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Aarav POV:
Cricket is a game of momentum swings. For the first 15 overs of the Lucknow Super Giants' innings, the Gujarat Titans had strangled the life out of the game. Rashid Khan had spun a web, Kuldeep Yadav had found his mojo, and I had chipped in with early wickets. LSG was teetering at 118/5.
But then, the other captain stood up. Hardik Pandya. Stung by the collapse, Hardik decided to drag his team to respectability. He partnered with Krunal and Jason Holder, In the last 5 overs, they tried to go berserk. Hardik smashed Arshdeep Singh. They plundered 45 runs in the last 30 balls.
LSG Finished: 163/6 (20 Overs).
It was a fighting total. On a gripping Lucknow surface, 163 felt like 180. The momentum had shifted to the home team. The crowd was roaring, waving their cyan flags, believing their captain had done enough.
POV ENDs
In the Gujarat dugout, Ashish Nehra looked at the scoreboard. "164. Tricky." I stood up, adjusting my cap. "Not if we stick to the plan."
I walked over to Abhishek Sharma. He was padding up, his eyes focused, legs twitching with nervous energy. "Abhi," I said. He looked up. "Do you remember the contract?" I asked. "14 matches," Abhishek recited. "License to Kill." "The license is active," I grinned. "Don't look at the pitch. Look at the boundary."
The umpires walked out. The LSG team huddled, Hardik giving a passionate speech. They were pumped up. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill jogged onto the field. Fire and Ice. The Sledgehammer and the Scalpel.
Avesh Khan took the new ball for Lucknow. He was coming off a stellar season with Delhi Capitals. He had pace, he had bounce, and he was aggressive.
Over 1. Ball 1.Target: 164. Equation: 8.2 runs per over.
Abhishek took his stance. He tapped the bat hard. Tap. Tap. Avesh Khan ran in. He wanted to hit the deck hard first up. He bowled a length ball, just outside off stump. A standard sighter.
Abhishek didn't treat it as a sighter. He didn't wait to see the swing. He charged. He took two large steps down the track, converting the 140kmph delivery into a half-volley. He swung through the line with ferocious bat speed.
CRACK.
The sound was violent. The ball flew over the cover region. It kept rising. It landed ten rows back into the stands.
SIX!
The stadium went silent for a microsecond before the small pocket of GT fans erupted.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "OH HELL No! Good evening, Lucknow! What a start! First ball of the chase, first ball of the franchise's batting history, and it has been deposited into the stands! Abhishek Sharma says 'I am not here to defend!'"
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "That is fearless! Avesh Khan hits a decent length, but look at the footwork. He committed early. He decided yesterday he was going to hit this ball. That is the new philosophy Aarav spoke about."
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "Shocking bowling, to be honest. You see the batsman charging, you drag the length back. But credit to the young man. To do that on the first ball of your debut season for a new team? That takes courage."
Ball 2: Avesh was rattled. He tried to correct his length. He went shorter, aiming for the body, trying to cramp the left-hander. But the line was wrong. It was drifting down leg. Abhishek was waiting. He swiveled. He didn't hit it hard; he just used the pace. A controlled pull shot behind square. There was no fine leg. The ball raced away to the vacant third-man boundary.
FOUR.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Ten runs off two balls! This is an ambush! Avesh Khan is under immense pressure immediately. He tried the heavy ball, but the line was poor. Abhishek is feasting on these scraps!"
Ball 3: Avesh looked at Hardik. Hardik signaled him to calm down. Hit the stumps. Avesh ran in. He went full and straight. Attempting the yorker. He missed by six inches. It ended up in the slot. Abhishek cleared his front leg. Stand and Deliver. He hit it dead straight. High elbow. The full face of the bat. The ball soared over the bowler's head, over the sightscreen, and crashed into the camera scaffolding.
SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "LIKE A TRACER BULLET! He has absolutely smoked that! Sixteen runs off three balls! Is this a highlight reel? Is this a video game? No, it is the Gujarat Titans announcing their arrival! Abhishek Sharma is on fire!"
Ball 4: Avesh was losing the plot. He tried to go wide of the crease to change the angle. He bowled full on the pads. Abhishek didn't even move his feet. He just flicked his wrists. The timing was exquisite. The ball sped through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep ran, but the outfield was lightning fast. FOUR.
Score: 20/0. (After 4 balls).
Graeme Smith (Comms): "This is brutality. Pure and simple. 20 runs in 4 balls. Avesh Khan doesn't know where to look. Hardik Pandya is scratching his head. This was supposed to be a tricky chase on a gripping pitch!"
Ball 5: Avesh finally bowled a decent ball. A wide yorker. Abhishek squeezed it to point. They scampered a quick single. 1 Run.
Abhishek Sharma: 21 (5).
The crowd was shell-shocked. They had barely settled in their seats, and the required run rate had already dropped below 7.5.
Ball 6:Shubman Gill on strike. He looked calm amidst the storm. He tapped his bat. Avesh, relieved to see a different face, tried to bowl a good length ball on off stump, the 'Test Match' line. Gill leaned into it. He didn't slog. He didn't charge. He just presented the face of the bat and caressed it. The Cover Drive. The ball pierced the gap between cover and mid-off as if guided by a laser. It rolled over the rope with elegant ease.
