The Caribbean sun was different from the harsh glare of Gwalior or the humidity of Dhaka. It was golden, lazy, and deceptive. The air smelled of sea salt and rum punch, and the stadiums vibrated with the rhythm of steel drums and calypso.
It was April 30, 2010. The ICC World T20 in the West Indies.
Siddanth Deva stepped off the plane in St. Lucia, his kit bag slung over his shoulder. He was still carrying the phantom pain of the IPL semi-final loss. The "Silver Storm" had failed. Now, he was back in the "Bleed Blue" of India.
The squad was a mix of IPL fatigue and international hunger. MS Dhoni looked weary but focused. Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh—the core was the same. But the expectations had shifted. In 2007, they were underdogs. In 2010, they were the hunters.
Group Stage:
Match 1: India vs. South Africa
Venue: Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Date: May 2, 2010.
This was the heavyweight clash of Group C. South Africa, led by Graeme Smith, against Dhoni's India.
India batted first.
The start was shaky. Murali Vijay fell for a duck.
But then, Suresh Raina walked in.
Raina played the innings of his life. He went on to score a T20I century, smashing 101 off 60 balls.
Siddanth Deva played the perfect supporting act. Coming in at No. 5, he realized Raina was in "God Mode."
Deva rotated the strike, scoring a brisk 35 off 20 balls, hitting Dale Steyn for a massive six over extra cover.
India posted 186/5.
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South Africa came hard. Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith added 97 runs. They were cruising.
Dhoni threw the ball to Deva in the 12th over.
Deva vs. Kallis.
Deva bowled a cutter. Kallis, trying to accelerate, mistimed a lofted drive. Ravindra Jadeja took the catch in the deep.
Wicket: J. Kallis c Jadeja b Deva 73.
Then, Deva removed the dangerous AB de Villiers cheaply, trapping him LBW with a yorker that tailed in.
South Africa choked. They finished on 172/5.
India Won by 14 runs.
Man of the Match: Suresh Raina.
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Match 2: India vs. Afghanistan
Venue: Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia.
A routine demolition. Afghanistan managed only 115/8.
Deva didn't bowl much (rested).
In the chase, India lost both openers early.
Deva (No. 3) and Murali Vijay finished it off.
Deva scored an unbeaten 50 off 35 balls*.
India qualified for the Super 8s comfortably.
Super 8s:
The tournament moved to the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The pitches here had bounce—fast, fiery bounce.
Super 8 Match 1:
Opponent: Australia.
This was a massacre.
David Warner and Shane Watson destroyed the Indian bowling attack. They put up 184/5.
Deva was the only bowler with respectable figures (1/28 in 4 overs).
In reply, the Indian top order was blown away by Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait. Pace. Pure, unadulterated speed.
Deva fought a lone battle, scoring a gritty 40, ducking bouncers that clocked 155kph.
But India was bowled out for 135.
It was a wake-up call. "We aren't invincible," Dhoni told them in the locker room. "We need to fight."
Super 8 Match 2:
Opponent: West Indies (Hosts).
Venue: Kensington Oval, Barbados.
The crowd was hostile. A sea of maroon. The noise of horns was deafening.
Chris Gayle walked out to bat.
Dhoni gave the new ball to Deva.
"He will come at you," Dhoni warned. "Don't give him width."
Over 1:
Deva ran in. 148kph.
Gayle swung and missed.
Ball 3: Deva bowled a short ball into the body. Gayle was cramped. He tried to pull but spliced it.
The ball ballooned to mid-wicket. Rohit Sharma took the catch.
WICKET: C. Gayle c Rohit b Deva 2.
The stadium went silent.
Deva put his finger to his lips. Shhh.
West Indies struggled without their captain. Dwayne Bravo fought back, but the Indian spinners strangled them.
West Indies posted 140/7.
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India stumbled. 12/2.
Deva walked in.
He played a masterclass of controlled aggression.
He targeted Kieron Pollard.
Six over long-on.
Four through point.
He scored 65 off 45 balls*, guiding India home with 10 balls to spare.
India Won by 7 Wickets.
Man of the Match: Siddanth Deva.
Super 8 Match 3
Opponent: Sri Lanka.
Context: Winner goes to Semi-Finals.
Sri Lanka posted 160. Mahela Jayawardene played well again.
