The humidity in Colombo was stifling, a thick blanket of moisture that clung to the skin even before the players stepped onto the field. It was September 12, 2009. The R. Premadasa Stadium was a cauldron of noise, dominated by the rhythmic beating of the papare bands and the waving of Lion flags.
It was India vs. Sri Lanka. The Compaq Cup.
In the commentary box, the legendary Tony Greig held the microphone, his voice booming with infectious energy.
"Good afternoon from a sweltering Colombo! The atmosphere is absolutely electric. It is the clash of the Asian titans. India, brimming with confidence after that gritty win against New Zealand, takes on the hosts, Sri Lanka. The pitch looks like a belter—hard, flat, and full of runs. It's a batsman's paradise today, folks!"
"Spot on, Tony," Sunil Gavaskar added. "Unlike the last game, the grass is gone. This is a typical Premadasa deck. Win the toss, bat first, and score 300. That will be the mantra. India has gone with the same playing XI, trusting the combination that defended 155."
---
MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara walked out to the middle. The noise levels spiked.
Sangakkara flipped the coin.
"Heads," Dhoni called.
It was Heads.
"We'll bowl first," Dhoni said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Tony Greig looked surprised. "Bowl first, MS? On this track? It looks full of runs."
"Yeah, it is," Dhoni admitted. "But we prefer chasing. The dew might come into play later, helping the ball skid on. And we back our batting lineup to chase anything."
"A bold decision!" Greig announced to the stadium. "Dhoni invites the Lankans to bat! Let's see if that gamble pays off!"
The First Innings
The Sri Lankan openers, Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan, walked out. Jayasuriya, the veteran warhorse, looked in the mood.
Ashish Nehra and RP Singh took the new ball.
---
It was carnage from the start. Jayasuriya, perhaps stung by his dismissal to Siddanth in the World Cup semi-final, decided to turn back the clock.
He slashed Nehra over point for six. He flicked RP Singh over square leg.
Dilshan played the foil, rotating the strike.
The score raced to 60 for 0 in 8 overs.
---
Dhoni brought on Ishant Sharma.
Dilshan tried to punch a length ball through the covers. The extra bounce surprised him.
The ball flew towards short cover.
MS Dhoni, showing remarkable agility, ran from behind the stumps and dived to take the catch as the fielder was slow to react.
WICKET 1: T. Dilshan c. Dhoni b. I. Sharma 23.
Kumar Sangakkara walked in. The stylish left-hander.
Dhoni immediately threw the ball to Siddanth Deva.
"He got him in the World Cup," Dhoni muttered to Yuvraj. "Let's see if he can do it again."
---
Siddanth ran in. The pitch offered no swing, so he relied on pace and the "Heavy Ball".
Ball 1: 148kph. Sangakkara defended.
Ball 3: Siddanth went round the wicket. He angled it in.
Sangakkara tried to glide it to third man.
Siddanth rolled his fingers slightly—a cutter at 135kph.
The ball gripped. Sangakkara was early on the shot.
He checked his drive, chipping it straight to Yuvraj Singh at point.
WICKET 2: K. Sangakkara c. Yuvraj b. Deva 5.
"He has his number!" Ravi Shastri shouted on air. "Deva removes the Sri Lankan captain again! A huge wicket! Sangakkara just couldn't read the pace variation."
The Middle Overs
Despite the wicket, Jayasuriya kept going. He was brutal. He reached his 50 off just 30 balls.
Thilina Kandamby joined him.
They put on a massive partnership. Jayasuriya was sweeping spinners and pulling pacers.
They took the score past 200.
Jayasuriya moved into the 90s. He looked set for a century.
But on 98, he tried to hit Harbhajan Singh for six to reach the milestone. He holed out to deep mid-wicket.
WICKET 3: S. Jayasuriya c. Raina b. Harbhajan 98.
---
Sri Lanka didn't slow down.
Chamara Kapugedera joined Kandamby.
