Date: September 9th, 2011.
Location: The Oval, London.
Series Status: India leads 1-0.
The caravan moved from Southampton to London for the 3rd ODI. The Kia Oval, with its iconic gasometer and vast expanses of green, greeted the teams with a familiar English grimace: grey clouds and a nippy breeze.
MS Dhoni looked at the pitch. It had a tinge of green, but the soil underneath was dry. It was a "bowl first" day.
The Toss:
Alastair Cook spun the coin. Dhoni called Tails.
It was Heads.
Cook: "We'll have a bowl. Overcast conditions, hopefully, the ball does a bit early on. We need to get back in this series."
India's start was a horror show.
James Anderson found his rhythm immediately.
Over 1:Parthiv Patel edged a swinging delivery to second slip. A duck.
India 0/1.
Over 4:Ajinkya Rahane, trying to be positive, drove loosely at Stuart Broad. Caught at point for 4.
India 15/2.
Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid tried to rebuild. They played cautiously, leaving the ball well.
But the pressure was relentless.
Over 9: Tim Bresnan to Dravid
Bresnan got one to nip back sharply. Dravid, usually so solid, was beaten for pace.
The ball clipped the top of off stump.
WICKET (Dravid 14).
Powerplay Score: 35/3.
India was in deep trouble. The English bowlers were swarming.
Suresh Raina walked out. He looked nervous against the short ball. Broad tested his chin immediately.
Over 15:
Raina tried to pull a ball that wasn't short enough. Top edge.
Caught by Kieswetter.
WICKET (Raina 10).
India: 58/4.
Four wickets down. Not even 60 runs on the board. The crowd at The Oval was buzzing, sensing a rout. The prediction was India all out for 150.
Siddanth Deva walked out at No. 6 (4 down). He met Kohli mid-pitch.
"It's swinging, Sid," Kohli said. "Play close to the body."
Deva took guard. He didn't activate the AB de Villiers template. Today, he needed stability.
Over 18: Anderson to Deva
Anderson bowled a beauty that squared Deva up. Deva played with soft hands. The ball died near his feet.
"Well bowled," Deva muttered.
Over 20: Broad to Kohli
Kohli was fighting hard. He was on 25.
Broad bowled a wide half-volley. Kohli drove.
It was in the air for a second. Graeme Swann dived at cover.
A stunning catch.
WICKET (Kohli 25).
India: 85/5.
Half the side gone. 20 overs done.
MS Dhoni walked out. The Captain. He looked calm, chewing his gum, surveying the wreckage.
He tapped gloves with Deva.
"We need a partnership," Dhoni said. "Just bat. Don't look at the score."
What followed was a period of intense reconstruction. Deva and Dhoni rotated the strike. They ran hard twos. They didn't hit boundaries; they accumulated.
Deva reached his 50 with a push to long-on. It was a gritty, mature innings. 50 off 68 balls.
But just as they looked to accelerate, England struck again.
Over 35: Graeme Swann to Deva
Deva tried to step out to increase the rate. He didn't get to the pitch of the ball.
He tried to check his shot, but the ball looped to short extra cover.
WICKET (Deva 53).
India: 150/6.
Deva walked back, frustrated. He had done the hard work but got out at the wrong time.
15 overs left. Only the tail remaining. Or so England thought.
Ravindra Jadeja walked out at No. 8.
The "Rockstar," as Shane Warne called him.
Dhoni met him. "Jaddu, we have 15 overs. We need 100 runs. Can you do it?"
Jadeja nods. "Yes, Mahi bhai."
The partnership that followed was electric. Dhoni anchored, hitting the bad balls. Jadeja attacked everything.
Over 40: Tim Bresnan
Jadeja smashed Bresnan for two boundaries through point.
Dhoni whipped a six over mid-wicket.
Over 44: Stuart Broad
Jadeja played a tennis-shot slap down the ground for FOUR.
