In a nail-biting finish at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Saturday, the Noida Kings triumphed over the Kanpur Superstars by three wickets in Match 2 of the UP T20 League Season 4. Player of the Match Kartik Siddhu played a pivotal role, partnering with Impact Player Bobby Yadav to forge an impressive 78-run unbroken partnership, securing the victory for Noida Kings.
With the pressure mounting and 37 runs required from the final 18 deliveries, the pair targeted Ajay Kumar, smashing 17 runs in the 18th over to bring the equation down to a manageable 20 off 12 balls. Following the victory, an emotional Kartik Siddhu, who was named Player of the Match for his vital 34 not out and one wicket, dedicated his match-winning heroics to his mother.
Reflecting on the monumental pressure during the chase, Siddhu said, “The conditions were helping the bowlers a bit, but we knew that if we took the game deep, we’d eventually get our chances. However, the introduction of Bobby Yadav as an Impact Player shifted the momentum entirely. Joining forces with Siddhu, Yadav initiated a calculated rebuild before accelerating in the death overs. Tasked with defending the total, Shakti Verma was immediately put under severe pressure as Bobby Yadav struck back-to-back boundaries off the first two balls of the final over. With the equation reduced to four runs needed off three balls, Yadav finished the game in style, lofting a glorious boundary over extra cover to complete a memorable comeback. “I would like to dedicate this award to my mother. And that’s exactly how it unfolded. The plan was simple: put the bad balls away and avoid trying to hit too hard every over. Acknowledging the crucial tactical input from the dugout that guided their unbroken stand, Siddhu added, “The support staff continuously guided us. The coach was sending plans through the 12th or 15th man, and it is great that the execution worked out. I would really like to thank our support staff and the coach for explaining the game plan to me so well.”
