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The Powerplay had been a blitzkrieg. 73 runs on the board. The Delhi Capitals fielders looked shell-shocked as they spread out to their positions. The 30-yard circle relaxed, but the pressure did not.
Rishabh Pant threw the ball to Axar Patel. The left-arm orthodox spinner. Known for his accuracy, his ability to dart it in and cramp batsmen. He was the perfect antidote to a flying start. Or so Delhi hoped.
I stood at the non-striker's end, watching Abhishek Sharma. He was in the zone. His eyes were wide, focused. He tapped his bat, looking at the field. "Spin is on," I called out. "Watch the skidder."
Ball 6.1: Axar ran in. He floated it up slightly on leg stump, trying to entice the slog sweep. Abhishek saw the flight. He didn't slog. He backed away early, creating room. He opened up the off-side. He hit through the line with a vertical bat. It wasn't power; it was pure caress. The ball lofted over extra cover. It sailed over the infield and bounced just inside the rope.
FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "That... is sweet music! Look at the balance. He makes room, holds his shape, and just caresses it over extra cover. Axar tried to cramp him, but Abhishek created his own space. That is high-class batting."
Ball 6.2: Axar adjusted immediately. He fired it in fuller on middle and leg, quicker. Abhishek leaned forward and nudged it calmly to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 6.3:Aarav Pathak on strike. Axar came around the wicket. He bowled back of a length on off stump. I went back in my crease. I didn't try to force it. I stabbed it towards mid-wicket. Dot Ball.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "Good option early from Axar. Don't give Aarav any room. Make him hit square of the wicket where the fielders are. He's just come in; he wants to feel bat on ball."
Ball 6.4: Axar bowled shorter outside off. I rocked back and cut it firmly to sweeper cover. 1 Run.
Ball 6.5: Axar flighted it again, tempting Abhishek. Abhishek gave himself room again, but this time drove it along the ground to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 6.6: Back of a length, turning in slightly. I worked it away calmly to deep mid-wicket. 1 Run.
End of Over 7.GT: 81/1.Run Rate: 11.57.
Jatin Sapru (Comms): "Delhi Capitals are under pressure, and Gujarat Titans are showing no intent of easing off. Even the quiet overs are going for 8 runs. The platform is massive."
Over 8: Lalit Yadav. Rishabh Pant turned to his part-time off-spinner, Lalit Yadav. He needed to mix it up.
Ball 7.1: I was on strike. Lalit bowled full on middle and leg. I eased it down to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 7.2: Lalit to Abhishek. Back of a length, skidding in. Abhishek was rushed. He pushed it back to the bowler. Dot Ball.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "That's the length. Don't give him room. Lalit needs to bowl into the body."
Ball 7.3: Lalit tried to bowl the same ball. But his line drifted slightly outside off. Abhishek anticipated it. He didn't play a conventional shot. He got into position early. He switched his grip. The Reverse Sweep. But he hit it hard. He nailed it. The ball bisected the backward point fielder and the short third man. It raced away.
FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Oh ho ho! Innovation! Look at that! He knew exactly where the fielders were. He waited for the ball to come to him and just helped it on its way with power. That breaks a bowler's heart. You bowl a decent ball, and it goes for four behind the wicket!"
Ball 7.4: Lalit went shorter on leg stump. Abhishek was hurried on the pull. He mistimed it towards long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 7.5: Lalit bowled shortish to me. It held in the pitch slightly. I waited and spoon-fed it to deep point. 1 Run.
Ball 7.6: Flat and quick on leg stump. Abhishek knocked it down the ground. 1 Run.
End of Over 8.GT: 89/1.
We were cruising. The run rate was healthy. But I knew we needed an explosion. I walked down the pitch to Abhishek. "Spinners are settling," I said. "We need to disturb their lengths. Next over, we go big." Abhishek nodded, wiping sweat. "Axar is back. Let's target him."
Over 9: Axar Patel.
Axar returned. He wanted to pull things back.
Ball 8.1: Axar gave it some air to Abhishek. Abhishek skipped down the track but didn't get to the pitch. He dragged it to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 8.2: I was on strike. I adjusted my Cap. The crowd roared. They wanted the Captain to fire. Axar made a mistake. A rare mistake. He bowled a drag-down. Short, outside off. It sat up, begging to be hit. I rocked back. I transferred my weight. I hammered it. The Pull Shot. It flew flat and hard over deep mid-wicket. It crashed into the stands.
SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "That is outta here! You do not bowl short to Aarav Pathak! He was waiting for it! He transferred his weight back and just dismissed it from his presence! The crowd has woken up!"
