Ranji Trophy: Siddharth Desai Takes 9 Wickets in Record-Breaking Spell

Siddharth Desai, born on A

ugust 16, 2000, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a promising Indian cricketer renowned for his left-arm orthodox spin bowling and lower-order left-handed batting.

Early Career and Debut: Desai made his first-class debut for Gujarat during the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season. In his debut match against Jammu & Kashmir, he showcased his potential by taking a five-wicket haul in the second innings, earning the Man of the Match award.

Notable Performances:

• 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup: Desai emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 18 dismissals in five matches, highlighting his growing reputation in domestic cricket.
• 2018-19 Ranji Trophy: He was Gujarat’s top wicket-taker in the group stage, claiming 23 wickets across six matches.
• 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Desai represented India, further solidifying his status as a promising young talent.

Recent Achievements: On January 23, 2025, Desai achieved a remarkable feat by taking nine wickets for 36 runs against Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy. This performance stands as the third-best bowling figures in Ranji Trophy history, following Anshul Kamboj’s 10/49 for Haryana against Kerala in November 2024 and Ankeet Chavan’s 9/23 for Mumbai against Punjab in December 2012.

Career Statistics: As of January 2025, Desai’s career statistics are as follows:

• First-Class Matches:
  • Matches: 36
  • Innings: 65
  • Balls: 8,031
  • Runs: 4,176
  • Wickets: 159
  • Best Bowling: 8/66
  • Average: 26.26
  • Economy Rate: 3.11
  • Strike Rate: 50.5
  • Five-Wicket Hauls: 12
  • Ten-Wicket Match Hauls: 2
• List A Matches:
  • Matches: 20
  • Innings: 20
  • Balls: 1,122
  • Runs: 790
  • Wickets: 25
  • Best Bowling: 3/20
  • Average: 31.60
  • Economy Rate: 4.22
  • Strike Rate: 44.8

These statistics underscore Desai’s effectiveness and consistency as a bowler in both formats.

Playing Style: Desai is known for his slow left-arm orthodox spin, a style that has proven effective in various domestic competitions. His ability to extract turn and maintain accuracy has made him a valuable asset for Gujarat.

Future Prospects: Given his impressive performances and rapid development, Siddharth Desai is considered a promising prospect for higher levels of cricket, including potential selection for national duties. His recent record-breaking performance in the Ranji Trophy further highlights his growing stature in Indian cricket.

The 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup was a cricket tournament held for the best under-19 teams from Asia, and it took place in Bangladesh from September 29 to October 7, 2018. The tournament was organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), and it featured six participating teams: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Key Highlights:

• Champion: India won the tournament, claiming their 7th ACC Under-19 Asia Cup title.
• Runner-up: Sri Lanka finished as the runner-up.
• Top Performers:
  • India’s Siddharth Desai emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers. He played a key role in India’s success, finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the competition with 18 wickets from 5 matches.
  • His exceptional bowling helped India win crucial matches and ultimately secure the championship.

Tournament Format:

• The teams were divided into two groups (Group A and Group B), and they played in a round-robin format within each group. The top two teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals.
• India and Sri Lanka advanced to the final, with India emerging victorious after a well-rounded performance.

Final Match:

• India vs Sri Lanka: The final was held at Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, on October 7, 2018.
• India won the final by 144 runs, with a dominant performance in all departments of the game. India posted a competitive total, and their bowlers, led by Desai, restricted Sri Lanka, clinching the title.

India’s Squad:

• India’s squad included players such as Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Mavi, and Siddharth Desai, all of whom played crucial roles throughout the tournament.

Final Standings:

1. India (Champions)
2. Sri Lanka (Runners-up)
3. Bangladesh
4. Pakistan
5. Afghanistan
6. UAE

The 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup was an important stepping stone in the careers of many young cricketers, with several players going on to represent their senior national teams in international cricket.

The 2018-19 Ranji Trophy was the 85th season of India’s premier domestic cricket tournament, and it ran from October 6, 2018, to January 13, 2019. The tournament featured a total of 28 teams competing across 4 groups (A, B, C, and D) in a league format, culminating in the knockout stages.

Key Highlights:

• Winner: Vidarbha won the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, securing their second consecutive title.
• Runner-up: Saurashtra finished as the runner-up, losing in a thrilling final.
• Top Scorer: Mayank Agarwal of Karnataka was the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing over 1,160 runs, including a double century.
• Top Wicket-taker: Siddhart Desai of Gujarat was among the top wicket-takers with 23 wickets during the group stages, highlighting his form as a bowler.

