Date: November 27, 2013
Location: Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Event: 3rd ODI, India vs. West Indies (Series Decider)
The crisp, biting winter air of late November had settled heavily over Kanpur. Inside the historic Green Park Stadium, a packed, shivering crowd gathered for the final showdown of the series.
The three-match ODI series between India and the West Indies had been a fiercely contested affair. India had comfortably chased down a target in the first match in Kochi, but the West Indies had bounced back brilliantly in Visakhapatnam to level the series 1-1. Today was the decider, the final clash before the Indian team turned their attention to the upcoming tour of South Africa.
Up in the commentary box, the broadcasters looked down at the pitch as the ground staff rolled away the heavy covers.
"A very warm welcome to Kanpur, everyone," Harsha Bhogle announced over the television feed. "It all comes down to this. The third and final ODI. A series decider is always a special occasion. I am joined by Sunil Gavaskar and Ian Bishop. Sunny, looking at this Green Park surface, what are your thoughts?"
"It looks like a very good batting track, Harsha," Sunil Gavaskar observed, studying the 22 yards. "There is a lack of live grass, meaning the ball will not seam around much after the initial few overs. However, because we are in northern India during the winter, the dew factor in the evening is going to be massive. The outfield will get wet, making it very difficult for the team bowling second to grip the ball."
"That makes the toss absolutely vital today," Ian Bishop chimed in. "Both captains will undoubtedly want to field first. For the West Indies, winning today would be a massive statement to finish the tour. For MS Dhoni's men, it is about maintaining their dominance at home."
Down on the outfield, Ravi Shastri stood by the pitch alongside the two captains, MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo. The cold air was evident as both captains wore their respective team sweaters.
"Welcome to the toss for this series decider," Shastri's voice echoed through the stadium speakers. "Dwayne Bravo has the coin. MS Dhoni to call."
Bravo flipped the coin high into the Kanpur sky.
"Heads," Dhoni called out.
The match referee checked the turf as the coin landed. "It is heads. India wins the toss."
"MS, you've won a crucial toss here in Kanpur. What are you going to do?" Shastri asked.
"We are going to field first, Ravi," Dhoni replied evenly. "The dew is going to be a major factor under the lights, so we prefer to chase. The pitch looks a bit firm, so hopefully, our seamers can get some early movement with the two new balls."
"Any changes to your playing eleven for the decider?"
"We are going in unchanged," Dhoni confirmed. "The boys have been playing well. Rohit and Shikhar at the top, Virat, Siddanth, myself, Suresh, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bhuvi, Shami, and Mohit Sharma."
"Thanks, MS. Dwayne, you are batting first. Would you have bowled as well?"
"Yes, the dew makes defending tricky here," Bravo admitted with a smile. "But we have a strong batting lineup. If we can see off the new ball and build some solid partnerships, we can set a challenging total. We just need to play sensible cricket in the middle overs."
"Best of luck to both teams."
---
The Indian fielding unit jogged out onto the outfield, greeted by loud cheers from the local crowd. The reality of the Kanpur winter was immediately visible. Several fielders, including Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, were wearing thick, sleeveless woolen sweaters over their blue jerseys. Between deliveries, players could be seen blowing into their cupped hands to keep their fingers from going numb, their breaths forming small, visible clouds of white fog in the freezing air.
Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles walked out to open the batting for the West Indies.
"Here we go," Ian Bishop said as Bhuvneshwar Kumar marked his run-up. "Bhuvneshwar to Chris Gayle. The battle of the new ball."
Bhuvneshwar started impeccably. He kept the ball full, shaping it gently away from the massive Jamaican left-hander. Gayle, known for his explosive power, opted for caution, defending the good deliveries and letting the wide ones carry through to Dhoni.
Mohammed Shami operated from the other end, hitting the deck hard and maintaining a tight line.
In the sixth over, Bhuvneshwar's discipline yielded results. He bowled a delivery that pitched on middle and leg, angling across Charles. Charles attempted to work it towards mid-wicket, but the ball swung away late, taking the leading edge. It lobbed gently to Ravichandran Ashwin at mid-on.
