There is something revealing in the way M. Siddharth talks about bowling in the PowerPlay. It is not merely a job he has been given, or a tactical responsibility. The left-arm spinner describes it as a challenge.
“It’s obviously very challenging. If I do well, then it’s good for the team. Why am I being preferred over a fast bowler to operate with the new ball? If a pacer is going for 20 in two overs, then I should be able to do better than that. If I can bowl two overs for 10 or 12, and even take a wicket, that’s an impact for me,” he said over the phone on Wednesday.
Siddharth was central to Vida Kovai Kings’ TNPL title run last week. He finished second on the wickets chart with 16 scalps and recorded the tournament’s best economy rate (5.08). Ten of his strikes came in the PowerPlay.
He also regularly bowled arm-balls above 110 kph.
“I have always felt that’s a wicket-taking delivery for me. I see that as a strength,” he said.
Siddharth played only four games in IPL 2026, but said he “was able to bring that confidence and learnings into the TNPL.”
He’s worked with Lucknow Super Giants’ spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe, who helped remodel Sunil Narine’s action. “We worked a lot on my technique and variations like backspinner, carrom ball, bouncer, and yorker. He gave me a lot of confidence. I was able to explore more of my bowling,” Siddharth said.
They focused extensively on the bouncer after Krunal Pandya’s use of it gave Siddharth the confidence to try it himself.
“After watching him bowl that, I felt I could do it as well — that I was capable of it. I bowled it a lot in IPL practice. It came out well,” he said.
He brought out that bouncer in this TNPL.
For the 28-year-old, all this work ultimately leads to one goal: “To play for India”.
