Photo: Domestic cricketers reunite at Southampton for WTC final

India’s first-class cricketers Royston Dias (left), Siddhesh Lad, Sagar Trivedi and Sagar Udeshi (right) at Southampton yesterday

The ongoing World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand has become a good reason for India's domestic cricketers playing league cricket in the United Kingdom to reunite at Southampton on Tuesday.

Mumbai Ranji Trophy players Siddhesh Lad and Royston Dias, while Pondicherry cricketers Sagar Udeshi and Sagar Trivedi - all playing club cricket in various parts of England - made their way to the Ageas Bowl to witness Day Five of the match.

The plan to catch up was hatched by Udeshi and Lad. "We all have not been able to meet ever since we came to the UK. Back home too, due to lockdowns, we hardly got any opportunity to meet each other. So, this is a good break to get. We could watch the match and also meet each other," Mumbai's crisis man Lad, playing for Chorley CC in the Northern Premier League, told mid-day.

Left-arm spinner Udeshi drove from Sunderland, which is five-and-a-half hours from Southampton, to pick Dias from Tick Hill (Yorkshire). They then went to Trivedi's place in Blackburn and the trio then travelled to London where they caught up with Lad and India pacer Shardul Thakur. After spending a night in London, the four players drove to Southampton on Tuesday morning to catch up on the fifth day's action.

If there is no rain threat for sixth day (reserve day), they plan to stay back on Wednesday. Dias was thrilled to watch the WTC final. "I am really excited to be here. Getting to meet my friends is very refreshing," said Dias, who is set to do an ECB Level II coaching course in a few days, a must to play in England.

Udeshi, who reached in March itself much before India was put in the red list by UK, was very much looking to meet his friends. "We are all alone here playing for our respective clubs. The WTC final has given a good opportunity to meet our friends and beat the loneliness as well," said Udeshi.

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