here, it is Mumbai. The dew is starting to settle on the grass. The ball will skid onto the bat. Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons are walking out to the middle. This is going to be a great chase."
The Sunrisers Hyderabad players ran onto the field. Siddanth set his field quickly. He placed a slip fielder and a gully fielder for Trent Boult.
Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons took their guards. The second innings began.
0.1 Trent Boult ran in and bowled a fast in-swinger on a good length. Parthiv Patel stepped forward and defended the ball straight down the pitch. No run.
0.2 Boult bowled slightly wider outside the off-stump. Parthiv cut the ball cleanly past the point fielder. The ball raced across the grass for a boundary. Four runs.
0.3 Boult bowled a full delivery on the pads. Parthiv flicked it to deep square leg for a single. The batsmen crossed, putting Lendl Simmons on strike.
0.4 Boult bowled a fast bouncer. Simmons ducked safely under it. No run.
0.5 Boult bowled a length ball. Simmons pushed it past mid-off, and the ball went all the way to the boundary. Four runs.
0.6 Boult bowled a straight delivery to Simmons. Simmons defended it softly. No run.
Siddanth tossed the ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
"Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the ball," Danny Morrison noted on the commentary. "He is the leading wicket-taker this season. Let's see what he can do."
1.1 Bhuvneshwar ran in and bowled a perfect out-swinger. Parthiv left it alone. The ball went straight through to the keeper. No run.
1.2 Bhuvneshwar bowled a fuller delivery. Parthiv stepped forward and drove the ball through the covers for a boundary. Four runs.
1.3 Bhuvneshwar bowled on the middle stump. Parthiv pushed it to mid-on for a single. The batsmen crossed. Simmons was now on strike.
1.4 Bhuvneshwar bowled a short ball. Simmons pulled it to fine leg for a single. The batsmen crossed. Parthiv was back on strike.
1.5 Bhuvneshwar ran in and bowled a fast in-swinger aimed straight at the pads. Parthiv Patel tried to play a flick shot but missed the ball completely. The ball hit his front pad heavily. Bhuvneshwar appealed loudly. The umpire raised his finger for LBW.
"Given out!" Pommie Mbangwa shouted. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the first breakthrough! The in-swinger works perfectly. Parthiv Patel has to go back."
Parthiv Patel walked back to the dugout for 10 runs. Because no run was attempted on the LBW, the batsmen did not cross. The new batsman, Rohit Sharma, walked out to bat at number three and took the strike.
1.6 Bhuvneshwar bowled a good length ball to Rohit. Rohit defended it with a straight bat. No run.
The second over ended. The umpires signaled the end of the over. The field changed ends. Simmons took the strike for the third over. Mumbai Indians were 15 for 1.
Trent Boult continued his spell from the other end.
2.1 Boult bowled a full ball on the off-stump. Simmons drove it past the cover fielder for four runs.
2.2 Boult bowled a bouncer. Simmons pulled it to deep square leg for four runs.
2.3 Boult bowled slightly wider. Simmons pushed it to point for a single. The batsmen crossed. Rohit was on strike.
2.4 Boult bowled on the pads. Rohit flicked it to fine leg for a boundary. Four runs.
2.5 Boult bowled a fast yorker. Rohit jammed his bat down and dug it out for a single. The batsmen crossed. Simmons was on strike.
2.6 Boult bowled a length ball. Simmons defended it. No run.
Mumbai Indians were 29 for 1.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled the fourth over.
3.1 Bhuvneshwar bowled an out-swinger. Rohit pushed it to cover for a single. The batsmen crossed. Simmons was on strike.
3.2 Bhuvneshwar bowled a fuller delivery. Simmons drove it beautifully past the extra cover fielder for a boundary. Four runs.
3.3 Bhuvneshwar bowled a short ball. Simmons pulled it for a single.
3.4 Bhuvneshwar bowled a fast, full delivery outside the off-stump.
Rohit tried to play a big drive. The ball took a thick outside edge and flew quickly to the right of the slip fielder.