Johnson Charles: c Ashwin b Kumar 11 (18)
Marlon Samuels joined Gayle at the crease. The two Jamaican batsmen realized the need to consolidate. They played watchfully, surviving the opening spells without further damage. Gayle eventually broke the shackles in the 12th over, hitting Shami for two massive sixes straight down the ground, temporarily warming up the shivering crowd.
However, just as Gayle looked poised for a big score, Ravindra Jadeja was introduced into the attack. In his first over, Jadeja bowled a flat, fast dart that skidded off the pitch. Gayle tried to cut it but missed, the ball crashing into his off-stump.
Chris Gayle: b Jadeja 34 (45)
At 65 for 2 in the 15th over, Darren Bravo walked in. He and Samuels initiated a long, gritty rebuilding phase. The Green Park pitch had flattened out into a comfortable batting surface, but the Indian spinners kept the scoring rate tightly controlled with accurate, stump-to-stump bowling.
MS Dhoni tossed the ball to Siddanth Deva for the 22nd over.
"Siddanth Deva comes into the attack," Harsha Bhogle noted. "He has been bowling with great rhythm lately. With the spinners keeping things quiet, Dhoni will look for Deva to find a breakthrough."
Siddanth ran in, relying on his natural pace and hit-the-deck bowling style. He kept his lengths varied, mixing sharp, 140 kmph deliveries with well-disguised slower balls. Samuels and Bravo respected his pace, content to pick up singles and occasional twos.
The partnership flourished through the middle overs, accumulating 88 runs. Darren Bravo played some elegant cover drives, while Samuels used his feet well against the spinners.
In the 34th over, Siddanth returned for his second spell. He bowled a tight line just outside off-stump to Darren Bravo. Bravo, attempting to guide the ball down to third man, played away from his body. The ball caught a thick outside edge and flew safely into the gloves of MS Dhoni.
Darren Bravo: c Dhoni b Deva 42 (58)
Lendl Simmons came to the crease but struggled to find his timing. He was run out a few overs later after a mix-up with Samuels.
At 180 for 4 in the 41st over, captain Dwayne Bravo joined Samuels. With nine overs remaining, the West Indies needed a final push.
Samuels, who had batted beautifully to reach 71, tried to launch Mohammed Shami over long-on but failed to get enough elevation, caught cleanly by Virat Kohli near the boundary rope.
Marlon Samuels: c Kohli b Shami 71 (93)
Kieron Pollard walked out to the middle. The giant all-rounder, alongside his captain, provided the necessary late acceleration. Pollard hit two massive sixes off Mohit Sharma, while Bravo found the gaps with clever placement.
Siddanth bowled the penultimate over of the innings, executing wide yorkers that restricted the pair to just seven runs. Shami bowled a decent final over, but Pollard managed to squeeze a boundary off the last ball.
The West Indies finished their fifty overs with a respectable, competitive total.
WEST INDIES: 263/5 (50 Overs)
Marlon Samuels: 71 (93 balls)
Kieron Pollard: 32 Not Out (22 balls)
"A very solid effort from the West Indies," Sunil Gavaskar summarized during the innings break. "263 for 5 is a fighting total on this pitch. Samuels played a crucial anchoring innings, and Pollard gave them a good finish. The Indian bowlers were disciplined, with Bhuvneshwar and Siddanth keeping things tight. However, with the dew definitely settling on the outfield now, batting should become easier under the lights. It will require a clinical chase from India to win this series."
---
The stadium floodlights shone brightly through the misty winter air as the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, walked out to begin the chase. The target of 264 meant they needed to score at just over 5.2 runs per over.
Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach took the two new white balls for the West Indies.
Rohit Sharma started positively, leaning into a beautiful cover drive off Rampaul in the second over for a boundary. Dhawan, playing with his usual flair, punched Roach through the off-side.
However, the West Indian pacers quickly found their lengths.
In the fifth over, Kemar Roach bowled a sharp, back-of-a-length delivery that nipped back slightly off the seam. Rohit, attempting to defend from the crease, was cramped for room. The ball caught the inside edge of the bat and dragged back onto his leg stump.
"Bowled him! Roach gets the early breakthrough!" Ian Bishop called out from the commentary box. "Rohit Sharma drags it on. It was a good, tight delivery, and India loses their first wicket."