FOUR.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Class! Pure class to finish the over! While Abhishek brings the thunder, Gill brings the lightning! What an over! What a start! 25 runs off the first over! Lucknow Super Giants have been blown away in six balls!"
End of Over 1.Gujarat Titans: 25/0.Abhishek Sharma: 21* (5). Shubman Gill: 4* (1).
I sat in the dugout, leaning back in my chair, looking at Ashish Nehra. Nehra was laughing, shaking his head. "25 runs," Nehra said. "I used to defend 6 runs in an over. These kids..."
The camera panned to Hardik Pandya. He looked furious. He was talking aggressively to Avesh Khan. The pressure had shifted entirely. The Ekana Stadium had been silenced by a 21-year-old with a license to kill.
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Over 2. Ekana Stadium, Lucknow.Gujarat Titans: 25/0.Target: 164.
The echo of the 25-run first over was still ringing around the stadium. Hardik Pandya didn't panic. He simply threw the ball to his trump card.
Mark Wood.
The English speedster marked his run-up. He is one of the few bowlers in the world who can consistently clock 150 kmph. He looked angry. He looked like he wanted to restore the natural order of things: fast bowlers bully batsmen, not the other way around.
Ball 1: Abhishek Sharma was on strike. 21 off 5 balls. Wood steamed in. 148 kmph. Back of a length, climbing sharply. Abhishek stayed in his crease. He tried to guide it to third man, but the pace was too much. He withdrew his bat at the last moment. Dot Ball.
Ball 2: Most batsmen, after a dot ball against express pace, would be watchful. Abhishek Sharma is not most batsmen. He remembered he had the License to Kill. Wood ran in. 149 kmph. Abhishek stepped out. Against 149 kmph. He swung his bat hard, looking to clear long-off. But Wood was too quick. The ball zipped past the outside edge before the bat could come down. It thudded into Quinton de Kock's gloves with a sound like a pistol shot. Dot Ball.
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "He's taking on the pace! Stepping out to Mark Wood? That is bordering on reckless! Wood is not Avesh Khan; he will hurry you. Abhishek needs to be careful here. That was a play and a miss of the highest order."
Ball 3: Wood smiled. He thought he had intimidated the youngster. He thought he had won the mental battle. He ran in again. 151 kmph. He banged it in short, expecting Abhishek to back away. Abhishek didn't back down. He stepped out again. He met the ball on the rise. He didn't just swing; he slashed. A violent, cross-batted slap. The ball flew off the middle of the bat. It soared over deep point.
SIX!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "OH MY GOODNESS! You can miss one time, but not again! He has carved Mark Wood over point for six! He is saying 'I don't care about your speed!' This is exhilarating cricket! He misses, he misses, and then he hits it out of the park!"
Ball 4: Wood was furious now. The smile was gone. He went for the body. 152 kmph. A nasty bouncer directed right at the ribs. It cramped Abhishek for room. Abhishek was committed to the attack. He tried to hook. But the pace was too much. He was late on the swivel. The ball got big on him. It hit the sticker of the bat—high on the splice. It ballooned in the air. A simple skier towards mid-off.
Hardik Pandya ran back from the circle. He called for it loud and clear. "MINE!" He settled under it. He took it safely.
Abhishek Sharma c Hardik b Wood 27 (9)Gujarat Titans: 31/1.
Abhishek stopped. He looked at the sky, swinging his bat in frustration. But then, a strange thing happened. As he started the long walk back to the dugout, the Lucknow crowd who should have been jeering the opposition stood up. They cheered. It was a roar of appreciation. They had just witnessed 27 runs in 9 balls. They had witnessed a 21-year-old step out to Mark Wood. They had witnessed The Show.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "He goes! But look at the crowd! They are cheering him! They loved the show! 27 off 9 balls. He has done his job. He has broken the back of the chase in 10 balls. That is the new T20 blueprint right there. 'Thank you for the entertainment, young man!'"
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "High risk, high reward. He lived by the sword, he died by the sword. But Gujarat won't mind. The run rate is already 15."
The wicket fell, but the momentum didn't drop. Because walking out at Number 3 was Aarav Pathak.
The man who had built this team. The man who had given Abhishek the license. I crossed Abhishek near the rope. I tapped his helmet with my bat. "Brilliant start," I said. "Go rest."
I reached the crease. Mark Wood was waiting.
Ball 5: Wood ran in. He was pumped up by the wicket. 149 kmph. He bowled a good length ball on off stump. I leaned forward. High elbow. Solid defense. Dot Ball.
Ball 6: Wood went fuller, searching for the yorker. I pushed it with soft hands to mid-on and called for a quick single. 1 Run.
End of Over 2.Gujarat Titans: 32/1.Run Rate: 16.0.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "What a start to the innings! 32 runs in two overs. One wicket down, but the intent is crystal clear. Gujarat Titans are not here to accumulate; they are here to dominate. And now, the Captain is in the middle. This chase is far from over."
