The Indian cricket team traveled to Nagpur for the second T20 International against England. Siddanth Deva led the squad, holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium pitch in Nagpur was historically known to be slow, offering significant grip for the spinners and making stroke-play difficult.
Ravi Shastri stood in the center of the pitch with the two captains for the toss.
"Tails," Eoin Morgan called. The coin landed heads.
"Siddanth, you have won the toss," Shastri announced. "What is the decision?"
"We will bowl first, Ravi," Siddanth stated clearly. "The surface looks dry. It will slow down as the game progresses, but we prefer knowing exactly what target we are chasing on a tricky pitch."
"Any changes to the playing eleven?"
"We are playing the same eleven," Siddanth confirmed.
In the commentary box, Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, and Nasser Hussain analyzed the decision.
"Bowling first is a tactical move from the new captain," Harsha Bhogle noted. "He wants to restrict England on a slow pitch and utilize the dew factor in the second innings."
"It is the correct call," Gavaskar agreed. "Siddanth Deva knows this surface. He knows his spinners, Chahal and Jadeja, will extract massive turn in the middle overs. But the key will be his own opening spell. He has to strike early."
Jason Roy and Sam Billings walked out to open the batting for England. Siddanth took the new ball.
Siddanth did not bowl 155 km/h yorkers. He assessed the pitch immediately. He recognized that raw pace would sit up nicely for the batsmen.
He ran in and bowled a 135 km/h off-cutter.
Jason Roy stepped forward, anticipating high pace. He swung his bat aggressively. The ball gripped the dry surface, slowed down drastically, and gripped the outside edge of the bat.
Virat Kohli, standing at first slip, dove to his right and took a sharp, low catch.
"Out!" Harsha Bhogle yelled. "First ball of the match! Siddanth Deva executes the perfect cutter, and Jason Roy is gone for a golden duck. The captain strikes instantly."
England was 0/1.
Joe Root walked in at number three. Siddanth maintained a tight, restrictive line. He conceded only two runs in his first over.
Ashish Nehra bowled the second over, keeping the pressure on Sam Billings.
Siddanth returned for his second over. He targeted Billings. He bowled three consecutive slow cutters, forcing Billings to defend. On the fourth delivery, Siddanth bowled a 152 km/h in-swinging yorker.
Billings, conditioned by the previous slow deliveries, was completely late on the shot. The ball crashed into his middle stump, snapping it backward.
England was 12/2.
Siddanth rotated his bowlers. He brought Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja into the attack early. The spinners strangled the English middle order. The ball turned sharply. Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes struggled to rotate the strike.
In the 15th over, Morgan tried to break the pressure. He stepped down the track against Chahal and lofted the ball toward the long-on boundary.
Siddanth Deva was fielding at long-on. He ran to his left, tracking the ball in the air. He did not dive. He positioned himself perfectly, reversed his hands, and caught the ball securely inches from the boundary rope.
Morgan was out for 17.
Siddanth brought himself back into the attack for the 18th and 20th overs to bowl at the death.
He faced Ben Stokes. Stokes attempted to ramp Siddanth over fine leg. Siddanth saw the movement, adjusted his line instantly, and bowled a heavy, rising delivery aimed at the ribs. Stokes fended awkwardly. The ball popped up to MS Dhoni.
Siddanth had his third wicket.
In the final over of the innings, Siddanth executed flawless death bowling. He bowled five wide yorkers, completely tying down Jos Buttler. On the final ball, Buttler attempted a reverse sweep. Siddanth bowled a slower ball that hit the top of off stump.
Siddanth completed his four-over spell with figures of 4 wickets for 18 runs.
England finished their innings at a highly sub-par total of 132/8.
"A masterclass in fast bowling on a slow pitch," Nasser Hussain summarized during the innings break. "Siddanth Deva recognized the conditions and adapted instantly. Four wickets for eighteen runs in T20 cricket is a match-winning spell."
India began the chase.
The slow pitch proved difficult for the Indian openers as well. KL Rahul was caught at covers in the second over. Virat Kohli struggled with his timing, scoring a run-a-ball 15 before being bowled by Adil Rashid.
India was 34/2 in the 6th over.
Siddanth Deva walked out to bat at number three.
He did not attempt to hit massive sixes immediately. He analyzed the required run rate. It was under seven runs an over.
Siddanth focused entirely on strike rotation. He pushed the ball into the large gaps in the outfield, turning ones into twos. He partnered with Suresh Raina, manipulating the field.
When the English spinners tossed the ball up, Siddanth utilized his reach. He stepped down the track and hit Moeen Ali for two consecutive boundaries straight down the ground.