He reached his 50 in just 32 balls. The sword celebration came out.
Dhoni reached his own 50 with a calm single. It was a captain's knock, holding the team together while Jadeja provided the flair.
Over 48: Jade Dernbach
Jadeja hit a SIX over long-off.
Dhoni hit a FOUR through covers.
Over 50: Tim Bresnan
Jadeja was on strike.
49.1: SIX over deep square leg.
49.2: FOUR past fine leg.
49.6: Dhoni finished with a 2.
India finished on 265/6.
The partnership between Dhoni and Jadeja was worth 115 runs in 15 overs.
MS Dhoni: 69* (Off 75 balls).
Ravindra Jadeja: 78* (Off 45 balls).
Siddanth Deva: 53 (Off 72 balls). Extras: 12.
Commentary (Ravi Shastri): "What a finish! From 85/5 and 150/6, India has posted 265! Dhoni the anchor, Jadeja the destroyer. That partnership has given India a total to defend!"
Target: 266.
Conditions: Lights on. Ball skidding slightly, but spin expected to play a part.
England openers Alastair Cook and Craig Kieswetter walked out.
Praveen Kumar swung the new ball. Vinay Kumar bowled tight lines.
England started steadily. 40/0 in 8 overs.
Over 9: Siddanth Deva
Dhoni brought on Deva as the first change.
Deva wasn't bowling express. He was bowling cutters.
8.2: Deva to Kieswetter.
Kieswetter tried to blast Deva over mid-wicket.
Deva bowled a knuckleball.
Kieswetter was early. Leading edge.
The ball looped to cover. Virat Kohli took it easily.
Commentary (Bumble): "The golden arm! Deva comes on and strikes in his first over! Kieswetter gone for 24. England 45/1."
WICKET (Kieswetter 24).
Jonathan Trott joined Cook. They played sensibly. England reached 100/1 in 20 overs. They were cruising.
Dhoni turned to Ravindra Jadeja.
The "Rockstar" with the ball.
Over 22: Jadeja to Cook
Jadeja fired it in flat. Cook tried to cut.
The ball skidded and kept low.
Bottom edge.
Bowled.
WICKET (Cook 40).
Over 24: Jadeja to Trott
Trott stepped out. Jadeja pulled the length back.
Trott adjusted and pushed it back.
Jadeja dived to his right and stopped a certain single.
Next ball. Trott tried to sweep.
LBW. Plumb.
WICKET (Trott 32).
Jadeja was turning the game. England 110/3.
Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell tried to rebuild.
But Deva returned for his second spell.
Over 32: Deva to Bell
Deva bowled a bouncer. Bell hooked.
It went for four.
Deva smiled. He went round the wicket.
He bowled a yorker. Wide of off stump.
Bell chased it.
Edge.
Dhoni took a low catch.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "Got him! Deva gets his second! Ian Bell chases a wide one and pays the price! England are wobbling at 145/4!"
WICKET (Bell 20).
Jadeja and Ashwin bowled in tandem from overs 35 to 45. They conceded just 40 runs and picked up two more wickets.
Jadeja removed Eoin Morgan (Caught in the deep).
Ashwin removed Ravi Bopara.
England needed 60 runs off 30 balls. 4 wickets in hand. KP was still there on 60.
Over 46: Deva to KP
Deva vs KP. The rivalry continued.
KP hit a six.
Deva responded with a dot.
KP tried to run a single. Direct hit from Jadeja at point.
Run Out!
KP was gone for 68.
That was the nail in the coffin.
Final Over: England needed 34 runs.
Vinay Kumar bowled a tight over.
Final Score: England 238 All Out (49.4 Overs).
India Won by 27 runs.
Post-Match Presentation:
Nasser Hussain: "A brilliant game of cricket. India fought back from the dead. Man of the Match, for a match-winning 78 not out and 2 crucial wickets... Ravindra Jadeja."
