New Delhi: Andre Siddarth, a bespectacled 18-year-old boy, announced his arrival on the Ranji Trophy stage with a stunning century for Tamil Nadu in the Elite D Group match against Chandigarh at Salem. The 6-foot 3-inch tall batter produced the goods while batting in the middle-order after Chandigarh elected to bowl first.
Siddarth scored 106 off 143 balls after reaching his maiden First-Class century with the help of three successive boundaries. Before today’s knock, Siddarth’s previous best FC score was 94 which he amassed in Ranji Trophy Round 5 match against Assam in Guwahati in November.
His knock was studded with 10 boundaries and three maximums. Courtesy of his special century and a 63-run knock by Narayan Jagadeesan at the top of the order, Tamil Nadu posted 301 runs in the first innings. Mohamed Ali (40) and Baba Indrajith (49) also made useful contributions as Tamil Nadu ended Day 1 in a commanding position.
Who is Andre Siddarth?
Nephew of S Sharath, a former cricketer, Siddarth made his First-Class debut in the Saurashtra vs Tamil Nadu match in October 2024, Coimbatore. Before his century against Chandigarh, Siddarth had scored four half-centuries in five FC matches and his impressive start on the domestic circuit caught the eye of Chennai Super Kings.
The five-time champions acquired the services of Siddarth for Rs 30 lakh at the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in November.
Siddarth is a highly-rated batter, known for playing composed innings under tense and pressure situations. His remarkable consistency is evident from his remarkable stats of 475 runs in just six FC matches including four half-centuries and a century.
He has the knack of converting starts into big scores. Despite his young age, he has a mature head on his shoulders. His other qualities include strike rotation and the ability to find boundaries at will. CSK fans are already gearing up for some special performances from the bespectacled youngster.
Chennai Super Kings acquired the services of Andre Siddarth for Rs 30 lakh at the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in November. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