Rohit Sharma: b Roach 12 (16)
Virat Kohli strode out to the middle at number three. He tapped the pitch, looking determined to assert himself early. He got off the mark with a quick single and hit Rampaul for a crisp boundary through mid-wicket in the next over.
But Sunil Narine, introduced into the attack early by Dwayne Bravo to exploit the remaining hardness of the new ball, struck a massive blow.
In the 9th over, Narine bowled a flatter, skidding off-break. Kohli went back in his crease to cut the ball square, but the delivery hurried onto him faster than anticipated. He missed the line entirely, and the ball crashed into his off-stump.
Virat Kohli: b Narine 8 (12)
"Oh, he's missed it! Narine strikes!" Harsha Bhogle announced, the crowd falling into a stunned silence. "Virat Kohli is bowled! He tried to force it off the back foot, but Narine's pace through the air deceives him. India are 34 for 2, and the West Indies are right on top here in Kanpur."
At the crease, Kohli stood absolutely frozen for a full three seconds. He stared hard at the pitch in complete disbelief, unable to comprehend how the ball had sneaked past his bat. As the reality set in, the fiery Delhi batsman turned around and began walking off. He muttered a string of muffled, frustrated curses to himself, aggressively smacking his bat against his pads with a loud thwack as he crossed the boundary rope.
The scoreboard pressure was suddenly palpable. 230 runs were still required, and two of India's premier batsmen were back in the pavilion.
Siddanth Deva walked down the pavilion steps, stepping onto the field. The crowd found its voice again, cheering for the Vice-Captain to rescue the chase.
"Siddanth Deva comes to the crease," Sunil Gavaskar noted. "This is a crucial juncture in the match. The ball is still relatively new, and Narine is bowling beautifully. Deva and Dhawan need to build a substantial partnership here to put the chase back on track."
Siddanth took his guard against Narine. He played out the rest of the over watchfully, using a straight bat to defend the spin.
In the very next over, facing Ravi Rampaul, Dhawan pushed a ball to short cover and immediately took off for a quick single. Siddanth, seeing the fielder swooping in fast, hesitated for a split second before committing.
"Wait, wait!" Dhawan yelled mid-pitch, suddenly stopping.
"No, run!" Siddanth called, already halfway down the track.
Both batsmen scrambled wildly. Siddanth put in a desperate dive, sliding his bat across the crease just a fraction of a second before the bails were whipped off by Denesh Ramdin. It was a heart-stopping, incredibly close call that nearly resulted in a catastrophic run-out.
Siddanth stood up, dusting off his jersey. He walked halfway down the pitch to meet Dhawan.
"Loud and clear calls, Shikhar," Siddanth instructed firmly, tapping gloves with the opener. "Don't look at the ball, just look at me. If it goes behind square, it's my call. In front, it's yours. We can't afford another mix-up."
Dhawan nodded, letting out a sharp breath. "Got it, Sid. My bad. Let's settle down."
For the next ten overs, the pair executed a gritty, focused rebuilding phase. They didn't retreat into a defensive shell, nor did they attack recklessly. They manipulated the field, finding singles and twos, capitalizing on the quick outfield.
The conditions were beginning to heavily favor the batsmen, purely because of the weather. The Kanpur dew had settled rapidly.
"Look at that," Ian Bishop pointed out on the broadcast as the camera zoomed in on Sunil Narine. "Narine is constantly asking the umpire for a dry towel. The ball is visibly glistening with moisture. Dwayne Bravo is rubbing the leather on his trousers, trying to keep it dry. It's slipping out of their hands."
Siddanth and Dhawan realized the bowlers were struggling with their grip. They smartly targeted the spinners, knowing the wet ball made it nearly impossible for Narine and Permaul to extract any meaningful turn.
At the other end, Shikhar Dhawan began to flourish. Finding his rhythm, the left-handed opener took the role of the aggressor.
In the 18th over, facing Darren Sammy, Dhawan stepped out of his crease and lofted the ball cleanly over mid-off for a boundary. In the next over, he swept Marlon Samuels aggressively behind square for another four.