Ball 8.3: Axar panicked. He tried to compensate. He bowled fuller, slower. Right in the slot. I went down on one knee. The Slog Sweep. I launched it. High and handsome. It sailed over the same region—deep mid-wicket.
SIX!
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "That's poor bowling. You bowl short, you get hit. You bowl full in the slot, you get hit. Axar has lost his line here. Pathak is in the mood now. Two in two!"
The crowd went wild. The chants of "Aarav! Aarav!" echoed around the stadium.
Ball 8.4: Axar went back of a length, faster. I punched it to long-off. Sensible batting. Take the twelve runs and rotate. 1 Run.
Ball 8.5: Abhishek on strike. He wanted to join the party. Axar bowled flat. Abhishek danced down the track. He stayed leg side of the ball. He drilled it. Inside-out over extra cover. The placement was surgical. It split the gap between long-off and the sweeper.
FOUR.
Jatin Sapru (Comms): "Timing, placement, class! He makes room and just drills it! That is the shot of the day for me! Abhishek Sharma is matching his captain shot for shot!"
Ball 8.6: Axar bowled a similar line, shorter. Abhishek cut it to deep point. 1 Run.
End of Over 9.GT: 108/1.Run Rate: 12.00.
19 Runs off the over.
The scoreboard was moving like a slot machine. 108 in 9 overs. We were projected for 240.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "This is carnage in Patra City! Gujarat Titans are putting on a show! 108 for 1 at the halfway mark essentially. Aarav Pathak has woken up with back-to-back sixes, and Abhishek Sharma is playing a gem of an innings. Delhi Capitals are bleeding runs, and they don't have a tourniquet!"
I tapped gloves with Abhishek. "100 up," I grinned. "Now we double it."
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The scoreboard was already glowing red, but the real carnage was about to begin. Rishabh Pant, running out of options, threw the ball to Mandeep Singh. A part-timer. A desperate gamble.
I walked down the pitch to Abhishek Sharma. He was on 48. "He's bowling medium pace," I said, tapping his gloves. "Don't respect him. End him." Abhishek grinned, adjusting his helmet. "Consider it done, Skipper."
Ball 9.1: Mandeep ran in. He tried to bowl a slower ball into the pitch. It floated. It landed right in the slot on leg stump. Abhishek's eyes lit up. He cleared his front leg. He didn't just hit it; he muscled it. The ball flew over long-on. It kept going. It landed in the second tier of the South Stand.
SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Catch it? Forget it! That is in the next postal code! Abhishek Sharma brings up his fifty in just 28 balls! What a knock! He was tentative in the first over, but now he is ruling the roost!"
Abhishek raised his bat. The crowd roared. I clapped from the non-striker's end.
Ball 9.2: Mandeep panicked. He tried to go wider. Abhishek reached out. Cleaner. Stronger. Straighter. He launched it over deep mid-wicket. SIX!
Ball 9.3: Full again. Abhishek drilled it on the bounce to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 9.4: I was on strike. Mandeep saw me and dropped it short and wide. A mistake. I stayed back. I waited. Crack. I cut it behind point. The sound was like a gunshot. FOUR.
Ball 9.5: Mandeep tried to bowl a slower ball. I backed away. I lifted it over extra cover with the grace of a tennis player hitting a lob. FOUR.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "You can't bowl there at this stage. Mandeep is serving pies, and Aarav is eating them. This is poor captaincy from Pant. Why expose a part-timer to two set batsmen who are seeing it like a football?"
Ball 9.6: Mandeep finally bowled a decent ball—into the pitch, sticking a bit. I mistimed the pull. It took a body blow. No run.
End of Over 10.GT: 129/1.21 Runs off the over.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti came into the attack. Young, fast, athletic. But today, he was just another victim.
Ball 10.1: Slower ball into the pitch. Abhishek read it like tomorrow's newspaper. He waited. He launched it over extra cover. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "He is playing with them! Slower ball picked early and dispatched! Abhishek Sharma is making a statement!"
Ball 10.4: Nagarkoti bowled short and nasty to me. It reared up. It smacked me on the shoulder. I didn't rub it. I stared at him. Jatin Sapru (Comms): "That's brave. He'll carry on. No reaction from the Captain."
Ball 10.6: Nagarkoti tried the short ball again. I took it personally. I swiveled. I pulled. It sailed over long leg. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "He's taken that personally! You hit him, he hits you back harder! That is the Aarav Pathak way!"