Group Stages:

The tournament followed a league format, with the teams divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D). Each team played against the others in its group in a round-robin format, with points awarded for wins, draws, and losses.

• Group A included strong teams like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
• Group B featured teams such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• Group C consisted of teams like Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, and Saurashtra.
• Group D had teams such as Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Goa.

Knockout Stages:

The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals.

• Quarter-finals: Featured high-stakes encounters where the league stage’s best performers competed for a spot in the semi-finals.
• Semi-finals: Vidarbha and Saurashtra emerged as the two teams to qualify for the final.

Final:

• Vidarbha vs Saurashtra: The final was held from January 10 to 13, 2019, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
• Vidarbha’s dominant performance: Vidarbha, led by their captain Faiz Fazal, took control of the final from the start, with Saurashtra unable to match their consistency. Vidarbha’s strong team performance in both batting and bowling helped them secure a 78-run victory.

Final Match Details:

• Vidarbha posted a total of 312 in their first innings, and Saurashtra replied with 229.
• In the second innings, Vidarbha set 205 as the target, and Saurashtra was bowled out for just 126.
• Vidarbha won the match by 78 runs, with crucial contributions from their bowlers Aditya Sarwate and Umesh Yadav, and strong batting from Wasim Jaffer.

Notable Performances:

• Siddhart Desai (Gujarat) stood out in the group stage with a remarkable spell, finishing as one of the top wicket-takers.
• Mayank Agarwal (Karnataka) impressed with his consistency, scoring multiple centuries, including a double century.
• Faiz Fazal (Vidarbha) led his team with resilience, while Umesh Yadav and Aditya Sarwate were pivotal in Vidarbha’s bowling attack during the final.

Final Standings:

1. Vidarbha (Champions)
2. Saurashtra (Runners-up)
3. Karnataka
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Gujarat
6. Tamil Nadu

Overall Significance:

• Vidarbha’s back-to-back wins made them only the second team in Ranji Trophy history to achieve consecutive titles, after Mumbai.
• The 2018-19 season witnessed exceptional individual performances, with players like Mayank Agarwal and Siddhart Desai setting new standards in Indian domestic cricket.

This season cemented Vidarbha’s position as a dominant force in Indian domestic cricket, while also highlighting the emerging talents that would go on to represent India on the international stage.

The 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup was a cricket tournament organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), aimed at providing emerging young talent from Asian nations with a platform to showcase their skills. It was the 3rd edition of the tournament, and it took place in Bangladesh from November 14 to 23, 2019.

Key Details:

• Champion: India A emerged as the winner, claiming their 2nd title in the tournament’s history.
• Runner-up: Pakistan A finished as the runner-up.
• Venue: The matches were played at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium and Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Format: The tournament followed a round-robin format in the group stages, with the top teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Teams:

The tournament featured six teams from the region, comprising India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). These teams fielded their emerging talents, giving young cricketers a chance to represent their countries in a competitive environment.

Group Stages:

The teams were divided into two groups:

• Group A: India A, Pakistan A, Sri Lanka A
• Group B: Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, UAE

Each team played round-robin matches within their group, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals:

• India A vs UAE: India A defeated UAE in the first semi-final.
• Pakistan A vs Afghanistan A: Pakistan A triumphed over Afghanistan A in the second semi-final.

Final:

• The final was held on November 23, 2019, between India A and Pakistan A at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
• India A defeated Pakistan A by 5 wickets to win the tournament.
• Pakistan A batted first, posting a total of 252/8 in their 50 overs. In response, India A successfully chased down the target, scoring 253/5 in 49.4 overs.
• Key performances included Shivam Dube for India A, who played a vital role in their victory.

Notable Performances:

• Shivam Dube (India A) was one of the standout performers with both the bat and ball throughout the tournament. He played crucial knocks, including in the final.
• Priyank Panchal and Kunal Rajput were among the top run-scorers for India A.
• Siddharth Desai (India A) was one of the top bowlers, contributing with critical wickets in various matches.

Final Standings:

1. India A (Champions)
2. Pakistan A (Runners-up)
3. Sri Lanka A
4. Bangladesh A
5. Afghanistan A
6. UAE

Significance:

• The 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup provided a significant opportunity for younger players from Asian nations to gain experience in international-level competition.
• India A’s victory added to their strong record in emerging talent tournaments, while players like Shivam Dube, Shivam Mavi, and Siddharth Desai showcased their potential for future national team selection.
• The tournament helped many players enhance their skills and gain much-needed exposure in a competitive international setting.