Jadeja walked up, sunglasses on (at night), twirling his imaginary sword.
"I just wanted to play my game," Jadeja said. "Dhoni bhai told me to stay calm in the beginning, and that helped. But then he told me to hit at the end. The wicket was gripping, so I enjoyed bowling."
Ravi Shastri Analysis: "India goes 2-0 up. This win showed character. They didn't rely on the top order. The lower middle order stood up. Dhoni and Jadeja's partnership was the turning point. Deva's all-round performance (53 runs, 2 wickets) was vital, but tonight belongs to Sir Jadeja."
Part 7: The Series Wrap (4th and 5th ODIs)
4th ODI: The Tie at Lord's
Date: September 11th.
The series moved back to Lord's.
Rain intervened again. It was a 40-over game.
India scored 240 (Raina 80).
England was cruising, but a late hat-trick by Suresh Raina (part-time spin) caused a panic.
Result:MATCH TIED.
(Raina bowled the last over, England needed 1 to win off 1 ball, and Swann was run out).
5th ODI: The Whitewash Finish (Cardiff)
Date: September 16th.
India led 2-0-1.
In Cardiff, Virat Kohli finally came to the party. He smashed a brilliant 107.
Siddanth Deva was rested to give Varun Aaron a chance.
India scored 304/6.
England crumbled for 180. Ravindra Jadeja took 4 wickets.
Series Result: India won the ODI Series 3-0 (with one Tie and one No Result).
Post-Series Presentation:
The team gathered for the photo. Deva stood at the back, smiling. The tour had started with a historic Test win, suffered a dip, and ended with ODI dominance.
He checked his phone.
He looked at the English sky. It was grey, as always. But the mood was bright blue.
The English Summer was over.
---
Date: September 16th, 2011.
Location: St. David's Hotel, Cardiff.
Time: 7:00 PM (Post-Match).
The ODI series was done. India had won 3-0. The trophy was in the bag. The tour of England, which had started with the high of Lord's and dipped through the low of the Test series draw, had ended on a defiant high.
The team bus arrived at the hotel. The players were exhausted but high on adrenaline. Virat Kohli, the Man of the Match from Cardiff, was singing loud Punjabi songs in the back. Suresh Raina was drumming on the seats. MS Dhoni was smiling, that rare, relaxed smile of a captain who has weathered the storm and steered the ship home.
Siddanth Deva sat quietly. He was happy, but he was also hungry. Not just for food, but for flavor.
He had spent three months in England. He had eaten pasta. He had eaten roast chicken. He had eaten fish and chips. He had eaten endless bowls of salad. The [Perfect Rhythm] skill kept his body optimal, but his soul—his Hyderabadi soul—was crying out for spice. For heat. For the smell of caramelized onions and slow-cooked meat.
He looked at his teammates. They looked the same. The joy of winning was there, but the fatigue of a long tour was evident in their eyes. They missed home.
Deva checked his System.
[Skill Available: Cooking (Master Chef Level)]
An idea formed. A way to sign off the tour not just as a player, but as a brother.
He walked up to the front of the bus as it halted.
"Skipper," Deva said to Dhoni.
"Yeah, Sid?"
"Don't let the boys order room service tonight. Cancel the hotel buffet."
Dhoni raised an eyebrow. "Why? You planning a mutiny?"
"No," Deva grinned. "I'm planning a feast. Arrange a private dining room for 9:30 PM. Tell them there is a special menu."
"What menu?"
"You'll see. Just trust me."
Dhoni looked at him for a second, then nodded. "Okay. 9:30. Don't poison us before the flight home."
---
Time: 7:30 PM.
Location: The Hotel Kitchen.
Deva walked into the kitchen of the 5-star hotel. It was a gleaming expanse of stainless steel, bustling with chefs in white toque hats.
The Executive Chef, a large man named Gareth with a thick Welsh accent, looked up from a sauce he was reducing.