I tapped the pitch. I looked at Shubman Gill at the other end. "32 on the board," I said. "The panic is in their camp, not ours."
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The Powerplay was heating up. The fall of Abhishek Sharma hadn't slowed the pulse of the game; it had simply changed the protagonist. Now, the stage was set for the narrative everyone had been waiting for.
Hardik Pandya took the ball. The LSG Captain vs The GT Captain. Hardik adjusted his collar, looking at me with a smirk that said, 'Let's see what you've got, kid.'
I tapped the pitch. I looked at the field. Hardik had kept a slip. He was attacking.
Ball 1: Hardik ran in. He hit the deck hard, bowling a heavy length ball on off stump. 138 kmph. I respected it. I leaned forward, presenting a straight bat, defending it back to the bowler. Hardik collected it and feigned a throw. I stared back. Dot Ball.
Ball 2: Hardik took the bait of my silence. He wanted to impose his physical dominance. He banged it in short. A bouncer aimed at the head. But at 136 kmph, it didn't have the venom of Mark Wood. I saw it early. I transferred my weight back. I swiveled. The Pull Shot. I didn't try to keep it down. I hit it with disdain, rolling my wrists at the point of impact. The ball sailed over the deep square leg boundary.
SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "That is a statement! Hardik bangs it in, and Aarav says 'Thank you very much!' He picked the length so early. That is the difference in pace between Wood and Pandya, and Aarav has adjusted instantly."
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "Poor bowling from Hardik. You can't bowl short to Aarav at that pace. It sits up for him. He needs to bowl fuller, make him drive on the up."
Ball 3: Hardik gritted his teeth. He went full, searching for the yorker. I stepped out. I met the ball on the full toss. I punched it down the ground, past mid-off. The fielder chased it down. 2 Runs.
Ball 4: Hardik corrected his length. Good length, outside off. I guided it to third man. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Gill on strike. He looked calm. He tucked a length ball off his hips for a single. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Last ball of the over. I was back on strike. Hardik bowled a cutter. I read it and pushed it to long-on. 1 Run.
End of Over 3.Gujarat Titans: 43/1.
We were cruising. The pressure was entirely on Lucknow.
Over 4: Avesh Khan.
Hardik brought Avesh back. He needed his strike bowler to break this partnership. Avesh had gone for 25 in his first over. He looked nervous.
Aarav was on strike.
Ball 1: Avesh tried to crush the toes. He went for the yorker. But he telegraphed it. I saw the grip. I saw the release. I didn't block. I bent my knees, dipping low like a crouched tiger. I angled the bat face to the sky. The Scoop. I lifted the 140kmph delivery directly over Quinton de Kock's head. It wasn't a fine leg scoop; it was a straight scoop. The ball flew over the keeper and bounced once before hitting the sightscreen.
FOUR.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "How do you set a field for that?! Avesh bowls a near-perfect yorker, and Aarav bends down and ramps it over the keeper's head! That is 360-degree batting. The audacity is frightening!"
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "That requires incredible eye-hand coordination. If he misses, his teeth are gone. But he watches it all the way onto the bat. Quinton de Kock is standing there shaking his head. He doesn't know where to stand!"
Ball 2: Avesh panicked. He tried to bowl wide to stop the scoop. He bowled it too wide. Outside the tramline. Wide.
Ball 2 (again): Avesh corrected. He bowled a back-of-a-length delivery outside off. I stayed back. I waited. I opened the face of the bat at the very last millisecond. The Late Cut. It sped through the gap between short third man and backward point. FOUR.
Graeme Smith (Comms): "And now the touch! First the power, now the precision. He waited until the ball was past the keeper's gloves before he played that. He is toying with the field. Avesh Khan is being dismantled here."
Ball 3: Avesh bowled straight. I pushed it to mid-off for a quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 4:Shubman Gill on strike. He didn't want to be left out. Avesh bowled short and wide, frustrated. Gill stood tall. He punched it off the back foot through the covers. The sound was like a whip crack. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Gill joins the party! Poor Avesh. He has nowhere to go. Short, he gets hit. Full, he gets scooped. Wide, he gets cut. This is a batting masterclass from the Titans!"
Ball 5: Gill took a single to deep point. 1 Run.
Ball 6: I was back on strike. Avesh bowled a slower bouncer. I ducked. Dot Ball.
End of Over 4.Gujarat Titans: 58/1.
Target: 164.Equation: 106 needed off 96 balls.
I walked down the pitch to Gill. "We are ahead," I said, tapping the pitch. "Way ahead. Just don't give them a wicket now. We kill it in the middle overs."
Gill nodded, a calm smile on his face. "Pitch is good. Let's bat long."
The Powerplay wasn't even over, and we had already broken the back of the chase.
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The Powerplay was approaching its climax. 58 runs in 4 overs was a start that most T20 teams dream of, but in the Gujarat Titans dugout, it was simply "sticking to the plan."
Mark Wood returned for his second over. He was seething. He had taken the wicket of Abhishek Sharma, but he had also gone for runs in his first over. His ego was bruised. He wanted to reassert the dominance of pace.
