Jonty Sidhu

Warning and aggression: Sidhu mixed with the decrease order to complete on an unbeaten 103 towards Chhattisgarh.
| Picture Credit score: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Jonty Sidhu has begun the brand new Ranji Trophy season identical to he had completed the earlier one — with an unbeaten century for Delhi.

Whereas his ton towards Odisha in February had helped Delhi declare a seven-wicket win to carry down the curtain on a disheartening marketing campaign, his newest effort in Raipur over the weekend was integral to his facet bagging the first-innings lead and three factors in its opening fixture of the 2024-25 season towards Chhattisgarh.

Aiming to overtake Chhattisgarh’s first-innings whole of 343, Delhi was in a spot of hassle at 202 for 5 when the lanky left-hander strode in at No. 7. With the cream of Delhi’s batting line-up again within the dressing room, Sidhu, 26, efficiently blended warning with aggression whereas combining with the decrease order to complete on an unbeaten 103.

“If you happen to see most of my innings, I’ve made a whole lot of runs with the decrease order as a result of I bat at No. 5 or 6,” Sidhu advised The Hindu on Tuesday.

Sidhu.
| Picture Credit score:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

“With the ability to bat with the decrease order has been developed by taking part in extra. You learn to deal with these conditions. I get pleasure from conditions the place the group is totally depending on me. I get pleasure from it when I’ve to bat with bowlers.”

Regardless of Sidhu’s common of 49.1 after 23 First Class matches, this was oddly the primary time in three seasons that he was chosen for Delhi’s opening sport.

Buoyant

Having begun with a bang this time, Sidhu, who sees No. 4 as his ideally suited spot, is buoyant. “This can make a whole lot of distinction,” he mentioned. “I used to be not taking part in usually within the final two-three seasons. I wish to money in now.”

That Tamil Nadu is Delhi’s subsequent opponent ought to assist Sidhu in his endeavour. In three video games towards that group, Sidhu has notched up two fifties and a century.

“I’ve scored fifty-plus in every of my three video games towards Tamil Nadu. The goal is to take action once more.”