"This is a fantastic partnership developing," Ian Bishop praised as the score crossed the 100-run mark. "You look at the contrasting styles. Shikhar Dhawan is playing with such flamboyance, hitting the boundaries and taking the attack to the bowlers. At the other end, Siddanth Deva is completely composed. He is currently on 24 from 32 balls, just knocking the ball around and feeding the strike to his partner. It is incredibly mature batting."
Dhawan brought up his half-century in the 22nd over with a crisp square cut, raising his bat to the cheering crowd.
Once he passed fifty, Dhawan shifted into a higher gear. He began to dominate the West Indian bowling attack. He hit Rampaul for two consecutive boundaries and deposited a tossed-up delivery from Veerasammy Permaul deep into the stands for his first six of the night.
Siddanth continued his steady accumulation, quietly moving into the forties. He admired his partner's stroke-play from the non-striker's end, offering words of encouragement between overs.
By the 32nd over, the partnership had crossed 120 runs. The required run rate was well under control, and the West Indian fielders were beginning to look visibly frustrated by the wet ball and their inability to break the stand.
In the 35th over, Dhawan pushed a ball to long-on and sprinted for a single. He turned around, pulling off his helmet.
Instead of a simple bat raise, Dhawan hiked up the side of his right batting pad, aggressively slapped his thigh in his trademark Kabaddi style, and proudly twirled his mustache to the roaring, freezing Kanpur crowd.
"A MAGNIFICENT CENTURY FOR SHIKHAR DHAWAN!" Harsha Bhogle boomed as the stadium erupted in a standing ovation. "What an absolutely spectacular innings under pressure! He stood tall even when India lost early wickets and has completely turned this match on its head. 100 off just 95 deliveries. He has been brilliant today."
Siddanth walked down the pitch, a wide, highly amused smile on his face at his teammate's theatrics.
"Okay, Gabbar, settle down," Siddanth chuckled, patting the opener on the shoulder. "Save the thigh-slaps for the dressing room. We still need 50 runs."
Dhawan, grinning widely, nodded. "Let's get it done."
With the milestone achieved, Dhawan looked to finish the game quickly. He went on an absolute rampage. In the 38th over, he hit Kemar Roach for a massive six over mid-wicket, followed by a searing boundary straight down the ground.
However, in the 40th over, attempting to hit Dwayne Bravo out of the park, Dhawan's timing finally faltered. He swung hard at a slower, dipping delivery that slipped slightly out of Bravo's wet hand. The ball took the outer half of the bat and sliced high into the night sky.
Lendl Simmons, fielding at deep cover, settled underneath it and took a safe, reverse-cup catch.
"Caught! Dhawan falls trying to clear the ropes!" Ravi Shastri announced as the opener walked off to a massive round of applause. "An incredible innings comes to an end. 119 runs off 105 balls. He has put India in a commanding position. The score is 210 for 3, and India needs just 54 runs from 60 balls to win the series."
Shikhar Dhawan: c Simmons b Bravo 119 (105)
With the required run rate well under six runs an over and Siddanth Deva fully set at the crease batting on 62, the match seemed like a formality.
Suresh Raina walked out to the middle. The aggressive left-hander usually thrived in these situations. He got off the mark with a quick single.
But the West Indies, sensing an opening with the new batsman, tightened their bowling. Sunil Narine was brought back into the attack for his final spell, having aggressively dried the ball with a fresh towel.
In the 42nd over, Narine bowled a brilliant carrom ball that spun away from Raina. Attempting to run it down to third man, Raina completely missed the line. The ball clipped the off-stump.
"Bowled him! Narine strikes back!" Ian Bishop called out. "Raina departs cheaply! The West Indies are fighting back here."
Suresh Raina: b Narine 4 (7)
The score was 218 for 4. MS Dhoni walked down the pavilion steps to join his Vice-Captain.
"Just knock it around, Sid. We have plenty of time," Dhoni said, taking his guard.
For the next two overs, Siddanth and Dhoni picked up singles, moving the score to 230. But the pitch, despite the dew, still offered some grip for the slower bowlers if they managed to land it right.
In the 45th over, Dwayne Bravo bowled a well-directed slower ball on the stumps. Dhoni, trying to flick it through the leg side, closed the face of the bat a fraction too early. The ball took a leading edge and popped up softly back to Bravo, who took an easy return catch.
