Former India captain Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad’s son, Siddhesh, has lashed out at selectors for ignoring Ranji Trophy performers and picking players who perform in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Siddhesh who has been Rohit’s teammate at Mumbai Indians (MI) and a proven performer for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, says that the red-ball domestic cricket has lost his value. He took Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi’s snub to prove his point, saying that the pacer deserved his maiden Test call-up for one-off Test against Afghanistan.
“The harsh reality is that domestic cricket performances are ignored by the national selectors. The Ranji Trophy has been devalued. I won’t deny that. I’m not saying that I’ve performed well, so pick me into the Indian team, but I think someone like Auqib Nabi, If he has worked so hard and won the Ranji Trophy single-handedly for J&K, which is not so easy, performed exceptionally well in the Ranji Trophy, then he deserved to be picked in India’s Test side,” the 34-year-old told TOI.
Siddhesh said that even players participating in the IPL understand how tough it is to play an entire Ranji season, managing one's fitness. He believes that if a player doesn't perform in the IPL, his chances of making it to the Test team are slim as well.
“I mean even the IPL players know how difficult it is to play the whole (Ranji Trophy) season and maintain your fitness. However, nowadays, if you don’t do well in the IPL, or don’t have a good season in the IPL, your chances of coming into the Indian Test team are slim. If you don't play in the IPL, then it is difficult for you to move forward (in your career),” said the Mumbai batter who has been part of MI and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Siddhesh not in contention despite stellar run in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
Siddhesh has played 82 first-class games and scored 5,623 runs at an average of 44.27. He has 15 centuries and 30 fifties to his name.
Earlier this year, he scored two consecutive centuries in Ranji Trophy 2025-26. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer in the season, scoring 774 runs from 11 innings at an average of 77.40, featuring five centuries and a fifty.
Only one IPL game
Siddhesh made his IPL debut in 2019 and scored 15 runs. He did not play another IPL game.
Siddesh in action after IPL 2026 final
The 34-year-old will be seen in action in T20 Mumbai League for Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. The fourth season of the state T20 League commences on June 1 at Wankhede Stadium.