Shubman Gill took the strike. The right-hander adjusted his helmet, tapping the crease with a rhythm that was almost musical. He looked calm, a stark contrast to the storm that Wood was about to unleash.
Ball 1: Wood steamed in. 152 kmph. He hit the deck hard, back of a length on off stump. Gill stood tall on his toes and defended it back down the pitch. Solid. Dot Ball.
Ball 2: Wood went fuller, searching for the edge. 149 kmph. Gill leaned forward, driving, but he picked the fielder at mid-off perfectly. Hardik Pandya fielded it cleanly. Dot Ball.
Ball 3: Wood cranked it up. 153 kmph. A searing bouncer directed at the head. Gill swayed out of the line effortlessly. He watched it all the way into the keeper's gloves. Dot Ball.
Ball 4: Wood smiled. He was tying down the young prince. He bowled a length ball, nipping back in. Gill tucked it to mid-wicket, but the fielder was sharp. No run. Dot Ball.
Four dots. The pressure in the stadium began to rise. The LSG fans found their voice, cheering every dot ball like a wicket.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "This is high-quality fast bowling. Wood is hitting the hard length, not giving Gill any room to free his arms. In T20, four dots is gold dust. Gill needs to be careful not to manufacture a shot that isn't there."
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "Gill has that class though, GG. He doesn't panic. He waits. He trusts his timing."
Ball 5: Wood sensed the frustration. He decided to go for the kill the yorker. But he missed his length by a fraction. It ended up being a half-volley on off stump. That was all Gill needed. He didn't try to over-hit it. He didn't slog. He presented the full face of the bat. The Straight Drive. It was a stroke of pure, unadulterated beauty. The ball raced past the bowler, dissecting mid-off and mid-on with geometric precision. It sped across the turf like a tracer bullet.
FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Shot! That is poetry! You can bowl 155, you can bowl fire, but if you pitch it up to Shubman Gill, he will caress you to the boundary! That is the release of pressure. What a sound off the bat!"
Ball 6: Wood grimaced. He banged the last ball in short. Gill rolled his wrists and pulled it along the ground to deep square leg. 1 Run.
End of Over 5.Gujarat Titans: 63/1.Run Rate: 13.0.
Over 6: Hardik Pandya.
Hardik brought himself back for the final over of the Powerplay. He had gone for 12 runs in his first over. He wanted to finish the phase strongly. Shubman Gill was on strike.
Ball 1: Hardik bowled a cutter. Gill read it and pushed it to long-on for a single. 1 Run.
Ball 2: I was on strike. 12.* Hardik bowled a good length ball on off. I tapped it to cover and ran. Quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 3: Gill on strike. Hardik bowled straight. Gill worked it to mid-wicket. 1 Run.
Three singles. Hardik looked pleased. He was tightening the screws. I walked to the crease. I looked at the scoreboard. 66/1. I looked at Hardik. He was adjusting his field, pushing mid-off back. He expected me to hit over the top.
System Analysis: He is going to bowl short. He wants to test the pull shot again.
Ball 4: Hardik ran in. He didn't bowl short. He bluffed. He bowled full, right in the slot on middle stump. He expected me to be on the back foot. But I was ready. The Captain's Mind had read the bluff. I cleared my front leg. I swung through the line with a straight bat. I didn't just hit it; I punched it. The ball flew dead straight. It sailed over the bowler's head, over the sightscreen, and landed in the camera deck.
SIX!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "That is a monster! He read the bluff! Hardik went full, and Aarav went huge! Straight down the ground for six! That is the power of the modern game. He stood still and just dismissed it from his presence!"
Ball 5: Hardik was rattled. His ego took over. He banged it in short this time. 138 kmph. But it sat up nicely. No venom. I was waiting. I swiveled. The Slog Pull. I hit it over mid-wicket. It wasn't about timing; it was about brute force. The ball crashed into the advertising boards on the full.
SIX!
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "Back to back! He is taking the LSG captain apart! Hardik is bowling pace that is comfortable for Aarav. 138 is bread and butter for him. He just rocked back and deposited that into the stands. Gujarat is running away with this!"
Ball 6: Hardik walked back to his mark, shaking his head. He looked furious. He ran in and bowled a wide yorker. I saw it early. I decided not to risk a wicket on the last ball of the Powerplay. I lifted my bat and let it go. Left Alone.
End of Over 6 (Powerplay).Gujarat Titans: 78/1.
Target: 164.Equation: 86 runs needed off 84 balls.
We had destroyed the Powerplay. 78 runs. The required rate had dropped to a run-a-ball.
"Too easy," I said to Gill as we walked off for the timeout. "Just keep rotating."
Over 7.
Hardik Pandya tossed the ball to his trump card. Ravi Bishnoi. The young leg-spinner with a skiddy action and a lethal googly. The field spread out. Five fielders on the boundary.
Shubman Gill was on strike. He looked confident. He wanted to keep the momentum going.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "This is the matchup. Bishnoi is quick through the air. Gill loves to play on the up. But Bishnoi turns it the other way the googly is his stock ball. Gill needs to read it from the hand."
