Mumbai’s Siddesh Lad bats with a facemask during the first day of the Ranji Trophy match against Railways at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
It can be difficult for a father to “plot” his son’s dismissal but Railways’ observer Dinesh Lad has been handed the unenviable task — to devise a strategy for his in-form son Siddhesh — who plays for Mumbai. Lad was on the job on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy encounter between the two teams.
Better known as Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Lad is a former Western Railway cricketer, who has been summoned by his employers to set the senior team’s house in order. “I was only told yesterday that I would be the Railways observer for this season. I haven’t yet received any appointment letter so I will only meet the team after the end of the day’s play,” Lad told PTI while watching the proceedings from the Karnail Singh Stadium stands.
So has he offered any tips to Railways bowlers on how to dismiss Siddhesh, and he laughed. “It’s a very tricky situation for a father. I have to think about my team and at the same time as a father, I don’t want my son to fail,” Lad said as Siddhesh stepped out to hit a classical on-drive off a spinner. But this is not the first time that the father and son find themselves in opposite sides.
“During a Times Shield game, I was coaching Western Railways while Siddhesh was playing for Indian Oil Corporation. So this is not the first time,” Lad said. If Siddhesh is unbeaten at the end of the day, what will be his advice? “When a batsman is in good form, you have to be patient and wait for his mistake,” said Lad.
Not the best solution for his bowlers but the fatherly indulgence needed to be factored in.