Shikhar Dhawan, standing at first slip, dove to his right and caught the ball with both hands just before it hit the grass.
"Caught at slip!" Danny Morrison shouted loudly. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes again! A massive wicket for Sunrisers Hyderabad!"
Rohit Sharma walked off the field for 6 runs. Because no run was completed, the new batsman, Ambati Rayudu, walked out to bat at number four and took the strike.
3.5 Bhuvneshwar bowled to Rayudu. Rayudu defended it. No run.
3.6 Bhuvneshwar bowled a length ball. Rayudu pushed it to cover. No run.
The fourth over ended. Mumbai Indians were 35 for 2.
Siddanth decided to bring Mohammed Siraj into the attack for the fifth over. He wanted to use pace while the ball was still hard.
4.1 Siraj ran in fast. He bowled a short delivery to Simmons. Simmons pulled it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
4.2 Siraj bowled a fast yorker to Rayudu. Rayudu drove it for a boundary. Four runs.
4.3 Siraj bowled a length ball. Rayudu defended it for a single.
4.4 Siraj bowled wide outside the off-stump. Simmons cut the ball past point for a massive six.
4.5 Siraj bowled a bouncer. Simmons pulled it for a single.
4.6 Siraj bowled on the pads. Rayudu flicked it for a single.
Mumbai Indians were 48 for 2.
Trent Boult bowled the sixth and final over of the powerplay.
5.1 Boult bowled to Simmons. Simmons took a single.
5.2 Boult bowled a fast length ball to Rayudu. Rayudu tried to hit it over mid-on. The ball got big on him and took the top edge. The ball went high in the air.
David Warner ran back from mid-on, kept his eyes on the ball, and caught it safely overhead.
"Another wicket falls!" Pommie Mbangwa yelled. "Trent Boult gets Ambati Rayudu! Mumbai Indians are losing wickets too quickly."
Ambati Rayudu walked back for 6 runs. Because it was a catch and they didn't cross, Kieron Pollard walked out to bat at number five and took the strike.
5.3 Boult bowled a short ball to Pollard. Pollard ducked under it. No run.
5.4 Boult bowled a full delivery on the pads. Pollard flicked it for a boundary. Four runs.
5.5 Boult bowled an out-swinger. Pollard pushed it for a single.
5.6 Boult bowled a fast yorker. Simmons dug it out. No run.
The mandatory powerplay was over. The fielding restrictions were lifted. Mumbai Indians were 54 for 3.
Siddanth pushed his fielders back to the boundary ropes. He brought his leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, into the attack.
6.1 Rashid bowled a flat leg-break. Pollard pushed it to long-off for a single.
6.2 Rashid bowled a googly. Simmons hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
6.3 Rashid bowled another leg-break. Simmons took a single.
6.4 Rashid bowled to Pollard. Pollard cut the ball for a single.
6.5 Rashid bowled fuller. Simmons drove it to long-on for a single.
6.6 Rashid bowled a fast googly aimed directly at the middle stump.
Pollard, expecting the ball to spin away, played inside the line. The ball spun sharply inward, missed the inside edge of the massive bat, and crashed into the stumps.
"Bowled him!" Danny Morrison roared. "Rashid Khan strikes! The googly does the trick. Kieron Pollard is deceived. Mumbai lose their fourth wicket!"
Kieron Pollard walked back to the dugout for 6 runs. The new batsman, Hardik Pandya, walked out and took the strike for the eighth over as the field swapped. Mumbai Indians were 62 for 4.
Yuzvendra Chahal came into the attack.
7.1 Chahal bowled a tossed-up delivery. Hardik stepped out and hit it down the ground for a single.
7.2 Chahal bowled wide. Simmons pushed it to cover. No run.
7.3 Chahal bowled on the pads. Simmons defended it. No run.
7.4 Chahal bowled a leg-break. Simmons pushed it for a single.
7.5 Chahal bowled again. Hardik hit it for a massive six over long-on.
7.6 Chahal bowled a flatter ball. Hardik defended it. No run.
Siddanth Deva decided to take the ball himself. He took his cap off and handed it to the umpire.