Kandamby was playing a gem of an innings, using his feet against the spinners.
They added 80 runs in the last 10 overs.
In the 42nd Over, Siddanth came back.
Kandamby, on 75, tried to pull a short ball.
Siddanth bowled the 150kph bouncer. It got big on him.
Top edge.
Siddanth ran back and took the catch himself.
WICKET 4: T. Kandamby c & b Deva 75.
Siddanth finished with figures of 2 for 55 in 10 overs—expensive, but he got the key wickets.
Kapugedera smashed a quick 52, and Angelo Mathews chipped in.
Sri Lanka Finished: 307 for 6.
"307!" Tony Greig exclaimed. "That is a mountain! India will need to bat out of their skins to chase this under lights!"
The Second Innings
308 to win. Required Rate: 6.16.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid walked out.
The crowd was deafening. Lasith Malinga took the new ball.
---
Sachin started with a glorious straight drive for four. The crowd chanted "Sachin! Sachin!"
But in the 4th over, facing Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachin tried to flick a ball off his pads. He closed the face too early. Leading edge to cover.
WICKET 1: S. Tendulkar c. Dilshan b. Kulasekara 16.
India: 35 for 1.
"Silence in Colombo," Gavaskar whispered. "The Master goes. And now, the Devil walks in. Siddanth Deva joins Rahul Dravid."
Siddanth walked out. The target was massive. 308.
He met Dravid.
"Good wicket, Sid," Dravid said, his face intense. "Ball is coming onto the bat. Just play through the line."
---
Siddanth started positively. He drove Malinga through extra cover for three.
He and Dravid built a partnership. It wasn't explosive, but it was steady.
Dravid played the anchor, rotating strike. Siddanth punished the loose balls.
They put on 68 runs partnership.
Siddanth moved to 34.
Then, Dravid, trying to up the rate against Sanath Jayasuriya's spin, was trapped LBW.
WICKET 2: R. Dravid lbw b. Jayasuriya 47.
India: 93 for 2.
Yuvraj Singh walked in.
"Run rate is creeping up," Yuvraj said. "7 an over."
"I'll take the lead," Siddanth said.
---
Siddanth shifted gears.
He swept Muralitharan. He pulled Mathews.
He reached his 50 off 40 balls with a crisp cut shot.
Yuvraj looked good, hitting a few boundaries, but on 36, he tried to clear long-off against Mendis and was caught.
WICKET 3: Yuvraj Singh out.
India: 155 for 3.
Suresh Raina came in.
First ball. Ajantha Mendis bowled the carrom ball.
Raina didn't pick it. Inside edge onto stumps.
WICKET 4: S. Raina b. Mendis 0.
India: 155 for 4.
"Trouble!" Shastri yelled. "Double blow! Raina goes for a golden duck! India is stumbling! 153 runs still needed!"
---
MS Dhoni walked out.
The scoreboard read: 155/4. Overs: 28.
Siddanth was on 62.
Dhoni walked up to him. "We are the last recognized pair, Sid. Karthik is next, but we need to take this deep. No silly shots."
They batted. They ran like cheetahs.
Siddanth was in the zone. He was picking Muralitharan from the hand. He was reading Malinga's slower balls.
They put on 58 runs partnership.
Dhoni scored a run-a-ball 27.
But in the 34th over, trying to hit Malinga over mid-wicket, Dhoni mistimed it. Caught.
WICKET 5: MS Dhoni c. Kapugedera b. Malinga 27.
India: 213 for 5.
Equation: 95 runs needed off 98 balls.
Siddanth was on 98.
He stood at the non-striker's end, watching Dhoni walk back. He took a deep breath.
Dinesh Karthik (DK) walked in.
Siddanth walked down the pitch to meet him.
"DK," Siddanth said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Listen to me. Just give me the strike. I am seeing everything. Just stay there. Maintain the wicket."
DK nodded, swallowing hard. "Okay, Sid. You lead."
