KV Siddharth calls time on playing career, turns coach

BENGALURU: The early 2010s witnessed the rise of a talented generation of Karnataka batters. From age-group cricket to the KSCA leagues, they grew together, competed fiercely and pushed each other in pursuit of the coveted Karnataka senior cap.While Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, R Samarth and Shreyas Gopal broke into the senior side within a short span of each other, another batter — KV Siddharth — kept piling on runs in the KSCA leagues while waiting patiently for his opportunity.That chance finally arrived in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season when Siddharth, then 25, earned his Karnataka debut against Vidarbha. The start was modest, scores of 19 and 16, but the stylish right-hander quickly announced himself in the next high-pressure fixture against Mumbai with a magnificent 166 in Belagavi. Nearly eight years later, Siddharth has decided to call time on his domestic playing career.Though his numbers may not appear extensive — 31 first-class matches (20 for Karnataka), 28 List A games and 15 T20 appearances across Karnataka and Goa — Siddharth’s impact on Karnataka cricket was significant.Siddharth, who combined elegance with endurance, was Karnataka’s highest rungetter (728 runs) in his debut season.Soft-spoken and team-oriented, Siddharth was widely respected within the dressing room for always placing the team’s needs above personal milestones. However, intense competition and a couple of untimely injuries gradually reduced his opportunities before he eventually moved to Goa.In his heartfelt social media post on Thursday, Siddharth stated: “Walking away from cricket isn’t easy, because the game has been such a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve had the privilege of representing Karnataka in all age groups, leading teams, winning championships, making memories, and most importantly, making friendships that will stay with me forever.”“Now it is time to give back to the sport that gave me everything,’ he added.Recently, Siddharth transitioned into coaching, starting with the KSCA Academy camps in Mysuru. Now, he prepares to make his franchise cricket debut as a coach at the upcoming Maharaja Trophy, starting next month.“I had the option of representing north-east teams in domestic cricket, but I was more excited about coaching, and I’m looking forward to sharing my cricket knowledge and experience to inspire others,” said Siddharth.