"The captain brings himself on," Pommie Mbangwa said on the broadcast. "He wants to control the middle overs."
8.1 Siddanth ran in and bowled a fast length delivery on the middle stump to Simmons. Simmons defended it straight down the pitch. No run.
8.2 Siddanth ran in again. He bowled a good-length ball on the off-stump. Simmons pushed it for a single.
8.3 Siddanth ran in and bowled a good-length delivery just outside off stump.
Hardik Pandya stepped forward and defended it with a solid forward block. The ball dropped harmlessly onto the pitch, took a gentle bounce, and trickled only a short distance back toward the bowler.
Instead of immediately retreating into his crease after playing the shot, Hardik remained where he was, bat raised slightly as he held his defensive pose.
Siddanth completed his follow-through, reached forward, and gathered the ball cleanly after its first bounce. The instant it settled into his right hand, he flicked his wrist and fired a throw straight at the stumps.
The throw crashed into the middle stump. The LED bails lit up instantly.
Hardik was still standing outside his crease, frozen in the same pose. He looked down in disbelief at his shattered stumps.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad players erupted in celebration before bursting into laughter as they realized what had happened. David Warner, stationed at mid-off, doubled over laughing, pointing toward Hardik. From the slip cordon, Shikhar Dhawan clapped his hands and laughed loudly.
In the stands, Krithika was laughing just as hard. She clapped her hands proudly above her head, pointing down at the field to celebrate his sharp presence of mind.
The square-leg umpire immediately raised his finger to signal the run-out.
Inside the commentary box, Danny Morrison and Pommie Mbangwa could barely contain themselves.
"What is he doing out of his crease?!" Danny Morrison exclaimed between fits of laughter. "You simply cannot do that against Siddanth Deva! He's an outstanding fielder. Didn't anyone learn after what he did to Pollard earlier in the tournament? Give him a chance at the stumps, and he never misses!"
Pommie Mbangwa chuckled as he replied. "I believe the modern expression is 'aura farming,' Danny. Hardik tried to stand there and look composed, and Siddanth harvested the wicket instead! That has to be one of the funniest dismissals of the entire tournament."
Red-faced with embarrassment, Hardik tucked his bat under his arm and began the long walk back to the pavilion as the SRH players continued laughing, congratulating one another, and high-fiving Siddanth for his sharp piece of fielding.
Krunal Pandya walked out to bat at number seven, replacing his brother, and took the strike. Mumbai Indians were 71 for 5.
8.4 Siddanth bowled a fast yorker to Krunal. Krunal dug it out. No run.
8.5 Siddanth bowled a slower ball. Krunal pushed it to point for a boundary. Four runs.
8.6 Siddanth bowled a length ball. Krunal took a single.
Mohammed Siraj came back into the attack.
9.1 Siraj bowled a fast delivery. Simmons took a single. The batsmen crossed. Krunal was on strike.
9.2 Siraj bowled to Krunal. Krunal hit it for a boundary over mid-wicket. Four runs.
9.3 Siraj bowled a bouncer. Krunal pulled it for a single. The batsmen crossed. Simmons was on strike.
9.4 Siraj bowled to Simmons. Simmons hit a length ball over extra cover for a boundary. Four runs.
9.5 Siraj bowled full. Simmons drove it for a single.
9.6 Siraj bowled to Krunal. Krunal took a single.
The tenth over ended. Mumbai Indians were 87 for 5.
Siddanth bowled his second over.
10.1 Siddanth bowled a fast yorker. Simmons dug it out for a single.
10.2 Siddanth ran in and bowled an off-cutter. Krunal tried to hit a big shot over extra cover. The ball gripped the pitch and took the top edge. The ball went high in the air.
