Siddhesh Lad on what it takes to be the Mumbai Ranji team's go-to man

How to best save a seemingly losing game?

Mumbai’s Siddhesh Lad has the answer. Last month, when Mumbai played their 500th Ranji match against Baroda, they were on the verge of losing. But it was 25-year-old Lad who turned the tables for his team, salvaging a draw, with an unbeaten 71 runs in 238 deliveries. But being the team’s go-to man is tough work, Lad told ETPanache recently.

“We were really motivated to be playing the 500th game for Mumbai, and being 41-time champion, expectations were high.”



Lad said, adding, “It is never easy to bat for five hours on the fourth day of the game under pressure. You have no other option but to defend and save your wicket. But I was very motivated and was ready to take the challenge.”

The batsman had to deal with a chronic back pain issue while valiantly fighting with the bat. But he makes up for it by training equally hard. “I make sure that I do my rehab every alternate day for my back. I have to train really hard in the off-season with our strength and conditioning coach Pratik Kadam,” the cricketer said.