Ball 1: Bishnoi ran in. A short, energetic run-up. He released the ball. It looked like a leg-break. It pitched on off-stump. Gill pressed forward, looking to drive through covers against the spin. But it wasn't a leg-break. It was the Googly. It pitched and jagged back in sharply, skidding off the surface with pace. Gill left a massive gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaked through the gate.
CRASH.
The middle stump was uprooted.
Shubman Gill b Bishnoi 17 (13)Gujarat Titans: 78/2.
The Lucknow crowd erupted. The DJ blasted music. Ravi Bishnoi pumped his fist, screaming in delight.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "BOWLED HIM! The googly does the trick! Bishnoi comes into the attack and strikes first ball! Gill didn't pick it at all. He played for the turn away, but it came back in like a snake! That is a massive wicket. Just when Gujarat was cruising, Lucknow strikes back!"
Gill looked at the shattered stumps, shook his head in disappointment, and walked off. He had looked good, but the mystery spin had undone him.
I stood at the non-striker's end, watching the replay. Classic Bishnoi. I needed a partner who could handle spin. Someone who could counter-attack without taking risks.
Heinrich Klaasen walked out. The South African wicketkeeper-batter. We had bought him specifically for this role to destroy spin in the middle overs. He walked with a confident stride, adjusting his gloves.
"Watch the googly," I whispered as he crossed me. "I eat googlies for breakfast," Klaasen winked.
Ball 2: Klaasen on strike. Bishnoi tried the googly again. Klaasen read it from the hand. He stayed back and punched it to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 3: I was on strike. Bishnoi bowled flat on the pads. I tucked it to deep square leg. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Klaasen. Bishnoi tossed it up wide. Klaasen leaned into a drive. Sweeper cover cut it off. 1 Run.
Ball 5: I took a single to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Klaasen defended the last ball.
The over settled the nerves. We had lost Gill, but we hadn't panicked. Score: 82/2 (7 Overs).
Klaasen walked up to me for the mid-over chat. "Pitch is gripping a bit for the spinner," Klaasen said. "But if he bowls in my slot, it's going out."
"Take your time," I said. "We are ahead of the rate. No need to be heroes yet. Just build."
Ian Bishop (Comms): "This is a crucial phase. It should be a walk in the park, but with Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya operating in tandem on this Lucknow surface, wickets can fall in clusters. Aarav Pathak and Heinrich Klaasen need to show maturity here. The explosive start has given them the luxury of time."
We tapped gloves. The consolidation began. The Titans were in control, but the Super Giants were fighting back.
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If You find any error in above calculations, below is correct one. Follow this:
Batting Scorecard
Abhishek Sharma – caught Hardik, bowled WoodRuns: 27 | Balls: 9 | Fours: 2 | Sixes: 3 | Strike Rate: 300.00
Shubman Gill – bowled BishnoiRuns: 17 | Balls: 13 | Fours: 3 | Sixes: 0 | Strike Rate: 130.76
Aarav Pathak (c) – not outRuns: 35 | Balls: 17 | Fours: 2 | Sixes: 3 | Strike Rate: 205.88
Heinrich Klaasen (wk) – not outRuns: 2 | Balls: 3 | Fours: 0 | Sixes: 0 | Strike Rate: 66.67
Extras: 1 (1 wide)
Total: 82 runs for 2 wickets in 7.0 overs
Avesh KhanOvers: 2.0 | Maidens: 0 | Runs: 40 | Wickets: 0 | Economy: 20.00
Mark WoodOvers: 2.0 | Maidens: 0 | Runs: 12 | Wickets: 1 | Economy: 6.00
Hardik PandyaOvers: 2.0 | Maidens: 0 | Runs: 26 | Wickets: 0 | Economy: 13.00
Ravi BishnoiOvers: 1.0 | Maidens: 0 | Runs: 4 | Wickets: 1 | Economy: 4.00
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At the Crease:Aarav Pathak (C): 35* (17 balls) - [SR: 205.88] Heinrich Klaasen (WK): 2* (3 balls).
Hardik Pandya stood at the top of his bowling mark, but he wasn't bowling. He was tossing the ball from hand to hand, looking at the dugout, then at the pitch. He needed control. He needed someone who wouldn't just bowl spin, but who would bowl heavy, fast, darting deliveries that skid off the Ekana surface.
He turned to his brother. Krunal Pandya.
The elder Pandya is a unique cricketer. He doesn't flight the ball like a traditional spinner. He bowls flat, fast left-arm orthodox, often clocking 100kmph. He cramps the batter for room, annoying them into making mistakes.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "And here comes the big move. Hardik turns to family. Krunal Pandya into the attack. This is a crucial matchup. Aarav Pathak has destroyed pace, but how does he handle the skiddy, flat darts of Krunal? Krunal has a history of getting big players out by frustrating them."
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "It's the right move, Ravi. On this wicket, the ball that grips is dangerous, but the ball that slides on with the arm is fatal. Krunal doesn't give you air. He bowls it into the pitch. Aarav loves to free his arms; Krunal won't let him do that. He will bowl it into the hip pocket."