"Can I help you, sir?" Gareth asked, wiping his hands. "Autographs are usually done in the lobby."
"I'm not here for autographs, Chef," Deva said, rolling up his sleeves. "I'm here to cook."
Gareth laughed. "Cook? Sir, this is a professional kitchen. We have health and safety regulations. We have a menu."
"I know," Deva said, stepping closer. He didn't use his cricketing arrogance. He used his charm. "Look, Chef. My team has been here for three months. We miss home. We miss the taste of our mothers' cooking. I want to make them one meal. One authentic meal before we fly out."
He pulled out a small cloth bag from his pocket. He opened it.
The smell of Shahi Jeera (Caraway seeds), Black Cardamom, and Star Anise wafted out.
Gareth sniffed. His eyes widened. "That... that smells incredible. What blend is that?"
"Family secret," Deva winked. "From Hyderabad. The City of Pearls."
Gareth hesitated. He looked at his sous-chefs. Then he looked at the passion in Deva's eyes.
"What do you need?" Gareth asked.
"Two large copper pots. Heavy bottom. Basmati rice. Lamb—shoulder and chops. Yoghurt. Mint. Coriander. Green chillies. Lots of them. And ghee. Do you have clarified butter?"
"We have butter," Gareth said. "We can clarify it."
"Perfect," Deva clapped his hands. "I need one corner. And maybe someone to chop onions. I need a mountain of fried onions."
"You got it," Gareth smiled. "Lads! Clear Station 4! The World Cup winner is cooking!"
---
For the next two hours, Siddanth Deva was not a cricketer. He was a culinary artist.
He washed the meat. He marinated it in a mixture of yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric, and the secret spice blend. He massaged the marinade into the meat with his hands, letting the spices penetrate deep into the fibers.
He set the rice to boil. He threw in whole spices—cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves. The water bubbled, turning fragrant.
The Biryani:
He layered the raw marinated meat at the bottom of the heavy pot. This was Kachne Gosht style—meat and rice cooked together.
He layered the partially cooked rice over the meat.
He sprinkled saffron milk, mint leaves, coriander, and the golden-brown fried onions (Barista) over the rice.
He poured generous amounts of ghee over the top.
He sealed the pot with dough (Dum). He placed it on high heat for 10 minutes, then lowered the flame to a whisper.
The Salan:
While the Biryani cooked in its own steam, Deva started on the Mirchi ka Salan.
He roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, and coconut. He ground them into a fine paste.
He fried the large green chillies until they blistered.
He cooked the paste in tamarind pulp, adding mustard seeds and curry leaves. The gravy turned a rich, creamy yellow-green, bubbling gently.
He didn't have time for Double ka Meetha. So he improvised. Sheer Khurma.
Vermicelli toasted in ghee. Milk reduced until it was thick and creamy. Dates, pistachios, almonds, and charoli nuts added for crunch.
The kitchen staff watched in awe. They had seen cricketers ask for boiled chicken. They had never seen a cricketer handle a knife with the same dexterity as a bat.
"The timing," Gareth observed, watching Deva check the steam escaping from the sealed pot. "He knows exactly when to lower the heat."
"It's about rhythm, Chef," Deva said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Just like bowling."
At 9:25 PM, Deva turned off the gas.
"It's ready," he announced.
---
Time: 9:30 PM.
Location: Private Dining Room.
The Indian team was seated around a long mahogany table. They were restless.
"I'm starving," Virat Kohli complained. "Why did Dhoni bhai cancel the buffet? I could be eating a burger right now."
"Patience, Cheeku," Sachin Tendulkar said, though he too looked curious. "Deva said it's special."
"Special better mean edible," Harbhajan Singh grumbled.
Suddenly, the doors swung open.
Deva walked in. He was still wearing his apron over his team polo. He was pushing a trolley.
On the trolley sat two massive pots, their lids sealed with dough that had baked hard and golden.