GT: 142/1.
Khaleel Ahmed returned. He had taken Gill's wicket, but now he was walking into a storm.
Ball 11.2: Khaleel bowled short and slow. It sat up. Abhishek launched it over deep square. SIX.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "That's arrogance — and skill. He knew it was coming. He was waiting for it."
Ball 11.4: I was on strike. Khaleel bowled a slot ball outside off. I went down on one knee. Long-on disappeared. SIX.
Ball 11.6: Abhishek on strike. Straight as an arrow. Over the bowler's head. Shows the maker's name. SIX.
End of Over 12.GT: 162/1.Run Rate: 13.5.
The crowd in the Student Stand was going berserk. They were jumping, waving flags, screaming until their throats were raw.
Axar Patel came back. He looked defeated.
Ball 12.1: Short and wide. I moved across. I pulled it over short fine leg. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Oh, that's muscle with timing! Aarav Pathak moves across and just helps it on its way. GT are absolutely toying with DC now. This is humiliation."
Ball 12.3: Axar dragged it down wide. Wide.
Ball 12.3 (Reload): On the stumps. I mauled it over cow corner. It was a flat, brutal hit. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Outrageous! Just stand and deliver! He is seeing the ball like a beach ball!"
We milked singles for the rest of the over. GT: 177/1.
Lalit Yadav came on.
Ball 13.3: I was on 46. Lalit bowled back of a length. I used the pace. I crashed it behind point. FOUR.
Jatin Sapru (Comms): "Fifty for Aarav Pathak and what a way to get it! 50 off just 19 balls! And look at the celebration!"
The Celebration: I didn't take off my helmet. I didn't jump. I simply stood in the crease. I spun the bat in my hand once. I looked at the crowd. I tapped the Titans logo on my chest. Then I looked at the Delhi dugout. I gave a slow, deliberate nod.
Ball 13.4: Lalit bowled a slot ball. I went down on one knee. Over deep square leg. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "This is a batting masterclass! He reaches fifty and then accelerates even more! How do you stop this?"
Ball 13.5: Lalit bowled a full toss. I reversed my grip. Reverse-Slap over backward point! SIX!
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "That's not execution, that's a gift. But you still have to put it away. And he did it with a reverse slap. Ridiculous."
Ball 13.6: Reverse again! Over point. FOUR.
End of Over 14.GT: 199/1.
The stadium was shaking. 199 runs in 14 overs. We were on course for 260. The Student Stand was chanting: "AARAV! AARAV! ABHI! ABHI!"
I walked down the pitch to Abhishek. "200 is one run away," I smiled. "Let's make it 250." Abhishek laughed. "Let's make it 270."
The Titans weren't just winning; we were rewriting the record books.
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The scoreboard at the Vijay Khel Maidan hovered on the brink of a psychological milestone. 199 runs. In just 14 overs. The Delhi Capitals fielders looked like men who had been caught in a landslide. Their shoulders were slumped, their faces glistening with sweat and despair. Rishabh Pant, usually the most vocal man on the planet, was silent behind the stumps, watching his bowlers being dismantled piece by piece.
In the dugout, Ashish Nehra had stopped eating his sandwich or drinking from coconut. He was standing on the edge of the technical area, arms crossed, a disbelief-laced grin plastered on his face. This new blueprint wasn't just working; it was operating at 200% efficiency.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "I have seen many things in the IPL. I have seen Gayle storms. I have seen AB de Villiers magic. But this? Two young Indian batters, one the Captain, one the firebrand, absolutely dismantling an international attack? We are looking at 200 in the 15th over. That is unheard of."
Over 15: Shardul Thakur. Shardul, the 'Lord', came back. He had been expensive, but he had a knack for breaking partnerships.
Ball 14.1:Abhishek Sharma on strike. 88 runs. Shardul went for the wide yorker. He nailed it. Abhishek squeezed it out to long-off. 1 Run.200 UP for Gujarat Titans.
The stadium erupted. A roar of 60,000 people celebrating a double-century score with 35 balls still remaining.
Ball 14.2:Aarav Pathak on strike. 75 runs. Shardul tried a slower ball into the pitch. It sat up. It was the 'Hit Me' ball. I saw it early. I didn't need to move my feet. I just swung the bat like a sledgehammer. Range Hitting. The ball flew over long-on. It cleared the boundary rider by 20 meters. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "He's just standing there and hitting it! No trigger movement, no shuffle. Just pure hand-eye coordination. Murdered over long-on!"
