The Indian Premier League is one of the biggest platforms to search for some enormous talent. In last year’s IPL, Lucknow Super Giants found a gem in the Manimaran Siddharth. Just not in the franchise league, the Tamil Nadu bowler showcased his excellence even in the domestic level. In the ongoing Buchi Babu Tournament, his team registered a thrilling 5-wicket win against Gujarat. After the game, he talked about his excellence.
Manimaran Siddharth on His Excellence:
Before the Duleep Trophy starts in the upcoming month, the prestigious Buchi Babu tournament is going on. While playing for the TNCA President’s XI, Siddharth Manimaran is showcasing his bowling brilliance. While playing against Gujarat, the left-arm spinner secured an incredible 5-wicket win over Gujarat. Siddharth led his team’s comeback with an impressive eight wickets for 21 runs. In the match, he secured fourteen wickets for 97 runs in the match. While leading the side, Manimaran Siddharth opened up about the match.
He said, “We let them get away with a few partnerships in their first innings. When it came to their second innings, we knew what to do. When we got out for 211 (to Gujarat’s 371 in the first innings), we had only one thing in mind – that we need to get them out for at least 100 runs. We thought, ‘If we do that, we are in the game.”
Later he added, “The message to our team was to be as intentful as possible to get them bowled out for as fewer runs as possible within the 100-run mark (Gujarat folded for 58). It was conveyed that only then we’ll be in the game. And I felt that they were short of a spinner. So, we thought we’ll take advantage of that. We thought if it’s less than 250 (219 was the target), it’ll be our advantage.”
Crediting LSG for His Development:
In the 2024 IPL auction, Lucknow Super Giants purchased him. Under Justin Langer’s guidance, the bowlers shined his greatness. He remembered how LSG head coach Justin Langer’s initial question during their first meeting significantly lifted his confidence before the season even started.
While talking about this, he said, “I feel that I understand situations better after coming back (from the LSG camp in IPL 2024). In the pre-season camp, Sridharan Sriram (LSG assistant coach) told me to be ready for the RCB game. When I was sitting on the physio bed in the team room, I met Langer for the first time.”
The First Conversation With Langer and Securing Kohli’s Wicket:
While remembering their first conversation, Siddharth said, “The first thing he asked me was, ‘Will you take Virat’s wicket for us?’ I replied, ‘Yes, sir. Definitely.’
Later he added, “I think he would’ve seen my bowling in the videos he used to get from the pre-season camp. I didn’t ask him why his first question to me was that, but felt so happy to have been asked that. It gave me a lot of confidence.”
He actually ended up securing Virat Kohli’s wicket. In the encounter against Royal Challengers, Virat Kohli was dismissed in an exceptional delivery by the spinner. That was his maiden wicket in the IPL. While talking about that, the bowler said, “I felt that what I manifested had happened. I was very happy. I mean, no one would expect their first (IPL) wicket to be Kohli!”
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