Kerala’s MD Nidheesh takes 5-49 vs Maharashtra in Ranji Trophy — here’s all you need to know about the seamer.
Mattakandathil Dinesan Nidheesh breathed fire in his opening over for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season opener against Maharashtra. At the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Nidheesh broke the visitors’ back with two wickets in his opening over of the encounter. It was an impressive start for the 34-year-old, who struggled to find rhythm for South Zone in the recent Duleep Trophy 2025-26.
When Nidheesh was 17 years old, he began his cricketing journey in Chempu village in Kerala’s Kottayam district. He had no idea about how to pursue cricket as a career in the future. For a long time, his father used to catch fish, and his mother sold them in the market.
MD Nidheesh’s pursued cricket after being inspired by S Sreesanth
Nidheesh first fell in love with cricket when he saw S Sreesanth’s bowling during the 2007 T20 World Cup. When the former India pacer had an impressive outing during the semifinal of the tournament against Australia, Nidheesh was inspired to take up the sport. However, it was a challenge for the family to manage the club’s fees.
As he started to impress the local coaches, the right-arm pacer soon caught the attention of Chandrakant Pandit. The former IPL-winning coach was the director of cricket at the Kerala Cricket Association back then. He fast-tracked Nidheesh as a net bowler before including him in Kerala’s Ranji Trophy squad.
“Back then, the KCA president, TC Mathew, asked me to watch some of the young guys at the U-23 level, and there were Nidheesh, Basil Thampi, and others. I was very impressed with his action, hard work, and enthusiasm.” Pandit expressed to Sportstar.
For Nidheesh, it was quite a monotonous but energetic daily routine. He had to travel for more than a couple of hours each way for training. Due to his long training and continuous travel, he often ended up getting exhausted. That was the time when Pandit requested the association to take care of the pacer’s food. He made his debut in 2015 against Tripura in Agartala. In fact, two years later, his dream came true as Nidheesh earned the chance to practice alongside his idol Sreesanth. Pandit believed that bowing to brilliant batters like Rohan Kunnummal, Jalaj Saxena, Shaun Roger, Sachin Baby, and others made Nidheesh disciplined with the ball.
Later, when he got picked by the Mumbai Indians in 2018, Nidheesh got the opportunity to get vital tips from Lasith Malinga and Shane Bond. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman admired him for bringing a variety of tricks to his bowling.
One of his most memorable bowling performances came during last season’s quarter-final against Jammu and Kashmir in Pune. On a juicy surface, he took full advantage of his line and length to return with figures of 6/75. Moreover, he also bowled 27 out of 95.1 overs during the first innings.
“Financial struggles were big. My dad was a fisherman, and my mother sold fish, so it was daily wages. But they ensured they paid my first fees for a cricket camp (sic). Sreesanth’s debut and World Cup magic spell inspired me. I come from a rural village, where even Kochi is far,” Nidheesh said to the Indian Express in an interview.
Read More: Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Preview: Major news & developments ahead of the domestic tournament
A 5️⃣-wicket haul for MD Nidheesh 🙌
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 16, 2025
Maharashtra are 239 all out!
9⃣1⃣ for Ruturaj Gaikwad
4⃣9⃣ for Jalaj Saxena
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/cPhhlpdzpw#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/qwXDSF2Tye
MD Nidheesh continues to impress with 4/42 on Day 1 against Maharashtra in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
Maharashtra’s new opener Prithvi Shaw left the third ball of the first over from Nidheesh to the wicket-keeper. That was when the pacer displayed bowling smarts. He went with an in-swinging delivery which jagged back to hit Shaw’s front pad. The opener’s head fell on the off-side while his front foot moved into the leg side. As a result, he lost his balance and the umpire instantly raised the finger.
Nidheesh perhaps knew that the number three batter, Siddhesh Veer, would look to defend the ball. He moved the line just outside the off-stump. The left-handed batter had already covered the three stumps. He hardly had any idea of the line and got a faint edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper, Mohammed Azharuddeen.
Next on the list was Saurabh Nawale, who looked a bit settled for his 12 runs in 22 balls. But Nidheesh used the same weapon of in-swinging delivery with extra pace. Nawale made the mistake of taking his front foot forward. Before his bat came down to meet the ball, it had already rapped him on the pad to be given out LBW.
One of the most important wickets for the 34-year-old on the opening day was Jalaj Saxena. The former Kerala batter had already shared a 135-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad. On 49, Saxena also made the same mistake of stretching his foot. The batter was late on the defense as the ball jagged back to hit his front pad.
Nidheesh ended the opening day with 4/42 in 15 overs, including five maidens. He has currently picked up 114 first-class wickets in 74 innings at an average of around 28 with a strike rate of over 55. He has the pace and temperament to bowl long spells with the new ball. Even with the old ball, the Kerala pacer has shown his skill of reverse-swing. Now, it’s a challenge for him to show a greater consistency in his game.
At 34, it would be hard for him to break into the national side. But, it’s important for BCCI to track his performance and look after his progress with the ball. If they can send him for the India A games, then he can gain more experience with the senior players. But he has already impressed with various skills with the ball for Kerala.
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