--
Over 36: Angelo Mathews.
Siddanth on strike. 98.
Ball 1: Length ball outside off.
Siddanth leaned back. He guided it past point.
He ran two.
CENTURY.
100 off 85 balls.
His second ODI century. In a chase of 308. Under lights.
Siddanth stopped. He took off his helmet. Sweat poured down his face.
He looked at the sky. Thank you.
He raised his bat to the dressing room. The Indian players were on the balcony, applauding wildly.
He waved his bat to the crowd. Even the Sri Lankan fans applauded. It was a knock of pure class.
"Magnificent!" Gavaskar said, his voice filled with awe. "Cometh the hour, cometh the man! A century under extreme pressure! But the job is not done. 91 runs still needed."
With the century done, Siddanth decided it was time to end the game.
---
Over 41: Ajantha Mendis
Siddanth on strike.
Ball 1: Step out. Loft over long-off. SIX.
Ball 2: Sweep. FOUR.
Ball 3: Reverse sweep. FOUR.
"He is tearing the mystery spinner apart!" Tony Greig screamed. "He is reading him like a comic book!"
Over 44: Lasith Malinga
Siddanth faced the Slinger.
Malinga bowled a yorker.
Siddanth played the Helicopter Shot.
The wrists snapped. The ball rocketed over mid-wicket.
SIX.
"Oh my word!" Shastri roared. "He has hit a Malinga yorker for six! That is Dhoni's shot, but Deva has perfected it! This boy is special!"
Dinesh Karthik played his part perfectly. He rotated strike, hitting the odd boundary when the field was up. He scored a crucial 39 runs.
---
Over 48:
10 runs needed.
Siddanth was on 135.
Nuwan Kulasekara bowled.
Ball 1: Siddanth drove through covers. FOUR.
Ball 2: Siddanth pulled over square leg. SIX.
INDIA WINS.
India: 309 for 5 (47.2 Overs).
Siddanth Deva: 145 (143 balls).*
12 Fours. 5 Sixes.
Dinesh Karthik: 39 (49 balls).*
Siddanth roared, punching the air. DK ran and hugged him.
It was the highest successful run chase at the R. Premadasa Stadium. And Siddanth had anchored it from the 4th over to the end.
---
The stadium was buzzing. The Sri Lankan team looked stunned. They had scored 307 and lost with 2.4 overs to spare.
Ravi Shastri stood at the presentation area.
Shastri: "What a game of cricket! Over 600 runs scored! But there was one man who stood between Sri Lanka and victory. The Man of the Match... for a majestic, unbeaten 139... Siddanth Deva!"
Siddanth walked up to the podium. He looked exhausted but elated. He accepted the trophy and the cheque.
Shastri: "Siddanth, take a bow. 308 to win. You came in at 35 for 1. You saw wickets fall around you. What was the mindset?"
Siddanth wiped his face with a towel. "The target was big, but the wicket was fantastic. When Rahul bhai and I were batting, we just wanted to keep wickets in hand. The dew helped a bit at the end, the ball was coming on nicely."
Shastri: "You had partnerships with everyone. Dravid, Yuvi, Dhoni, DK. You seemed to be the senior partner today."
"I've learned a lot from them. When Mahi-bhai got out, I knew I couldn't leave it to the tail. I told DK just to rotate, and he played beautifully. That partnership at the end was crucial."
Shastri: "145 runs. Your highest score in ODIs. You seem to like Sri Lankan bowling?"
Siddanth smiled. "They have great bowlers. Murali sir, Malinga. It's a challenge. I just had a good day today."
Shastri: "A modest champion. Well played, Siddanth."
---
The team was celebrating. It was a massive win.
Dhoni walked up to Siddanth.
"145," Dhoni said, shaking his head. "You make chasing 300 look easy."
"Learned from the best finisher," Siddanth said, pointing at Dhoni.
Dhoni laughed. "I think you're graduating, Sid. Soon, you'll be teaching us."