Ball 14.3: Shardul panicked. He tried to go leg-stump yorker. He sprayed it. Way down leg. Pant dived but couldn't stop it cleanly. 2 Wides.
Ball 14.3 (Reload): Shardul went wide outside off. Too wide. 1 Wide.
Ball 14.3 (Reload 2): Abhishek on strike. Shardul finally bowled a legal delivery. It was in the slot. Abhishek cleared his front leg. Stand and Deliver. He smashed it straight back over the bowler's head. It hit the sightscreen with a deafening thud. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Stop it! Just stop it! This is video game cricket! Stand and deliver! Shardul Thakur doesn't know where to look! Rishabh Pant doesn't know where to set the field!"
Ball 14.4: Abhishek sliced a full ball high in the air. It swirled towards deep point. The fielder ran in. But it landed safely in the gap. Everything was sticking for GT. 1 Run.
Ball 14.5: I top-edged a pull. It flew over the keeper. Safe again. 2 Runs.
Ball 14.6: Short ball. I pulled it to deep square leg. 1 Run.
End of Over 15.GT: 219/1.
Jatin Sapru (Comms): "219 runs in 15 overs. We are witnessing the greatest batting display in IPL history. The highest score ever is 263 by RCB. That record is in serious danger tonight."
Over 16: Mustafizur Rahman. The Fizz returned. His cutters were usually lethal. Tonight, they were cannon fodder.
Ball 15.1: Slower and wide. I swung and missed. Dot.
Ball 15.2: Thick edge. It flew over short third man. 2 Runs.
Ball 15.6: Mustafizur tried a bouncer. But it was too high. It sailed over my head. No Ball.Free Hit coming up.
Ball 15.6 (Free Hit): Mustafizur bowled a slot ball. I waited. I loaded up. I annihilated it over deep mid-wicket. The ball went into the Student Stand. The students went berserk, fighting to catch the ball. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Free hit... free swing... free seats in the crowd! He has deposited that into the North Stand! Aarav Pathak moves into the 90s!"
End of Over 16.GT: 230/1.
Over 17: Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Nagarkoti bowled a decent over. He went for yorkers. We took singles and twos. 10 runs off the over.GT: 240/1.
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "Ten runs off the over, and we are calling it 'tight'. That shows the context of this game. Gujarat is eyeing 270."
Over 18: Shardul Thakur.
Abhishek Sharma was on 95. Aarav Pathak was on 93. Two batsmen in the 90s. In a T20 game. It was absurd.
Ball 17.1: Wide. Ball 17.1: I hit it straight to long-off. The fielder... dropped it. It spilled out of his hands. 1 Run.
Ball 17.2: Abhishek on strike. 95. He took a single to deep point. 96.
Ball 17.3: I took a single. 95.
Ball 17.4: Abhishek on strike. 96 runs. Shardul bowled a full toss. Abhishek didn't slog. He punched it straight down the ground. It beat mid-off. It raced away. FOUR.
CENTURY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA!
Abhishek stopped running. He looked at the scoreboard. 100 off 42 balls. He took off his helmet. He dropped his bat. He spread his arms wide, looking at the dugout. The License to Kill. He had fulfilled the contract. He then made L symbol with his hands.
I ran up to him and hugged him, lifting him off the ground. "You did it! You crazy bastard, you did it!" I screamed.
Jatin Sapru (Comms): "Take a bow, Abhishek Sharma! A century in his first game for the Gujarat Titans at home! He was told to attack, and he has destroyed! What an innings! 100 off 42 balls! The Patra City crowd is on its feet!"
Ball 17.5: Abhishek took a single.
Ball 17.6: Shardul bowled a wide. Then I took a single. Score: 98.
End of Over 18.GT: 251/1.
Over 19: Khaleel Ahmed.
I was on 98. I had scored a century in the World Cup Final. Now, on my IPL captaincy debut...
Ball 18.1: Khaleel bowled full on the pads. I flicked it to deep mid-wicket. "TWO!" We ran hard. I dived into the crease.
HUNDRED FOR AARAV PATHAK!
I took off my helmet. I didn't do the aggressive 'shush' celebration. I just pointed to the Vijay Khel Maidan turf, then at myself. This is my home.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "HISTORY MADE! Aarav Pathak is not the future; he is the NOW! A 36-ball hundred! He has matched the greats!"
Ball 18.2: I wasn't done. Khaleel bowled short. I pulled. FOUR.
Ball 18.5: Khaleel bowled a wide. Then he bowled a slot ball. I launched it. Into the stands again. SIX!