Sanju Samson ran back from his wicketkeeping position, kept his eyes on the falling ball, and caught it safely in his padded gloves.
"Another wicket for the captain!" Danny Morrison yelled. "Siddanth Deva gets Krunal Pandya this time. A proper bowling wicket! The off-cutter works perfectly to deceive the batsman."
Krunal Pandya was out for 10 runs. Harbhajan Singh walked out to bat and took the strike.
10.3 Siddanth bowled to Harbhajan. Harbhajan defended it. No run.
10.4 Siddanth bowled a slower ball. Harbhajan took a single.
10.5 Siddanth bowled a length ball. Simmons took a single.
10.6 Siddanth bowled a wide yorker. Harbhajan couldn't reach it. No run.
Yuzvendra Chahal bowled the twelfth over.
11.1 Chahal bowled a flat delivery. Simmons hit it for a massive six.
11.2 Chahal bowled wide. Simmons cut it for a single.
11.3 Chahal bowled to Harbhajan. Harbhajan hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
11.4 Chahal bowled a leg-break. Harbhajan pushed it for a single.
11.5 Chahal bowled fuller. Simmons drove it for a single.
11.6 Chahal bowled a flipper. Harbhajan defended it. No run.
Mumbai Indians were 103 for 6.
Mohammed Siraj came on for his third over.
12.1 Siraj bowled a fast, full delivery. Simmons took a single.
12.2 Siraj bowled a sharp bouncer to Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan, desperate to hit a boundary to keep up with the high required run rate, went for a massive pull shot. He hit it high into the night sky over mid-wicket for a six.
12.3 Siraj bowled another short ball. Harbhajan tried to hit it again. The ball got big on him and bounced higher than he expected. He didn't get any distance on the shot.
Deepak Hooda, standing safely at deep mid-wicket, settled underneath the falling ball and took a secure, two-handed catch.
"Another one bites the dust!" Pommie Mbangwa yelled. "Mohammed Siraj gets the wicket! Harbhajan Singh tries to clear the ropes again but finds the fielder easily."
Harbhajan Singh was out for 15 runs. Mitchell McClenaghan walked out to join Lendl Simmons and took the strike.
12.4 Siraj bowled to Karn. Mitchell defended it. No run.
12.5 Siraj bowled a fast length ball. Mitchell pushed it for a single.
12.6 Siraj bowled to Simmons. Simmons took a single.
Mumbai Indians were 112 for 7.
Rashid Khan bowled his third over.
13.1 Rashid bowled a leg-break. Mitchell took a single. The batsmen crossed. Simmons was on strike.
13.2 Rashid bowled a googly. Simmons hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
13.3 Rashid bowled another googly. Simmons took a single. Th
13.4 Rashid bowled full. Mitchell defended it. No run.
13.5 Rashid bowled flat. Mitchell took a single.
13.6 Rashid bowled a flipper. Simmons pushed it for a single. The batsmen crossed.
Mumbai Indians were 120 for 7.
Trent Boult came back into the attack.
14.1 Boult bowled a full delivery on the pads. Mitchell flicked it for a single.
14.2 Boult bowled a slower ball. Simmons hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
14.3 Boult bowled a bouncer. Simmons pulled it for a single.
14.4 Boult ran in and bowled a perfect, swinging yorker aimed straight at the base of the middle stump.
Mitchell McClenaghan tried to bring his bat down to dig it out, but the ball was far too fast. The ball crashed into the stumps, knocking them back.
"Bowled him!" Danny Morrison announced. "Trent Boult delivers a perfect yorker. Mitchell McClenaghan had no answer to that speed."
Mitchell McClenaghan was out for 3 runs. Jasprit Bumrah walked out to bat as the new man and took the strike.
14.5 Boult bowled a length ball. Bumrah defended it. No run.
14.6 Boult bowled a short ball. Bumrah took a single.
The fifteenth over ended. Bumrah went to the non-striker's end. Simmons was on strike for the sixteenth over. Mumbai Indians were 127 for 8.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar came back for his third over.
