Left-arm spinner Shiva Singh delivered a match-winning hat-trick and a five-wicket haul to power Noida Kings into the UPT20 League playoffs on Sunday, 31 August, restricting an unbeaten Meerut Mavericks to 33/7 in a rain-curtailed five-over shootout. Noida chased down the target in just 3.3 overs to seal their spot as the third team through to the last four.

The Match That Decided Everything

Noida Kings entered their final league-stage fixture of the fourth season of the UPT20 League knowing only a win would do. Their opponents, Meerut Mavericks, arrived unbeaten and brimming with confidence. Rain intervened to truncate the contest to a five-over-per-side affair, adding further pressure on Noida as Meerut batted first.

Shiva, the son of former Ranji Trophy player Ajit Singh, seized the moment. His hat-trick dismantled the Meerut middle order, and his five-wicket haul left the previously dominant side well short of a competitive total. Noida's batters then made light work of the chase, completing it with deliveries to spare.

Father's Call, a Turning Point

After the match, Shiva revealed that a phone call from his father just before the game had been a decisive mental reset. 'Actually, I hadn't spoken to my dad for the first nine matches,' Shiva said. 'Today, he called me up and said, "It's the last league game, just play the way you always do. It's on you now; you are the main player of the team. Just perform the way you do in local matches." That really helped me. Mentally, I was taking a lot of pressure before this, but hopefully, it turned out to be a great day.'

The admission underlines the psychological weight that players carry in high-stakes knockout situations, even in domestic franchise cricket.

Shiva's Plan for the Shortened Format

Bowling in a five-over match — where batters typically swing from the first ball — Shiva kept his approach deliberately straightforward. 'The planning is quite simple,' he explained. 'Since it's a short match, you have to look at the batsman, the wicket, and the conditions, and bowl accordingly. You have to think a bit differently from your usual big-match plans. You have to be a bit smarter. My only plan was not to concede boundaries.'

That discipline, rare for a spinner in a T20 shootout, proved the difference between the two sides.

The 2018 U19 World Cup Batchmate Context

Shiva is a 2018 U19 World Cup winner, part of a celebrated batch that included Prithvi Shaw (captain), Shubman Gill, and Arshdeep Singh. Gill now captains India in Tests and ODIs, while Arshdeep is a regular in the national setup. Shiva, however, is focused on his own path rather than measuring himself against his contemporaries.

'If you want to keep playing cricket, you have to learn something new every single day,' he said. 'You need to have that mindset to learn; only then can you move forward. I don't really look at where my batchmates are right now. I just try to focus on balancing my weaknesses and positives so I can perform well in the match.'

Noida Kings: Squad, Captain, and What's Next

Shiva had previously been with Kashi Rudras for the first three seasons, helping them claim two titles. He now lines up for Noida Kings, captained by Prashant Veer, who was acquired by Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.2 crore in the IPL auction. Shiva was effusive in his praise for his skipper. 'Prashant has played the IPL, so I would say he brings a lot of experience,' he noted. 'This is his fourth year, and he has been doing great in all four seasons... He's a very good leader and a great team man. He always steps up in tough situations.'

Noida Kings are now the third team confirmed for the playoffs, joining Meerut Mavericks and Lucknow Falcons. With two titles already in Shiva's cabinet from his Kashi Rudras days, he and Noida will be chasing a maiden UPT20 League crown.