Raina fell for 25. MS Dhoni walked out.
Siddanth and Dhoni executed a clinical, risk-free partnership. They ran aggressively between the wickets.
In the 18th over, India required 14 runs to win.
Chris Jordan bowled a length delivery. Siddanth stepped back and cut the ball violently past backward point for a boundary. Jordan overcompensated and bowled a full toss. Siddanth flicked it over deep square leg for a massive six.
He finished the match in the 19th over, driving Tymal Mills through the covers for the winning boundary.
India finished at 135/3.
Siddanth walked off the field undefeated on 72 runs from 46 deliveries. He had secured the series 2-0.
"He took four wickets and scored an unbeaten seventy-two," Gavaskar noted during the post-match presentation, where Siddanth was awarded Man of the Match. "He is controlling the game in all three facets. The transition to the captaincy has elevated his performance, not hindered it."
Three days later, the teams traveled to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru for the third and final T20 International.
The series was already won, but Siddanth demanded a clean sweep.
The Bengaluru pitch was the exact opposite of Nagpur. It was a flat, hard, batting paradise with extremely short boundaries.
Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to chase down the total on the flat deck.
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli opened the batting for India. They capitalized on the conditions immediately. They scored 65 runs in the six-over powerplay.
Rahul was dismissed in the 8th over for 30 runs.
Siddanth Deva walked out at number three.
He did not need to anchor the innings today. The foundation was set. He needed to accelerate.
Siddanth faced Liam Plunkett. Plunkett bowled a 140 km/h bouncer. Siddanth pivoted instantly and pulled the ball completely out of the stadium, landing it on the roof of the stands.
"That is a massive strike," Harsha Bhogle yelled. "He has come out with intent today. He is not looking to settle in."
Siddanth partnered with Virat Kohli. The two elite batsmen dismantled the English bowling attack. Virat played classical, piercing cover drives. Siddanth utilized raw, unmatched kinetic power, hitting sixes straight down the ground with minimal backlift.
Siddanth reached his half-century in just 22 deliveries.
Virat Kohli was run out in the 16th over for a brilliant 55.
Siddanth batted through the remaining overs, finishing the innings with three consecutive boundaries off Chris Jordan.
India posted a massive total of 202/6.
Siddanth finished undefeated on 65 runs from 28 deliveries.
"A target of two hundred and three," Nasser Hussain stated. "England has the firepower to chase this, but they have to deal with Siddanth Deva's pace first."
England's run chase began aggressively. Jason Roy and Alex Hales hit Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah for several boundaries in the powerplay.
Siddanth did not open the bowling. He brought himself into the attack in the 6th over to break the momentum.
He bowled a 154 km/h yorker that shattered Jason Roy's stumps instantly.
He returned in the 14th over, when Eoin Morgan was building a dangerous partnership with Joe Root. Siddanth bowled a sharp, rising bouncer that Morgan top-edged directly to MS Dhoni.
Siddanth finished his spell with 2 wickets for 24 runs in his four overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal took over the middle overs, utilizing the scoreboard pressure. He took six wickets in a devastating spell, completely collapsing the English batting lineup.
England was bowled out for 127.
India won the match by 75 runs and secured the series 3-0.
Siddanth stood on the podium, holding the series trophy alongside MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. The transition of the limited-overs captaincy was officially, successfully complete.
The BCCI schedule permitted a brief seven-day window of rest before the squad was required to assemble in Hyderabad for a one-off Test match against Bangladesh.
The players were authorized to return to their homes.
Siddanth packed his kit bag. He boarded the NEXUS corporate jet and flew back to Hyderabad.
The jet landed at the private terminal. Rahul was waiting with the Phantom. Siddanth drove himself back to the Shamshabad estate.
He navigated the winding driveway and parked the car in front of the house.
He grabbed his heavy canvas bag and walked up the front steps.
The front double doors were open.
Siddanth stopped on the top step.
Krithika was standing in the doorway. She was wearing a beautiful, deep red Kanjeevaram silk saree with a gold border. Her hair was braided neatly.
She was holding a round brass plate. Resting on the plate was a small mound of wet red kumkum and a piece of burning camphor.
Siddanth looked at her, slightly surprised. Normally, every time he returned home from a cricket tour, his mother performed the welcoming Aarti. It was a strict tradition.
He looked past Krithika. Sesikala was standing exactly two steps behind her daughter-in-law, her arms crossed, a wide smile on her face.
Sesikala nodded slightly at Siddanth, officially signaling the transfer of the household duty.
Krithika lifted the brass plate. She moved it in a slow, clockwise circle in front of Siddanth, repeating the motion three times to ward off the negative energy of the travel and the public eye.