I stood at the striker's end, watching Krunal set his field. He pushed long-off back. He pushed deep mid-wicket back. He kept point and cover inside the circle. The Trap: He wants me to hit over the off-side against the angle, or try to pull a skidder and get LBW.
[System Alert][Bowler Analysis: Krunal Pandya.][Threat Type: Defensive/Container.][Strategy: Disruption.]
I tapped my bat on the crease. Tap. Tap. I chewed my gum. I looked at Krunal.
Ball 1: Krunal ran in. A short, stuttering run-up. He fired it in. 98 kmph. It was full, angling across from over the wicket, aiming for the fourth stump line. He wanted me to drive hard and slice it to point.
Most batsmen would defend this. It was too fast to step out to, too full to cut. But I wasn't most batsmen. I didn't step out. I stayed deep in the crease. I saw the line. I knew cover was up. I cleared my front leg just a fraction to create room. I didn't swing hard. I used the pace of the ball. I punched it. Inside-Out. It wasn't a lofted drive; it was a punch over the infield. My wrists snapped at the point of impact, opening the face of the bat. The ball flew over the head of the cover fielder. It kept traveling. Flat. Fast. It crashed into the advertising cushions on the full.
SIX!
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "STAND AND DELIVER! That is just ridiculous strength! He hasn't moved his feet more than an inch! Krunal bowled that at 98 clicks, trying to rush him, and Aarav just stood there and punched it over extra cover! That is a shot of pure arrogance!"
Ian Bishop (Comms): "The wrists! Look at the wrists! He opened the face at the last second to get the elevation. Hardik looks stunned. He set the field to stop the drive, not the aerial assault!"
I held the pose for a second, then walked down the pitch to tap it. Krunal grimaced. He wiped the ball vigorously. He hadn't bowled a bad ball; I had just played a freakish shot.
Ball 2: Krunal adjusted immediately. He wasn't going to give me width again. He bowled it flatter, into the pads. 101 kmph. I respected the correction. I turned my wrists and worked it with the spin to deep mid-wicket. Calculated batting. Hit the boundary, take the single. 1 Run.
Ball 3:Heinrich Klaasen on strike. Klaasen is a destroyer of spin, but he takes a few balls to read the pace. Krunal fired it wide outside off, seeing Klaasen shuffle. Klaasen reached for it but mistimed the cut. It went straight to point. Dot Ball.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "Good adjustment from Krunal. He saw Klaasen moving and pushed it wide. That's experience. Gujarat needs to be careful; they don't need to take risks now. The required rate is below 6."
Ball 4: Krunal went straighter. Klaasen leaned forward and pushed it gently to long-off. He wanted to get off strike. 1 Run.
Ball 5: I was back on strike. 42 (19).* Krunal tried the arm ball—the one that drifts in. I read it from the hand. I didn't try to be a hero. I waited for it to come to me and nudged it to long-on. Simple. Effective. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Klaasen on strike. Krunal bowled a yorker length delivery. Klaasen dug it out to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
End of Over 8.Gujarat Titans: 92/2.Runs from Over: 10.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Ten runs from the over without taking a single risk after that first ball. This is mature play from Aarav and Klassen. He hits the big shot to unsettle the bowler, then milks him for the rest of the over. The required rate has dropped to 5.8. Lucknow is running out of options."
Score: 92/2.Equation: 72 runs needed off 72 balls.
Hardik Pandya looked at the scoreboard. The game was drifting. He needed a wicket desperately. He went back to Ravi Bishnoi. The wicket-taker. The man who had removed Gill.
Bishnoi marked his run-up. He looked confident. He knew the pitch was gripping for his googly.
Ball 1: Klaasen on strike. Bishnoi started well. He bowled a googly on a good length, turning into the right-hander. Klaasen went back to cut but was cramped for room. He defended it back to the bowler. Dot Ball.
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "Klaasen vs Bishnoi. This is the battle. Klaasen loves spin, but Bishnoi is quick. If Klaasen tries to hit across the line, he's a candidate for LBW."
Ball 2: Bishnoi tossed it up slightly. He wanted to tempt Klaasen. He bowled it fuller, outside off. Klaasen's eyes lit up. He is one of the best back-foot players of spin in the world. He didn't step out. He stayed deep in his crease, waiting for the ball to turn. As it landed, he cleared his front leg. He launched into a Backfoot Lofted Drive. It wasn't a slog. It was a clean swing of the bat through the line. The ball soared over long-off. It went high into the Lucknow night. The fielder on the boundary jumped, but he was merely a spectator.
SIX!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "THAT IS POWER! Heinrich Klaasen announces himself to the IPL! He stayed back and just muscled that over long-off! Bishnoi missed his length by six inches, and Klaasen made him pay. That is why Gujarat bought him!"
Ball 3: Bishnoi was rattled. He rushed his next delivery. He fired it flat and wide. Klaasen tried to cut but missed. The ball skidded through to Quinton de Kock. Dot Ball.
Ball 4: Bishnoi went for the googly again. Klaasen picked it this time. He rolled his wrists and worked it into the huge gap at mid-wicket. They jogged a single. 1 Run.