15.1 Bhuvneshwar bowled a fast length ball. Simmons stepped out and hit it over extra cover for a boundary. Four runs.
15.2 Bhuvneshwar bowled a slower ball. Simmons hit it for a massive six.
15.3 Bhuvneshwar bowled a wide yorker. Simmons hit it for another boundary. Four runs.
15.4 Bhuvneshwar bowled a full toss. Simmons drove it for two runs.
15.5 Bhuvneshwar bowled a length ball. Simmons hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
15.6 Bhuvneshwar ran in and bowled a very slow, rolling bouncer.
Simmons was early into his pull shot. He hit the ball high into the air toward the long-on boundary.
David Warner, standing at long-on, ran forward, kept his eyes perfectly on the ball, and caught it safely.
"The lone fighter falls!" Pommie Mbangwa announced loudly. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his third wicket! He outsmarted Lendl Simmons with the slower bouncer. Simmons played a good fighting innings, but it was never going to be enough today."
Lendl Simmons was out for a well-made 74 runs. Lasith Malinga walked to the non-striker's. Jasprit Bumrah was on strike for the seventeenth over.
Mumbai Indians were 147 for 9.
Siddanth bowled his third over.
16.1 Siddanth bowled a fast yorker. Bumrah dug it out. No run.
16.2 Siddanth bowled a slower ball. Bumrah pushed it for a single.
16.3 Siddanth bowled a length ball. Malinga defended it. No run.
16.4 Siddanth bowled a wide yorker. Malinga took a single.
16.5 Siddanth bowled a bouncer. Bumrah missed it. No run.
16.6 Siddanth bowled an off-cutter. Bumrah took a single.
The seventeenth over ended. Bumrah went to the non-striker's end. Malinga was on strike for the eighteenth over. Mumbai Indians were 150 for 9.
Mohammed Siraj came on to bowl his final over.
17.1 Siraj bowled a fast delivery. Malinga took a single.
17.2 Siraj bowled to Bumrah. Bumrah swung hard and hit the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. Four runs.
17.3 Siraj bowled a bouncer. Bumrah pulled it for a single.
17.4 Siraj bowled a length ball. Malinga missed it. No run.
17.5 Siraj bowled a full toss. Malinga hit it for a boundary. Four runs.
17.6 Siraj bowled a yorker. Malinga dug it out. No run.
Mumbai Indians were 160 for 9.
Siddanth bowled his fourth and final over.
18.1 Siddanth ran in and bowled a fast, full delivery. Bumrah blocked it with a straight bat. No run.
18.2 Siddanth bowled a slower ball outside the off-stump. Bumrah reached out and pushed the ball to point. The fielders were back, so they ran a single. The batsmen crossed. Malinga was on strike.
18.3 Siddanth bowled a fast yorker. Malinga dug it out. No run.
18.4 Siddanth bowled a bouncer. Malinga ducked. No run.
18.5 Siddanth bowled an off-cutter. Malinga defended it. No run.
18.6 Siddanth bowled a full delivery. Malinga pushed it for a single. The batsmen crossed.
The nineteenth over ended. Mumbai Indians were 162 for 9.
They needed 48 runs from the final over. The match was over.
Trent Boult came on to bowl the twentieth over to finish the innings.
19.1 Boult ran in and bowled a slower ball. Bumrah swung and missed. No run.
19.2 Boult bowled a full delivery on the pads. Bumrah hit it to deep square leg for a single.
19.3 Boult ran in fast. He bowled a perfect, searing yorker aimed directly at the base of the middle stump.
Lasith Malinga had absolutely no time to react. He tried to bring his bat down, but the ball was past him before his bat even moved.
The ball crashed violently into the middle stump, breaking the stump out of the ground completely.
The red lights flashed brightly.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad players threw their arms up and cheered loudly. Siddanth smiled broadly and high-fived Trent Boult and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
"Bowled him!" Danny Morrison shouted over the noise of the broadcast. "Trent Boult finishes it off with a perfect yorker! The middle stump is out of the ground! The Mumbai Indians are all out with three balls left in the innings!"
