Spinner Siddharth Desai recorded a historic feat on Thursday during the first innings of Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy match against Uttarakhand, following his spell of 9/36. The match, being played at Ahmedabad’s Gujarat College Ground, witnessed Siddharth register the best bowling figures in an innings by a Gujarat cricketer in first-class cricket. However, Siddharth, as well as his teammates, were eager to record a 10th wicket in the spell, which eventually didn’t transpire.
“10 wickets in an innings is a really big feat. After I picked my ninth wicket, the bowler at the other end tried his level best to ensure that I had the best chance possible by constantly bowling outside off-stump. Unfortunately, the last batter made a mistake. Everyone was left a little shocked as they wanted me to pick the 10th wicket. However, they later came and congratulated me,” said Siddharth in an exclusive interaction.
“Every member of the team kept pushing me to pick as many wickets as possible during the spell. They didn’t let me relax at any point. Our team’s captain Chintan Gaja kept saying, ‘It’s not over’, in an attempt to motivate me,” he added.
Siddharth maintained focus on ensuring calmness under pressure just like Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel who he idolises.
“I wanted to bowl stump-to-stump and ensure patience. The objective was to ensure I didn’t get carried away after three wickets. I started feeling that ten wickets could very well be up for grabs following my seventh wicket. However, picking nine wickets is also a great feeling and just like a dream. It’s a big moment for me and my family. I just want to do everything possible to represent India in Tests which is my late father’s dream,” he stated.
Siddharth didn’t pick a wicket in the opening two overs of his spell, but enjoyed immense success in the fifth over of the Uttarakhand innings, which marked the third over of his spell. The spinner picked three wickets in four balls, handing Gujarat the momentum. Uttarakhand were eventually bowled out for 111 in 30 overs.
“Siddharth hadn’t recorded a five-wicket haul for a long time before this innings. So, my message to him was to simply follow the process rather than getting enamoured by the moment following his third wicket,” shared Gaja.
“His first dismissal made me feel like there could be something special in store for us as there was a sharp turn. It was a classic left-arm spinner’s dismissal. The speed at which Siddharth bowls makes it difficult for batters to face him. The revs he gets on the ball is special,” stated Gaja.
