Siddhesh Wath making an impact

NAGPUR: Every team looks for an impact player. It’s not easy to find them. They are a rare talent; they possess different qualities which set them apart from the rest. Siddhesh Wath belongs to that rare category. He has the ability to change the course of the match in just one session. The 19-year-old has done it quite frequently for various Vidarbha teams. Now, he has made an impact in his second First Class match.
On a green top against Team Rajasthan, which has a fiery pace attack, led by India pacer Pankaj Singh, Siddhesh scored two crucial fifties to give Vidarbha a six-wicket victory in their last Ranji Trophy match.The right-hander scored 50 out of the 116 Vidarbha scored in their first innings. In the second innings, Vidarbha were 22-2 when Siddhesh came to the crease and laid the foundation for the victory with an attacking 65-ball 64 (10x4, 1x6).
“He played brilliantly in both innings. It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on but he applied himself well and changed the momentum with some sensible batting. He respected the conditions but at the same time, he played his shots confidently. He brilliantly mixed caution with aggression. He looks a good potential,” India pacer Pankaj Singh told TOI on Sunday.
Siddhesh’s performance against Rajasthan isn’t surprising for those who have watched him from his junior days. A couple of years ago, he would try to hit every ball. However, he has evolved as a batsman this year. It all started with his mammoth 275 against Chhattisgarh in Bapuna Cup. For Chhattisgarh coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, it was a joy to watch Siddhesh batting, whom he has rated highly right from the time he coached the wicketkeeper-batsman during the Cadence Trophy in 2009.
“What I liked about Siddhesh was his hunger during that innings. He made those run against a Ranji Trophy attack. He completed every landmark during that innings with a six. Siddhesh hit six when he was 94 and did it again when he was on 194. It gives a certain message to the opposition. He hit those sixes to our fastest bowler. He had class and skills when he was 12. Now, he is evolving as a player and he showed that against Rajasthan. How often does a bowler like Pankaj go for 96 in 12 overs. To me, he is the best fast bowler in domestic circuit and to hit those runs against him on a green track shows Siddhesh’s attitude. Hope he wins more and more matches for Vidarbha,” Kulkarni told TOI.
He is one of the shining lights for Vidarbha U-23 team which qualified for the knock-outs this season. He is one of those batsmen who isn't bothered by batting at any position. Siddhesh, who has batted in middle order, has opened the innings this season and did the same to the opposition what Virender Sehwag has done for India in his whole career. In his first match in Col CK Nayudu Trophy against Hyderabad, Siddhesh scored 94 off 118 balls (10x4, 4x6) to lay the platform for big scores. His 124 off 146 balls against Maharashtra on a rank turner in the second innings was even better. His innings was the difference between the two sides.
He had showed signs of his talent in 2014 when he guided Vidarbha U-19 to a famous two-wicket victory against Himachal Pradesh with an unbeaten 137 (120b, 19x4) while chasing 360 in 90 overs on the last day wicket. Last year, he plundered the attack of Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh with his belligerent knocks.
Sidhesh coming good at the senior level is certainly great news for Vidarbha.