Ball 5: I was on strike. Bishnoi knew I could hit him. He bowled a defensive line—flat, outside off. I didn't chase it. I tapped it to sweeper cover. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Klaasen on strike. Bishnoi bowled a slider. Klaasen pushed it to long-on for a single. 1 Run.
End of Over 9.Gujarat Titans: 101/2.Runs from Over: 9.
Current Partnership: 21 runs off 15 balls.
The umpire signaled for the Strategic Timeout. Gujarat Titans: 101/2.Target: 164.Equation: 63 runs needed off 66 balls.
We walked off the pitch. Ashish Nehra was waiting with water bottles and towels. "Cruising," Nehra said, handing me a bottle. "Just cruising. Don't do anything stupid."
"Pitch is slowing down a bit," I said, wiping my face. "The ball to Klaasen stopped a little. We need to be careful against Krunal."
"Klaasen," I turned to the South African. "Great shot. But now, just rotate. We don't need boundaries every over. Run hard. Make them field."
Klaasen nodded, taking a gulp of water. "Ja, Skipper. They are panicking. Hardik is moving fielders every ball."
In the Commentary Box:
Gautam Gambhir: "This game is slipping away from Lucknow fast. 101 on the board at the 9-over mark? They are chasing 164, not 200-220. Gujarat is doing it easy. Aarav Pathak is batting on 44 off 21 balls without breaking a sweat. He is controlling the tempo perfectly."
Ravi Shastri: "It's the maturity, GG. Look at him. He hit a six off Krunal, then took singles. He let Klaasen hit a six, then took singles. He isn't trying to be the hero on every ball. He is playing the situation. That is what you want from your captain."
Matthew Hayden: "Hardik needs a wicket. He needs to bring himself back or maybe Stoinis. The spinners aren't getting enough purchase to trouble these two. If this partnership goes for another 3 overs, the game is done."
Ian Bishop: "The dew factor is starting to come in too. The ball is getting wet. You can see Bishnoi wiping it. That makes it even harder for LSG. Gujarat Titans have played the perfect chase so far. Aggression at the top, consolidation in the middle. Can they finish it without a wobble?"
I walked back onto the field. The lights were bright. The crowd was quieter now, sensing the inevitability of the result. But I knew better. In cricket, one wicket changes everything.
I looked at Hardik. He was bringing Deepak Hooda into the attack. Off-spin to two right-handers? Interesting.
I popped a fresh piece of gum. [System Alert: Opportunity Detected.]
"Let's finish this," I whispered.
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Hardik Pandya was rotating his bowlers like a man trying to find a winning lottery ticket in a pile of receipts.
He threw the ball to Marcus Stoinis. The Hulk. The Australian all-rounder with heavy shoulders and a heavy ball. He needed to break the rhythm.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Stoinis comes into the attack. He bowls a heavy ball into the pitch. On this surface, that might be effective. But he is bowling to two men who are seeing the ball like a melon."
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "Aarav is on 44. He is one hit away from a fifty on captaincy debut. Stoinis needs to bowl wide of his arc. If he bowls straight, he travels."
Ball 1: Stoinis ran in. He bowled a cutter into the pitch. Heinrich Klaasen waited. He didn't try to muscle it. He simply opened the face of the bat and guided it to deep point. 1 Run.
Ball 2:Aarav Pathak on strike. 44 runs. The crowd leaned forward. The anticipation was palpable. Stoinis tried to bowl the heavy ball—back of a length, into the ribs. 136 kmph. But Aarav was in 'God Mode'. The Captain's Mind had predicted the length. He didn't back away. He stood tall inside the crease. He swiveled. It wasn't a violent pull; it was a controlled, check-pull. He rolled his wrists over the ball, keeping it flat but hitting it with immense power. The ball flew over deep square leg. It didn't go into the top tier; it drilled into the advertising boards with a thud that echoed around the ground.
SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "There it is! Fifty for the Captain! Aarav Pathak announces himself as a leader with a half-century in his very first game! And look at the celebration! Or rather, the lack of it!"
Celebration POV:
I didn't take off my helmet. I didn't punch the air. I held the bat by the very bottom of the handle, letting the blade hang loose. I raised it slowly in the air. I turned it, showing the face of the bat to the dressing room, then to the crowd, then to the LSG dugout. The Bat Speaks. It was a gesture of supreme confidence. The bat had done the talking; I didn't need to say a word.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "That is a statement. He is showing the full face of the bat to the world. 'I am here, and I am in control.' 50 off just 23 balls. He has killed the chase in the first ten overs. Lucknow has no answers."
Gujarat Titans: 108/2.Equation: 56 runs needed off 64 balls.
From here, the game shifted gears. It wasn't about destruction anymore; it was about dissection. We stopped hitting sixes every over. We started hitting gaps. Klaasen and I rotated the strike with annoying efficiency. 1s turned into 2s. Bad balls were put away for 4.
Over 11 (Ravi Bishnoi): 6 Singles. Bishnoi tried the googly, tried the slider. We just milked him.
Over 12 (Krunal Pandya): 8 Runs. One boundary by Klaasen a slap through covers.
The required rate dropped below 5. The Lucknow shoulders slumped. Hardik Pandya stood at mid-off, hands on hips, looking at the scoreboard ticking over painfully.
