Ranji Trophy | Indrajith and Andre steer Tamil Nadu’s spirited fightback

On an opening day that began with a hauntingly familiar spree of wickets, B. Indrajith (128 batting, 157b, 8×4, 5×6) and C. Andre Siddarth (121, 205b, 12×4, 2×6) came together and steered Tamil Nadu to safer shores in its Group-A Ranji Trophy meeting against Uttar Pradesh at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground here on Sunday.

The host seemed doomed to suffer another diabolical batting display when it was reduced to 20 for three and 71 for four. But Indrajith and Andre merged positive intent with silken grace in a splendid partnership of 211 runs for the fifth wicket to take TN to 282 for five at the close of play.

If Andre had not flicked an innocuous delivery on leg stump by pacer Kunal Tyagi to fine-leg in the final over before stumps, TN would have been in an even better position. But it shouldn’t take away from the significance of the 19-year-old’s knock in the given circumstances. It was his first hundred of this Ranji season, and his celebration, cupping his right hand next to his right ear, suggested he had a point to prove.

Tamil Nadu’s Andre Siddarth (121 runs) in action against Uttar Pradesh
| Photo Credit:
M. PERIASAMY

For Indrajith, reaching the landmark of 5000 Ranji runs along the way was a moment to cherish. Having been moved up a slot to No. 4, the 31-year-old’s innings didn’t begin smoothly. In the 18th over, he was on 10 when he was brought down in writhing pain by Shivam Mavi due to a blow on the abdomen. He had to eventually retire hurt – he later revealed that he felt like vomiting – and came back in the 38th over when spinner P. Vidyuth, unexpectedly promoted to No. 5, became the fourth wicket to fall.

Once Indrajith and Andre joined hands, a flurry of exquisite strokes were unfurled. Particularly against spin, their ability to step out and loft the ball over the infield made for sumptuous viewing.

The scores: Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: B. Sachin c Juyal b Tyagi 2, N. Jagadeesan c Kaushik b Aaqib 8, Pradosh Ranjan Paul c Goswami b Aaqib 2, B. Indrajith (batting) 128, P. Vidyuth b Kartik 11, Andre Siddarth c Mavi b Tyagi 121; Extras (nb-6, b-4): 10; Total (for five wkts. in 81.3 overs): 282.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-11, 3-20, 4-71, 5-282.

Uttar Pradesh bowling: Aaqib 9-2-13-2, Tyagi 15.3-7-23-2, Mavi 14-2-51-0, Shivam 15-2-63-0, Kartik Yadav 15-4-65-1, Karan 10-0-38-0, Rinku 3-0-25-0.