Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, first ever eleventh man to attain century, remembers innings after Tushar Deshpande knock

Tushar Deshpande, batting at No.11 scored a century (123, 129b, 10×4, 8×6) and constructed the second-highest last-wicket partnership (232) alongside Tanush Kotian in Ranji cricket for Mumbai in opposition to Baroda within the quarterfinal of the continued Ranji Trophy on Tuesday.

Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, former Tamil Nadu opener and the first-ever eleventh man in Ranji to attain a century, recalled his innings over the cellphone.

Sivaramakrishnan scored a 122-ball 115 (17×4, 3×6) within the pre-quarterfinal versus Delhi on the IIT-Chemplast floor right here in 2001.

“This is one thing which doesn’t occur (in any respect). Mine occurred out of likelihood solely. Because, I nonetheless keep in mind, I wasn’t presupposed to play that recreation. (Captain) Robin (Singh), had in actual fact advised me the day gone by that I used to be to assist out with the fielding and all. So, I used to be not ready to play in any respect. And then, the following morning, there was some heated dialogue, and I feel Ashish Kapoor at 9.15 a.m. got here and advised me that I used to be taking part in. I heard it as ‘You’re not taking part in.’

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“So, until 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. on the primary day, I assumed I wasn’t taking part in! Then, immediately Robin got here and requested who ought to bat at No. 10 and 11 between M.R. Shrinivas and me. That’s really once I knew I used to be taking part in!

File Photo: Tamil Nadu’s Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan after scoring century vs Delhi in 2001
| Photo Credit:
BALAJI N/ The Hindu

“M.R. Shrinivas was making his debut that game. Some senior player said that M.R. is a more compact player and that I would just throw the bat. So, I was sent in at No. 11. Otherwise, maybe if I had gone at No. 10, it wouldn’t have been the same. Between 25 and 80 (runs), something happened – everything I hit just connected well. By the time I knew I was on 85, I thought that if I played for some time, I’ll get a hundred. That’s how it happened,” he mentioned.

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After the innings, he was in for a pleasing shock that made the knock much more particular for him. “I got the century with Sachin Tendulkar’s bat! (Sadagopan) Ramesh was playing for India at that time. His brother (Sadagopan) Mahesh had brought that bat for that match. After I scored the hundred, he told me, ‘This is a very special bat, because Sachin gave that bat to Ramesh and you used that bat to score a century!’”

That innings was essential in Vidyut reworking into an opener. His spin bowling took a backseat, he claims.

“I was a bowler. But I always knew I had the potential to bat. But I never dreamt of getting a hundred lower down the order, let alone at No. 11! If you scored 30-40 runs at that time for the team’s cause, it was considered a bonus, that’s all. That how our thought process was at that time. But the hundred came, and it just changed things for me.

“There was nothing to lose as a batter (at No. 11). Actually, it was a very nice time to bat because there was no responsibility. You can just throw the bat, you may get out. I can hit some big sixes, I can just throw my wicket away. At that point, that freedom was there.

“Then, that transition was very difficult; from a lower-order batter to becoming the opening batter, because the thought process was completely different – against the new ball, you had to leave balls, you had to play responsibly. That transition was very challenging. But as a lower-order batter, I really enjoyed batting, because I could hit the ball a long way and at the same time, there was no pressure to score runs.”