Navjot Sidhu turns 57. He used to be a better batsman than perceived.
To begin with, Sidhu had 3,202 runs in Test cricket, at 42.80.
Of these, 2,911 came as opener.
Only four Indian openers have more runs.
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To begin with, Sidhu had 3,202 runs in Test cricket, at 42.80.
Of these, 2,911 came as opener.
Only four Indian openers have more runs.
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Of them, only three – Gavaskar, Sehwag, and Gambhir – have a better average. And Gambhir, only marginally (42.90).
Of Indian openers, only Sehwag (with whom he shares birthday) has hit more sixes than his 34.
Yes, Sidhu could hit sixes, enormous ones, mostly off spinners.
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Of Indian openers, only Sehwag (with whom he shares birthday) has hit more sixes than his 34.
Yes, Sidhu could hit sixes, enormous ones, mostly off spinners.
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You would know this was it moment he decided to step out.
Down the track 1-2-3, bat coming down in a familiar arc, and boom!
I have watched cricket for over many years and have not seen anyone thrash *both* Warne and Murali the way he used to.
Here.
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Down the track 1-2-3, bat coming down in a familiar arc, and boom!
I have watched cricket for over many years and have not seen anyone thrash *both* Warne and Murali the way he used to.
Here.
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Sidhu was only 20 when made his debut against Clive Lloyd's West Indians. In his second Test he opened batting and saw Marshall reduce India to 0 for 2.
He batted for almost two hours for his 20, but the 54-run stand with Gavaskar had taken India out of danger.
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He batted for almost two hours for his 20, but the 54-run stand with Gavaskar had taken India out of danger.
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Rajan Bala labelled him "strokeless wonder".
Sidhu was determined to change that label.
They say he practised hitting 300 sixes every day for four years.
His next international match was in the 1987 World Cup against Australia (who would win the cup).
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Sidhu was determined to change that label.
They say he practised hitting 300 sixes every day for four years.
His next international match was in the 1987 World Cup against Australia (who would win the cup).
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He hit 5 sixes on ODI debut and 4 more in his second. He scored fifties in each of his first 4 ODIs.
He celebrated his Test comeback with 116 (195) and 43* (49) against New Zealand at Bangalore. Sidhu had changed.
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He celebrated his Test comeback with 116 (195) and 43* (49) against New Zealand at Bangalore. Sidhu had changed.
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By then Bala had changed his tune: "Navjot Singh Sidhu, from a strokeless wonder, has turned into a palm-grove hitter."
We, too, soon started calling him Sixer Sidhu.
And it was justified. He could be a six-glutton.
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We, too, soon started calling him Sixer Sidhu.
And it was justified. He could be a six-glutton.
https://twitter.com/robelinda2/status/1318422334428991489
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Sidhu scored 4,413 ODI runs.
This does not sound great, but till 1998 only Azhar and Tendulkar had more ODI runs, 100s or 50s for India.
Amidst all this, Sidhu scored 201 in 491 balls and 673 minutes at Port-of-Spain in 1997 – the slowest Test double-hundred among Indians.
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This does not sound great, but till 1998 only Azhar and Tendulkar had more ODI runs, 100s or 50s for India.
Amidst all this, Sidhu scored 201 in 491 balls and 673 minutes at Port-of-Spain in 1997 – the slowest Test double-hundred among Indians.
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Sidhu married a namesake, making him a favourite among quizmasters.
He used to be an ordinary fielder – but only till his son pointed this out (or at least, that was the story we heard).
He worked hard again – this time on fielding.
He used to be an ordinary fielder – but only till his son pointed this out (or at least, that was the story we heard).
He worked hard again – this time on fielding.
Sure enough, we soon saw him diving and sliding and flinging himself on the ground to come up with spectacular saves.
This earned him a new moniker: Jonty Singh.
This earned him a new moniker: Jonty Singh.
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