India's chase was tense.
But Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh found form.
Deva chipped in with a quick 30 and a crucial wicket of Sangakkara.
India Won by 5 Wickets.
India qualified for the Semi-Finals as the 2nd team in the group (behind Australia).
The Semi-Final:
Date: May 13, 2010.
Venue: Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia.
Match: India vs. England.
Dhoni won the toss.
Dhoni: "We will bat first. It's a big game. Scoreboard pressure."
1st Innings
Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma (opening) gave a steady start.
Gambhir fell for 20.
Siddanth Deva walked in at No. 3.
He looked solid. He drove Ryan Sidebottom for two boundaries.
He and Suresh Raina built a partnership.
But England's bowling was disciplined. Graeme Swann bowled tight lines.
Deva tried to accelerate in the 15th over. He hit Stuart Broad for a six but fell next ball, caught at the boundary trying to repeat the shot.
Deva Score: 45 (32 balls).
MS Dhoni provided the late flourish.
Rohit Sharma anchored with a 50.
India Finished: 180/5.
In the dressing room, the mood was confident. 180 in a semi-final was a gold-standard score.
"We have enough," Yuvraj said, strapping on his fielding pads. "Let's squeeze them."
2nd Innings
Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb walked out.
They didn't just bat; they attacked.
Over 1 (Praveen Kumar): 12 Runs.
Over 3 (Ashish Nehra): 16 Runs.
They were 50/0 in 5 overs.
Dhoni threw the ball to Siddanth Deva.
"Break this, Sid. They are running away."
Over 6 (Deva):
Lumb tried to smash Deva. He missed a 145kph delivery.
Ball 3: Deva bowled a yorker. Lumb dug it out.
Ball 5: WICKET! Lumb tried to pull a short ball. Top edge to fine leg.
M. Lumb c Nehra b Deva 25.
India breathed.
But then walked in Kevin Pietersen. KP.
He was in the form of his life.
He walked across his stumps and flicked Deva for four.
He stepped out and lofted Harbhajan Singh for six.
Kieswetter was playing a blinder at the other end.
England was cruising. 100/1 in 11 overs.
Dhoni tried everything. Spin. Pace. Slower balls.
KP was reading it all.
Deva came back for his second spell in the 15th over.
Deva vs KP.
KP was on 40.
Ball 1: Deva bowled a bouncer. KP swayed.
Ball 2: Deva bowled a wide yorker. KP reached out and sliced it over point for four.
Ball 3: KP walked down the track. Deva followed him with a bodyline ball.
KP swatted it—literally swatted it like a tennis forehand—over mid-wicket for SIX.
Deva stared at him. That was a good ball. KP was just better today.
Kieswetter fell for 63.
But the damage was done.
KP stayed till the end.
With 10 runs needed, Eoin Morgan joined him.
Morgan reverse-swept Jadeja for four.
England Won by 7 Wickets.
Balls Remaining: 3.
The English players stormed the field. KP threw his bat in the air.
The Indian players stood frozen.
180 runs. Defended poorly. Or rather, chased brilliantly.
Siddanth Deva fell to his knees near the bowling crease.
He had lost.
MS Dhoni walked over. He didn't look angry. He looked resigned.
He patted Deva on the shoulder.
"Get up, Sid."
"We had enough runs, Mahi-bhai," Deva whispered, staring at the grass.
"We did," Dhoni agreed. "But they played better. KP took the game away. It happens."
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Kevin Pietersen was Man of the Match.
India packed their bags.
The campaign was over.
They had beaten South Africa. They had beaten the West Indies. They had beaten Sri Lanka.
But when it mattered most, against a surging England side, they fell short.
Locker Room Scene:
The room was silent. The only sound was the zipping of kit bags.
Yuvraj Singh sat with a towel over his head.
Rohit Sharma was looking at his phone blankly.
Deva sat in the corner.
He looked at his new Nike boots. The gold trim was stained with Caribbean dirt.
He took them off and threw them into the bag.
Arjun texted him:
"Tough luck, brother. You played like a lion. Come home. The house is waiting."
Deva let out a long breath.
Cricket was a cruel game. You could be the best player in the world, and still watch someone else lift the cup.
He stood up.
The Caribbean adventure was over. The scars remained.
But scars were just reminders of the battles yet to be won.