Lucknow Super Giants’ head coach, Justin Langer, heaped praise on Manimaran Siddharth, who clinched his maiden IPL wicket by dismissing Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) star player, Virat Kohli, during a thrilling encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kohli, having scored 22 runs off 15 balls as the opener for RCB, fell victim to Siddharth’s deceptive slower delivery.
The dismissal showcased Kohli’s misjudgment of the ball’s trajectory, as it veered away from him while he attempted to step out. Devdutt Padikkal easily caught the ball, securing LSG’s first breakthrough in the match.
M Siddharth joined an elite group of bowlers who claimed Kohli as their maiden IPL scalp, a list that includes notable names like Ashok Dinda, Ashish Nehra, and Jasprit Bumrah, among others.
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Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Langer shared insights into a conversation he had with Siddharth, revealing, “Never spoke to him before. I saw him bowl an arm ball and I said, ‘Hey Sid, you reckon you get Virat out for us’. He goes ‘Yes sir’. And look at what he does, he gets him out.” The revelation garnered applause from the LSG squad, highlighting Siddharth’s ability to deliver under pressure.
Young dreams, manifested and delivered 🙌🧿 pic.twitter.com/SNItXN7CTc
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 2, 2024
During his three-over spell, Siddharth demonstrated economical bowling, conceding just 21 runs. In their batting innings, LSG put up a formidable total of 181 runs, with Quinton de Kock shining brightly with his 81 off 56 balls. Nicholas Pooran also made a significant contribution with an unbeaten 40, featuring five sixes and one four.
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Following Siddharth’s breakthrough, the RCB batting lineup faltered, barring the impact made by substitute Mahipal Lomror, as no other batter managed to surpass the 30-run mark. Ultimately, RCB fell short by 28 runs, marking their third defeat of the season.