"Gentlemen," Deva said, his voice projecting across the room. "We conquered Lord's. We conquered the ODIs. But the one thing we haven't conquered in England... is dinner."
He grabbed a knife. He cut through the dough seal of the first pot.
He lifted the lid.
A plume of steam rose up, mushrooming into the air.
And then, the smell hit them.
It was a sensory assault. The rich, deep aroma of saffron. The sharp tang of mint. The savory punch of slow-cooked lamb. The sweetness of caramelized onions.
It smelled like Hyderabad. It smelled like festivals. It smelled like home.
"Oh my god," Yuvraj Singh stood up, his eyes wide. "Is that... is that Biryani?"
"Authentic," Deva grinned. "Hyderabadi Dum Biryani. Cooked by yours truly."
"You?" Zaheer Khan (who was traveling with the team despite injury) looked skeptical. "You cooked this?"
"With my own hands," Deva said, picking up a serving spoon. "I realized we all needed a proper send-off. Line up, boys."
Chaos ensued. The discipline of the Indian cricket team disintegrated into a hungry mob.
Deva served. He dug the spoon deep into the pot, ensuring every plate got a mix of the flavorful masala meat from the bottom and the fluffy white rice from the top.
"Salan?" Deva asked, ladling the peanut gravy.
"Yes! Yes! Put it all!" Suresh Raina said, holding his plate out like a beggar.
They sat down to eat.
For the first minute, there was silence. Absolute, reverent silence.
Then, the groans started.
"Mmmmph," Virat said, closing his eyes. "Sid... this is... this is illegal."
"The meat," Sachin said, looking at his fork in wonder. "It's melting. How did you get it so tender?"
"Marination time, Paaji," Deva explained, serving himself a plate. "And the raw papaya paste. It breaks down the fibers."
"I am crying," Harbhajan said, wiping his eyes. "Not because it's spicy. But because I missed this. I missed us."
The food did something magical. It stripped away the fatigue of the tour. It stripped away the hierarchies. The seniors and the juniors bonded over the shared love of spice.
Deva watched them. He saw Rahul Dravid go for a second helping (a rare event). He saw Duncan Fletcher sweating but smiling, trying to eat the salan without burning his tongue.
MS Dhoni walked up to Deva. He had finished his plate clean.
"You know," Dhoni said, leaning against the trolley. "I thought you were joking when you said you'd cook. I thought you'd order takeaway and plate it up."
"I don't fake it, Skipper," Deva said, taking a bite of his own creation.
"It's fantastic," Dhoni admitted. "The balance of spices. It's... mature. Like your batting."
Deva laughed. "Cooking is easier than batting. If you mess up batting, you get out. If you mess up cooking, you just add more ghee."
"True," Dhoni smiled. "But seriously. Thank you. The boys needed this. We've been on the road for a long time. This... this feels like we're already home."
Deva brought out the dessert. The Sheer Khurma.
It was warm, creamy, and loaded with nuts.
"This is the finisher," Deva announced.
As the team ate the dessert, the mood turned nostalgic. They talked about the tour. The high of the Lord's Test win. The low of the Oval loss. The redemption in the ODIs.
"We leave tomorrow," Sachin said, looking around the table. "Some of us... might not come back here." (Alluding to the aging golden generation).
"But we leave with our heads high," Zaheer added. "And our stomachs full."
The room erupted in laughter.
Ravi Shastri (who had somehow sniffed out the biryani and crashed the dinner) raised a glass of water.
"To the Chef!" Shastri boomed. "The Man of the Match, the Man of the Series, and now... the Man of the Kitchen! Siddanth Deva!"
"To Deva!" the team roared, raising their glasses.
Deva stood up, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the spices.
"I didn't do it for the applause," Deva said, looking at his brothers in arms. "I did it because... well, I was hungry. And I hate cold sandwiches."
"Liar!" Kohli shouted. "You love us!"
"Maybe a little," Deva grinned.