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Vaibhav Tripathi from the VCA Stadium, Nagpur
From 8:30 AM on Thursday morning, a steady stream of people gathered near Gate No. 10 of the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium for the Ranji Trophy clash between Vidarbha and Hyderabad. A buzz filled the air, with murmurs revolving around a single name. Calls were made, and more people arrived, swelling the crowd as anticipation grew.
After the toss, with Hyderabad opting to bowl first, I climbed the stairs to the stands and witnessed a rare sight. For the first time at a domestic match, every seat was occupied. Despite Vidarbha playing at their home ground, the support wasn’t for the local team. Instead, a unified chant echoed across the stadium: “Siraj, Siraj…”
Every fan in the stands had come for one reason—to watch Mohammed Siraj in action. The moment he took the new SG ball, phones and cameras were out, capturing his every move. And Siraj did not disappoint. Leading the bowling attack, he charged in relentlessly, delivering an extended first spell of eight consecutive overs, far longer than anyone had expected.
Watching him steam in over after over brought to mind Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir’s words from his last press conference in Sydney: “From an attitude point of view, Mohammed Siraj was outstanding. He ran in every ball, even when not 100% fit. That’s the kind of spirit we need.”
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Finally, Mohammed Siraj gets his first wicket of the day, and it’s the dangerman Harsh Dubey who has to depart after a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 65 off 46 balls.
Vidarbha: 179/9@VTrips_7781 #VIDvsHYD #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/ixQytjfSHG
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) January 30, 2025
Siraj may not have been playing for India yesterday, but his intensity remained unchanged. He ran in hard, bent his back, and hit the deck with purpose. On a pitch with a tinge of grass and decent carry, he stuck to a probing good-length area, constantly varying his angles—at times going wide of the crease to induce a false shot. The crowd could sense his hunger for wickets. Five of his eight overs were maidens, and though he didn’t pick up a wicket, the pressure he created with relentless dot balls allowed his captain and new-ball partner, Chama Milind, to strike twice at the other end.
By the time Siraj returned for his second spell before lunch, Vidarbha had already crumbled to 28 for four. He bowled another four overs without a breakthrough. At lunch, his tally stood at 12 overs, a demanding workload for any fast bowler. Yet, he showed no signs of fatigue.
After his opening eight-over spell, Siraj headed to the dressing room only for a short while. However, when he returned, his energy levels were as high as ever. He remained deeply engaged, constantly in discussion with the Hyderabad skipper and fellow bowlers, offering insights and encouragement. His interactions were not limited to teammates. Every time he came near the stands, he acknowledged the roaring support from the crowd, waving to the fans who had turned up just to see him. He did not do it just once. Each time he passed by, he made sure to connect.
After lunch, with the ball losing its shine, Hyderabad’s pacers continued to make inroads, chipping away at Vidarbha’s batting lineup. Amid the wickets tumbling, 22-year-old Harsh Dubey launched a counterattack, taking on the visiting bowlers fearlessly. Even Siraj was not spared. His battle with Siraj generated a lot of interest on the opening day.
Vidarbha in all sorts of trouble at 90/6. Karun Nair, Atharva Taide, and Dhruv Shorey are all back in the dugout. All eyes will be on Akshay Wadkar once again to bail the team out of trouble. Siraj has bowled his heart out but is yet to take a wicket.#VIDvsHYD #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/838261tJSQ
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) January 30, 2025
The Vidarbha youngster sent the crowd into a frenzy by smashing three sixes off Siraj, showcasing immense courage against one of India’s premier pacers. However, the entertainment was short-lived. Siraj had the last laugh, dismissing Harsh to claim his only wicket of the day. Vidarbha were eventually bowled out for 190.
Siraj shouldered the heaviest workload, bowling 18 overs—the most by any Hyderabad bowler in the first innings. On another day, he could have easily picked up three or four wickets, as there were several plays and misses off his bowling. Despite the lack of wickets, he bowled his heart out, as he always does. Bowling is often about partnerships, and while Siraj built relentless pressure from one end, his fellow bowlers capitalised from the other.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, a large crowd was expected with Virat Kohli in action. However, witnessing the stands at the VCA Stadium packed to the point where fans were willing to stand on the stairs just to catch a glimpse of Mohammed Siraj was an unforgettable sight. It was both surprising and heartening to see such a massive turnout for a domestic match.
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