Kerala pacer MD Nidheesh delivered a stellar performance on Thursday, taking a five-wicket haul against Madhya Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match at the Greenfield International Stadium. The 33-year-old credited his inspiration and mentor, former Indian international S Sreesanth, for his success.
“Sreesanth is my inspiration. I decided I wanted to become a fast bowler after watching him bowl for India. I have also been lucky to play alongside him. Even now, he helps me with suggestions about my bowling,” Nidheesh said in an interview with Sportstar.
“In fact, we often meet up at his house, and he helps me train. All my Ranji five-wicket hauls, including today’s, wouldn’t have been possible without his guidance.”
On a damp surface conducive to fast bowling, Kerala made the most of winning the toss, allowing Nidheesh to exploit the conditions. “This is a fresh wicket, and it rained yesterday. To help, it was cloudy in the morning. So, the conditions were in favor of the pacers,” he explained. “We gained the upper hand because of the early wickets as the pitch slowly became batting-friendly.”
Nidheesh’s disciplined line and persistent away swingers troubled the Madhya Pradesh batsmen. His preparation, bolstered by video analysis, paid dividends. “We did a lot of work with the video team, looking not just at dismissal videos of Madhya Pradesh batters but also of them getting beaten. It helped us prioritize our strengths and plan for the opponent’s weaknesses,” he said.
Key wickets included in-form batter Rajat Patidar and openers Harsh Gawli and Himanshu Mantri, whose dismissals triggered a collapse that saw Madhya Pradesh bundled out for 160. Kerala ended the day in a strong position to push for a win, bolstering their hopes of breaking a six-year streak of Ranji group stage exits.
Reflecting on Kerala’s ambitions, Nidheesh stated, “We got close six years ago when we reached the semifinal. Now, our ambition is clear. We want to get to the final and win the [Ranji] championship.”
Kerala is currently second in the Group C standings, and performances like Nidheesh’s are propelling the team toward their dream of lifting the Ranji Trophy. For Nidheesh, this fifer is another testament to his perseverance and the enduring influence of his mentor, Sreesanth.