She set the plate down on the small table next to the door. She reached out with her thumb and pressed a small red dot of kumkum firmly onto Siddanth's forehead.
"Welcome home," Krithika said softly.
"It's good to be home," Siddanth replied, stepping across the threshold with his right foot.
He walked inside. He dropped his heavy canvas bag near the staircase.
They walked into the massive living room. Siddanth sat down on the large sofa. Krithika sat down next to him.
"I will make the tea," Sesikala announced. She walked out of the living room and headed toward the main kitchen, deliberately giving them privacy.
The living room was quiet. The sound of the estate staff working outside was completely muffled by the insulated glass windows.
Siddanth leaned his head back against the sofa. He let out a long breath, finally dropping the rigid posture.
"You won the series," Krithika noted, turning slightly to face him.
"We executed the tactical plans efficiently," Siddanth confirmed, looking at her. "The team adapted to the transition well."
Krithika nodded. She looked down at the gold border of her saree. She traced the fabric with her finger.
"I am getting bored in this house," Krithika stated bluntly, dropping the pleasantries.
Siddanth did not react defensively. He turned his head and looked at her.
"What should I do about it?" Siddanth asked.
"It is your fault," Krithika accused him, her tone carrying a mix of frustration and amusement. "Since you posted that picture on Vibe, I cannot go outside. Before the wedding, I could go to the firm. I could go to a coffee shop. Now, whenever I step out of the estate gates, people stare at me. Yesterday, I went to a bookstore in Jubilee Hills, and three people asked me for a selfie because I am 'Sita'. I am being pestered."
Siddanth shifted his weight. He reached out and wrapped his right arm securely around her shoulders, pulling her flush against his side. She rested her head against his chest comfortably.
"You are married to a popular athlete," Siddanth reasoned, his hand resting on her shoulder. "The public attention is an unavoidable variable. So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know," Krithika admitted, sighing. "I resigned from the firm before the wedding because the security logistics of me going to a public office every day were too complex. But I cannot just sit in the farmhouse watching TV all day. I need to work. I need to manage something."
Siddanth analyzed her request. She was highly intelligent. Isolating her in the estate was a waste of her capability.
He began outlining immediate, concrete options.
"We own the NEXUS Animation Studio in Hitec City," Siddanth started, his voice calm and pragmatic. "We are currently rendering a massive mythology trilogy. We are also entering live-action film production. We bought a studio in Mumbai last month. I cannot oversee the daily production pipelines because of my cricket schedule. Why don't you go and check out the animation studio from time to time? Get to know the operational structure. You can try working there. Manage the production timelines."
"What do I know about animation or movie production?" Krithika asked, looking up at him.
"It is project management," Siddanth countered smoothly. "You analyze the structural flow. You just have to review the renders, point out the logical mistakes in the framing, and tell the art directors how to correct it. You do not need to draw. You have VEDA. VEDA is integrated into the studio's main servers. If you need technical data on rendering times or budget allocations, VEDA will provide the analytics instantly. You just manage the people."
Krithika considered the proposition. Managing a massive creative studio was a significant challenge.
Siddanth did not stop there. He provided alternative sectors.
"If entertainment does not interest you, we have the philanthropic division," Siddanth continued. "NEXUS utilizes its corporate tax exemptions to fully fund a massive network of orphanages and old-age homes across India. We provide the capital, but we rely on third-party directors to manage the facilities. You can take complete administrative control of that division. Audit the facilities. See if they require better infrastructure, more medical staff, or better educational materials. You can direct the capital directly."
He presented the final option.
"We also maintain a dedicated health and financial support trust for pediatric cancer patients at local government hospitals," Siddanth explained. "We cover the surgical costs and the post-operative care. You can oversee that trust. Interview the hospital administrators. Streamline the approval process for the patients. Ensure the capital is reaching the correct surgical wards."
He stopped listing the options. He looked down at her.
"Or, give me an entirely new idea," Siddanth concluded. "Tell me what you want to work with, and we will figure out the logistics. You do not have to stay at home all the time. Pick an objective."
[A/N: What do you want her to do guys]
Krithika listened to the comprehensive corporate and philanthropic portfolio he had just laid out for her. He hadn't patronized her. He had offered her legitimate, high-level administrative control over multi-million dollar divisions.
A genuine smile broke across her face.
"I will think on it," Krithika said, wrapping her arm around his waist. "The animation studio sounds interesting. The cancer trust sounds important. I will take my time to decide what I want to do."
"Take VEDA's help if needed," Siddanth confirmed.
The sound of footsteps echoed lightly in the hallway.
Sesikala walked back into the living room, carrying a silver tray with two steaming cups of tea.
