Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer has revealed how young left-arm spinner M Siddharth fulfilled his promise – getting Virat Kohli out. Siddharth made just his second appearance for LSG on Tuesday, dismissing Royal Challengers Bengalur (RCB)’s star batter Kohli for his first IPL wicket. After bowling him a couple of quick ones, Siddharth set up Kohli’s downfall with a slower one. Kohli tried to flick the ball but got a leading edge, which went straight to the fielder at point.
After the match, Langer revealed his first chat with Siddharth, who promised to get Kohli out.
“Had never spoken to him before… I saw bowl an arm ball. The first thing to come out of my mouth after meeting M Siddharth was ‘Hey Sid! you reckon you can get Virat out for us?’ He goes, ‘Yes sir!’. And what did he do? He gets him out,” Langer said in a video uploaded by LSG.
The unheard tale of Langer’s interaction with Siddharth was greeted by loud cheers in the LSG camp.
There have been 10 bowlers who have got Virat as their first IPL wicket, including Ashok Dinda, Ashish Nehra, Albie Morkel, Chetanya Nanda, Doug Bracewell, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan, Harpreet Brar, Dewald Brevis, and now Siddarth.
Coming to the match, RCB elected to field first after winning the toss. Openers Quinton de Kock and skipper KL Rahul (20 in 14 balls, with two sixes) gave LSG a measured start with a 53-run opening stand. There was a 56-run stand between Kock and Marcus Stoinis (24 in 15 balls, with a four and two sixes) which helped LSG cross the 100-run mark. RCB bowlers did put pressure on the batting towards the end, but Nicholas Pooran (40* in 21 balls, with a four and five sixes) finished off well for LSG, taking them to 181/5 in their 20 overs.
Glenn Maxwell (2/23) was the pick of the bowlers for RCB. Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal and Reece Topley took a wicket each for RCB.
In the run chase, openers Virat Kohli (22 in 16 balls, with two fours and a six) and Faf Du Plessis (19 in 13 balls, with three fours) started off with a 40-run opening stand. But a game-changing spell from Mayank Yadav (3/14) put RCB on backfoot, reducing them to 94/5. Mahipal Lomror (33 in 13 balls, with three fours and three sixes) and Rajat Patidar (29 in 21 balls, with two fours and two sixes) tried to put up a fight, but RCB could score just 153 in 19.4 overs.
Besides Mayank, Naveen-ul-Haq (2/25) was the pick of the bowlers for LSG. Siddarth, Yash Thakur and Stoinis got a wicket each.
Mayank got the ‘Player of the Match’ for his spell. RCB is in the ninth spot with a win and two losses, giving them three points. LSG is at the fourth place with two wins and a loss, giving them a four points.