"Caught and bowled! MS Dhoni is gone!" Harsha Bhogle said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Bravo gets his counterpart! Suddenly, India are losing wickets in clusters. It's 230 for 5. They need 34 runs from 30 balls. The pressure is shifting back to the home side."
MS Dhoni: c & b Bravo 10 (12)
Ravindra Jadeja walked out to the crease. The left-hander tried to immediately alleviate the pressure, stepping out to hit Narine over the infield in the 46th over. But he failed to get to the pitch of the ball, mistimed the shot, and was caught comfortably at long-off by Kieron Pollard.
Ravindra Jadeja: c Pollard b Narine 2 (4)
The Green Park stadium, which had been celebrating a certain victory just thirty minutes ago, was now incredibly tense. The crowd had gone deathly quiet in the freezing cold.
The scoreboard read 235 for 6.
India had lost four wickets for just 25 runs since Dhawan's departure. They still required 29 runs off 24 balls.
In the Indian dugout, the atmosphere could have been described as pure panic. Virat Kohli was chewing his fingernails, while Shikhar Dhawan paced nervously behind the benches.
But sitting in his designated chair, completely contrasting with the roaring tension around him, was MS Dhoni. Having just returned to the dugout after his dismissal, the Indian captain calmly took off his batting pads, accepted a steaming hot cup of tea from a support staff member, and leaned back in his chair. He took a slow sip, his eyes fixed calmly on the television monitor, displaying an absolute, unbothered lack of panic. He entirely trusted the man who was still out there in the middle.
Ravichandran Ashwin walked out to join Siddanth Deva.
Siddanth, standing at the non-striker's end, watched Ashwin take his guard. He realized the momentum had completely swung. The lower order was exposed, and the West Indian fielders were buzzing with renewed energy, crowding the inner ring to stop the singles.
Siddanth walked down the pitch to meet the spinner.
He didn't issue an order to simply survive. Ashwin was one of the sharpest cricket brains in the world, and Siddanth treated him as an equal partner in the chase.
"What are you seeing, Ash?" Siddanth asked, tapping gloves.
Ashwin tapped the pitch with his bat, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the West Indian fast bowler preparing for the next over. "Roach is dropping his wrist late, Sid. It's hard to pick up because of the dew, but watch out for the slower bouncer. They're trying to force us to hit square."
"Good spot," Siddanth nodded, appreciating the tactical insight. "I'll handle the boundaries down the ground. You just defend the straight ones and feed me the strike."
Ashwin nodded firmly. "Got it."
The 47th over was bowled by Kemar Roach.
Siddanth took strike. Keeping Ashwin's advice in mind, he watched Roach's wrist closely. Roach ran in and bowled a fast, full delivery outside off-stump. Siddanth didn't try to muscle it square; he leaned into the shot, perfectly executing a crisp cover drive that pierced the gap between cover and point, racing to the boundary.
Two balls later, Roach dropped short, attempting the exact slower bouncer Ashwin had predicted. Siddanth, waiting for it, quickly transferred his weight to his back foot and pulled the ball emphatically through mid-wicket for another boundary.
He pushed a single on the fifth ball, allowing Ashwin to successfully defend the final delivery of the over.
"Nine runs off the over," Sunil Gavaskar noted. "Siddanth Deva showing his class and composure. He knows exactly what is required. He is batting on 75 now, and he is taking the responsibility entirely onto his own shoulders."
The equation was down to 20 runs required off 18 balls.
Dwayne Bravo took the ball for the 48th over. He bowled a tight over, utilizing wide yorkers and slower balls, restricting Siddanth and Ashwin to just five singles.
Equation: 15 runs required off 12 balls.
Sunil Narine bowled the 49th over. Siddanth was on strike.
Narine bowled a flat, skidding delivery on middle stump. Siddanth stepped out of his crease, converting it into a half-volley, and lofted it clean over the bowler's head. The ball bounced just inside the boundary rope for four.
Narine adjusted his line, pushing it wider. Siddanth stepped across, waited for the spin, and expertly cut the ball past backward point for another crucial boundary.
The crowd erupted. The tension finally broke.
Siddanth took a single on the fourth ball, bringing Ashwin on strike. Ashwin sensibly pushed the ball to mid-on for a single, giving Siddanth the strike for the final delivery of the over.