The moment Siddanth heard his mother's footsteps, his posture changed instantly. He sat up completely straight, pulling his arm out from around Krithika's shoulders. He created exactly six inches of respectful space between them on the sofa.
Krithika felt him move away. She rolled her eyes dramatically, a wide smile on her face at his sudden reaction to his mother entering the room.
Sesikala set the silver tray down on the glass coffee table.
She looked at the six inches of space between them. She looked at Siddanth's rigid, formal posture.
Sesikala placed her hands on her hips. She smiled.
"Now you are shy," Sesikala teased her son directly.
Siddanth did not react. He maintained a perfectly blank expression.
"What happened to that shyness when you grabbed her and kissed her on the Sangeet stage in front of four hundred guests and a dozen cameras?" Sesikala asked, raising her eyebrows.
Krithika burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand.
Siddanth broke his stoic expression. He scratched his right cheek, a rare sign of embarrassment. He did not attempt to argue with his mother.
He leaned forward and picked up his teacup from the tray. He brought the cup to his mouth and took a quick sip to avoid the conversation.
He had miscalculated the temperature.
The tea was boiling hot, straight from the stove. It scalded the tip of his tongue instantly.
Siddanth flinched, pulling the cup away sharply. He closed his eyes, exhaling heavily through his nose to cool the burn.
Sesikala saw his reaction. She started laughing, a clear, ringing sound. Krithika leaned against the sofa armrest, laughing alongside her mother-in-law at Siddanth's expense.
Siddanth set the teacup back down on the tray carefully. He stood up from the sofa.
"I will go and freshen up," Siddanth announced, his voice slightly tight from the burned tongue.
He did not wait for a response. He turned and walked out of the living room, heading up the wooden stairs toward the master suite on the second floor.
Sesikala and Krithika remained on the sofa, drinking their tea and discussing the menu for dinner.
Exactly five minutes later, a loud, clear voice echoed down the staircase from the second floor.
"Krithika."
It was Siddanth. He was calling her.
Krithika set her teacup down on the tray. She looked at Sesikala.
Sesikala shook her head, a knowing smile on her face.
"Go," Sesikala instructed, waving her hand toward the stairs. "I have to go to the outer farm anyway. The workers are probably slacking on the irrigation lines."
Sesikala stood up, picked up the tray, and walked toward the kitchen.
Krithika stood up. She walked to the stairs and climbed them quickly. She walked down the hallway and pushed the heavy wooden door of the master bedroom open.
Siddanth was standing in the center of the room. He had taken off his travel jacket and his shoes.
Krithika stepped inside.
Before she could speak, Siddanth stepped forward. He grabbed the heavy wooden door and pulled it shut behind her. The lock clicked securely into place.
He turned around. He did not hesitate. He walked into her space, wrapping both arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.
He leaned down and kissed her. It was not a gentle, polite kiss. It was deep, intense, and heavily demanding, fueled by the adrenaline of the series victory and the weeks of highly visible public pressure.
Krithika reacted instantly. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer.
Siddanth broke the kiss for a fraction of a second. He bent his knees slightly, placed his arms under her knees, and picked her up completely off the floor.
Krithika gasped slightly at the sudden elevation, wrapped her arms around his neck.
Siddanth did not break his stride. He carried her across the bedroom carpet. He pushed the heavy frosted glass door of the master bathroom open with his shoulder.
He carried her inside and kicked the glass door shut behind them.
The sound of the high-pressure shower engaging echoed faintly through the thick walls of the master suite.
The bedroom remained completely quiet for an hour.
An hour later, the frosted glass door of the bathroom opened. Steam billowed out into the cool, air-conditioned air of the bedroom.
Siddanth walked out first. His hair was completely wet, dripping small beads of water onto his chest. He was wearing a simple white towel wrapped low around his waist.
Krithika walked out behind him. Her hair was wrapped in a smaller towel, and a large, thick white bath towel was secured tightly around her body.
Siddanth walked directly to the massive, king-sized bed in the center of the room. He did not pull the heavy quilt back.
He fell forward, collapsing face-down onto the mattress with a heavy thud, completely exhausting the last reserves of his physical energy.
Krithika walked over to the bed. She sat down on the edge of the mattress next to him, wiping the steam from her face, a tired, entirely satisfied smile on her lips. The four-day rest period before the Bangladesh Test had officially begun.
Match Statistics:
2nd T20I (Nagpur)
Siddanth Deva: 4/18 (4 Overs)
Siddanth Deva: 72* (46)
3rd T20I (Bengaluru)
Siddanth Deva: 65* (28)
Siddanth Deva: 2/24 (4 Overs)