"What a victory for the Sunrisers Hyderabad!" Pommie Mbangwa roared. "They win by 46 runs! They marched into Mumbai, posted a massive total thanks to an unbelievable century from their captain, and then their bowlers completely dismantled the home team. Sunrisers Hyderabad are going straight to the final!"
The final score was Mumbai Indians 163 all out in 19.3 overs.
The players shook hands in the middle of the field. The Sunrisers players looked happy. They had secured their place in the tournament final.
The Mumbai Indians players looked very disappointed, but they shook hands respectfully. They knew they had been outplayed today in all aspects of the game.
In the VIP box, Krithika was jumping and celebrating with her hands raised in victory. Kavya Maran pulled her into a tight hug, both of them thrilled, though Krithika's voice was already hoarse from cheering his name for the last three hours.
The television broadcast cut to a short commercial break.
When the broadcast returned, the post-match presentation was set up on the field.
Ravi Shastri stood holding a microphone.
"What an incredible game of cricket," Ravi announced to the remaining crowd in the stadium. "Sunrisers Hyderabad move directly to the final. Mumbai Indians will have to play Qualifier 2. Let's hear from the captain of the Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma."
Rohit walked up to the microphone. He looked tired but composed.
"Tough loss tonight, Rohit," Ravi said kindly. "Where do you think the game slipped away from you?"
"It is a tough pill to swallow on our home ground," Rohit admitted honestly. "We started really well with the ball. We got Warner, Dhawan, and Williamson out very early. We had them eight for three in the fourth over. We thought we had the game in our hands."
Rohit paused and shook his head slightly.
"But the game was lost the moment Sid came out to bat," Rohit said, giving full credit to the opposition captain. "We couldn't get his wicket. He played an unbelievable innings. If we had taken his wicket early, when they were four or five down, the game would have been ours. Chasing 210 in a semi-final is always going to cause panic. Our batting couldn't handle the scoreboard pressure against their fast bowlers today."
"You still have another chance in Qualifier 2," Ravi reminded him. "Good luck."
"Thank you, Ravi bhai. We will bounce back," Rohit said, walking away.
"And now, the Man of the Match," Ravi Shastri called out loudly. "For his incredible 142 not out from 66 balls, and his crucial wickets in the second innings. The captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Siddanth Deva."
Siddanth walked up to the stage. The crowd applauded him respectfully.
Ravi handed him the trophy and the prize check.
"Siddanth, what a performance," Ravi said, smiling. "Your team was 8 for 3. Most teams would panic. Most teams would fold for 100 runs. How did you manage to score 142 runs by yourself?"
"Panic doesn't score runs, Ravi bhai. I just took it one over at a time. I knew the pitch was good. I knew the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. I just told the lower-order guys to block the ball and give me the strike. I know my capabilities. If I stayed out there for twenty overs, I knew I could get us to a defendable total."
"And your bowlers did the rest," Ravi noted. "And that run-out of Hardik Pandya was quite something."
Siddanth smiled slightly. "The bowlers were perfect. Bhuvi, Siraj, Boult, and Rashid hit their lengths. As for the run-out, he stepped out of his crease. I just threw the ball at the stumps."
"It was a complete team effort in the second innings," Ravi concluded. "Congratulations on reaching the final, Siddanth. Go celebrate with your team."
The long IPL season had come down to this. They were one match away from defending their title. They had a few days of rest now while they waited to see who would win Qualifier 2 and meet them in the grand final.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad team walked off the field and back into the dressing room. The job was almost done.
Siddanth Deva Match Statistics:
Batting: 142 Not Out (66 Balls). 16 Fours, 9 Sixes. Strike Rate: 215.15.
Bowling: 4 Overs, 1 Maiden, 15 Runs, 1 Wicket. Economy: 3.75.