Narine bowled a quicker delivery on the pads. Siddanth effortlessly flicked it through square leg for two runs.
"Twelve runs from the over!" Ravi Shastri announced excitedly. "Siddanth Deva has timed this to perfection. India now needs just 3 runs to win the match and the series from the final over!"
Dwayne Bravo marked his run-up for the final over.
Siddanth was on strike, batting on 84.
Bravo bowled a good-length delivery outside off-stump. Siddanth didn't attempt anything flashy. He simply opened the face of his bat, guiding the ball cleanly past point. It split the fielders and raced across the wet outfield, crossing the boundary rope.
The Indian players in the dugout finally stood up and applauded, letting out a collective sigh of relief.
"A boundary to finish it off!" Harsha Bhogle proclaimed as Siddanth raised his bat to the cheering crowd. "India wins the match by four wickets and takes the series 2-1! It got a little tight there at the end with that middle-order collapse, but Siddanth Deva remained an absolute rock at the crease. A very mature, composed innings of 88 not out to steer his team home."
INDIA: 267/6 (49.1 Overs)
Shikhar Dhawan: 119 (105 balls)
Siddanth Deva: 88 Not Out (82 balls, 9 Fours, 1 Six)
Siddanth shook hands with Ashwin in the middle of the pitch, offering a satisfied smile. He then walked over to shake hands with Dwayne Bravo and the rest of the West Indian players as they exited the field.
It had been a solid, professional victory, highlighting the resilience of the Indian batting lineup.
---
The post-match presentation ceremony was held on the outfield, the bright stadium floodlights cutting through the thick winter mist.
Ravi Shastri stood with the microphone, addressing the loud, freezing Kanpur crowd.
"What a fantastic series decider we have had today," Shastri boomed. "The West Indies put up a great fight, but India held their nerve to win the series. For an absolutely spectacular century that set up this run chase, the Man of the Match is Shikhar Dhawan!"
Shikhar Dhawan walked up to the podium, twirling his mustache with a wide grin, and accepted the trophy to loud cheers.
"Shikhar, 119 runs in a series decider. You looked completely dominant out there today. How did the pitch feel?"
"Thank you, Ravi," Dhawan smiled, rubbing his hands together in the cold. "The pitch played beautifully under the lights. The dew definitely helped the ball come onto the bat, though it made it tough for their bowlers to grip it. It was tough when we lost Rohit and Virat early, but Sid came in and we just built a solid partnership. We had a bit of a mix-up early on, but we sorted our calling out quickly. He kept rotating the strike and taking the pressure off, which allowed me to play my natural game. It's always great to score a hundred and help the team win."
"A brilliant knock, Shikhar. Congratulations."
MS Dhoni was then called up to receive the series trophy.
"MS, a 2-1 series victory," Shastri said, as Dhoni walked up. "It got a little tense towards the end there with those quick wickets, but you looked completely relaxed in the dugout with your cup of tea while the rest of the stadium was panicking."
Dhoni smiled his usual calm smile. "Yes, we lost a few wickets in a cluster, which we need to look at. You never want to leave it that late. But panic doesn't score runs, Ravi. The platform set by Shikhar was fantastic. And Siddanth was out there. He understands the situation perfectly, anchored one end, and made sure he was there till the end to finish it. I knew if he batted until the 48th over, we would cross the line. Overall, it's been a good series for us. The bowlers executed their plans well today on a good batting track."
Instead of holding the Celkon Mobile Cup series trophy up for the cameras himself, true to his iconic leadership tradition, Dhoni accepted the silver cup and immediately walked over to the squad. He handed the trophy directly to the youngest, newest members of the team—Mohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami.
As the confetti cannons erupted, covering the stage in blue and silver paper, Dhoni stepped completely to the back edge of the team photo, allowing the youngsters to hoist the trophy and enjoy the spotlight.
Siddanth stood next to Virat and Dhawan near the front, smiling for the cameras. The series was won, the job was done, and the team continued its winning momentum. The calm, composed anchor role he had played today was just another testament to his immense value to the squad.
[SIDDANTH DEVA MATCH STATS: Batting: 88 (82 balls) | Bowling: 1 for 42 (8 overs)]*