Score: 122/2. Need: 42 off 48.
Over 13: Avesh Khan. Hardik brought his strike bowler back. One last throw of the dice.
Ball 3: I was on 62. I wanted to finish it quickly to boost the Net Run Rate. Avesh bowled a wide yorker. I reached for it. I tried to slice it over point for six. But the ball dipped late. I got the toe end of the bat. The ball flew high but not far. Deepak Hooda at deep point ran in and took a good, tumbling catch.
Aarav Pathak c Hooda b Avesh 62 (30)(4 Fours, 5 Sixes)
I walked off, frustrated but satisfied. I had done the job. The crowd stood up to applaud.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "He goes! But he has done the damage. A captain's knock. 62 off 30. He set the tone with the ball, and he has set the tone with the bat. Gujarat is well on their way."
David Miller walked out. "Finish it, Killer," I said as I crossed him. Miller nodded. "Easy does it."
Over 14: Mark Wood. Wood came back steaming in. He was the only one showing fight. He targeted Heinrich Klaasen. Short ball. 150 kmph. Klaasen tried to pull. He was late. Top edge. The ball went straight up. Quinton de Kock settled under it.
Heinrich Klaasen c de Kock b Wood 25 (18)Gujarat Titans: 135/4.
Two wickets in two overs. A ripple of excitement went through the LSG camp. 29 runs needed. Two new batters at the crease.
Rinku Singh walked out. The finisher I had backed. The man with the heart of a lion. He looked small next to Mark Wood, but his eyes were focused.
Gujarat Titans: 135/4.Target: 164.Equation: 29 runs needed off 36 balls.
It shouldn't have been tense, but in the IPL, new batters can panic. But David Miller and Rinku Singh were not in the mood to panic. They were in the mood to close the deal.
Over 15: Ravi Bishnoi. Miller on strike. Miller is one of the best players of spin in the world when set. Ball 1: Miller rocked back and cut Bishnoi for FOUR. Ball 3: Rinku on strike. Left-hander vs Leg Spinner. Bishnoi bowled the googly. Rinku read it. He swept it hard through square leg. FOUR.Runs: 11. Score: 146/4.
Equation: 18 runs needed off 30 balls.
Over 16: Avesh Khan. Hardik brought Avesh back to bowl the 16th. Rinku Singh was on strike.
Ball 1: Avesh bowled a good length ball on leg stump. Rinku flicked it to deep mid-wicket. He ran hard. Miller ran hard. 1 Run.
Equation: Need 18.
Ball 1: 1 run. Need 17.
Ball 2:David Miller on strike. Avesh tried the yorker. He missed by an inch. Low full toss. Miller didn't try to hit it for six. He just leaned into it. He drove it past the diving mid-off fielder. The ball raced away. FOUR.
Score: 151/4.Need: 13.
Ball 3: Miller took a single to deep cover. Need: 12.
Ball 4: Rinku on strike. Avesh went short. Rinku pulled. Controlled. Behind square. FOUR.
Score: 156/4.Need: 8 runs.
Ball 5: Rinku took a single. Need: 7.
Ball 6: Miller on strike. Avesh bowled a bouncer. Miller ramped it over the keeper. FOUR.
End of Over 16.Gujarat Titans: 161/4.Target: 164.Need: 3 runs.
Next over, David Miller on strike. The field was up to save the single. Hardik brought mid-off in. Avesh Khan ran in. He tried to bowl a heavy ball, back of a length, to cramp Miller. But Miller was waiting. He stood tall. He transferred his weight to the back foot. He punched it. Backfoot Punch. It was a shot of pure authority. It pierced the gap between cover and point. The sweeper was too wide. The ball raced across the turf.
FOUR.
GUJARAT TITANS WIN BY 6 WICKETS!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "AND THAT IS IT! David Miller hits the winning runs! A dominant, commanding performance from the debutants! The Gujarat Titans have arrived in the IPL, and they have swept aside the Lucknow Super Giants with disdain! Winning with almost 3-4 overs to spare!"
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Clinical. That is the word. Explosive at the top with Abhishek and Aarav, and then ice-cool at the finish with Miller and Rinku. They didn't panic when wickets fell. They just kept coming. Hardik Pandya has a lot to think about, but Aarav Pathak... his captaincy debut is a dream."
Graeme Smith (Comms): "Look at the Net Run Rate boost! That is massive. They go straight to the top of the table."
On the field, David Miller fist-bumped Rinku Singh. Rinku looked ecstatic, jumping into Miller's arms. I came onto the field with the rest of the squad for handshakes. I hugged Rinku first. "Well played, Finisher." Rinku beamed. "Thank you!"
Then I walked over to Hardik. He looked disappointed, but he smiled when he saw me. "You guys were too good today," Hardik admitted, shaking my hand. "That start... Abhishek and you... it killed us." "Long tournament, brother," I said. "See you in the return leg."
Ashish Nehra was waiting at the boundary, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Two points," Nehra said. "And we go home early. Good job."
I looked at the camera. I tapped the logo on my chest. The Titans were here. And we were just getting started.
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