Ball 18.6: Full toss. Sliced over point. FOUR.
End of Over 19.GT: 270/1.
[RECORD BROKEN]Highest Team Total in IPL History.(Previous: RCB 263/5).
The stadium announcement boomed: "NEW IPL RECORD! 270 RUNS!"
Over 20: Mustafizur Rahman.
We had 270. We wanted 280-290.
Ball 19.1: Abhishek single. Ball 19.2: I hit a FOUR through covers. Ball 19.3: I took a single. Ball 19.4: Abhishek on strike. 108 runs. Mustafizur bowled a slower ball. Abhishek waited. He swung. He connected. It flew over deep square leg. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "SHOT OF THE NIGHT! To finish the innings! Abhishek Sharma puts the icing on the cake! That is massive!"
Ball 19.5: Dot. Ball 19.6: Single.
INNINGS BREAK.
GUJARAT TITANS: 283/1 (20 Overs).
Scorecard:
Abhishek Sharma: 116* (48 balls) - [10 Fours, 9 Sixes]
Aarav Pathak: 114* (40 balls) - [8 Fours, 10 Sixes]
Shubman Gill: 36 (18)
Partnership: 203* runs off 84 balls.
The crowd noise was a continuous, deafening roar. The players walked off. I put my arm around Abhishek. "283," I said, looking at the scoreboard. Abhishek grinned, breathless.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "I need a drink. You need a drink. The bowlers need therapy. 283 for 1. The Gujarat Titans haven't just arrived; they have kicked the door down, eaten the food, and bought the house. What a performance!"
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Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals.Innings Break.Star Sports Studio.
The live feed cut from the jubilant scenes at the Vijay Khel Maidan to the gleaming studio in Mumbai. The background screens were flashing with the ridiculous numbers: 283/1.
Jatin Sapru sat at the head of the desk, looking at the camera with wide eyes, holding a sheaf of papers that seemed to be shaking slightly in his hands.
Jatin Sapru: "Take a deep breath, India. Just... exhale. Because what we have just witnessed in the last 90 minutes is not normal. It is not standard. It is, quite frankly, illegal in several jurisdictions."
He turned to the panel. The legends of the game looked equally shell-shocked.
The Panel:
Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Gautam Gambhir, Harsha Bhogle
Jatin Sapru: "283 runs. Two hundred and eighty-three. The highest total in the history of the Indian Premier League. Two centuries in the same innings only the second time it has ever happened. Ravi Bhai, you called it 'fast cricket'. Is this fast cricket, or is this cricket gone rogue?"
Ravi Shastri: (Removing his glasses for effect) "Jatin, this isn't fast cricket. This is a rocket launch. This is NASA stuff. I have seen hitting. I have seen Gayle. I have seen AB. But this? This was two young Indian boys, 21-22 years old, deciding that the boundary ropes were merely suggestions."
Shastri pointed at the screen showing the highlights.
"Look at the intent. Usually, you see teams aim for 60 in the Powerplay. They got 73. Usually, teams slow down in the middle. They accelerated. 'Power Pathak' and 'Sharma Ji Ka Ladka'... they have rewritten the manual today."
Harsha Bhogle: "It's the sheer audacity of it, Ravi. You know, we talk about 'fearless cricket'. It's a buzzword. Everyone uses it. But today, we saw it. Abhishek Sharma stepping out to Fizz—a man bowling cutters. That is not just skill; that is a lack of respect for the reputation of the bowler. And I mean that in the best possible way."
Jatin Sapru: "Let's talk about that man first. Abhishek Sharma. 116 not out off 48 balls. We knew he had talent, GG, but did we know he had this gear?"
Gautam Gambhir: "I'll be honest, Jatin. I didn't think he had this consistency of power. We've seen flashes for Sunrisers. A quick 30 here, a 40 there. But today? He destroyed matchups. Left-arm pace, right-arm pace, spin... he didn't care. And credit must go to the management."
Gambhir looked at the camera.
"We criticized them. We said the team was too young. We said they lacked experience. But look at the role clarity. Aarav Pathak clearly told Abhishek: 'Go and kill.' And Abhishek played like a man who had nothing to lose. That freedom... that is the most dangerous weapon in T20."
Sunil Gavaskar: "It warms my heart, you know. To see a young Indian left-hander bat like that. We call him 'Sharma Ji Ka Ladka' jokingly, but today he showed maturity. When Aarav was striking at 300, Abhishek rotated. When Aarav slowed down for a ball or two, Abhishek hit a six. It was the perfect tango. They call it chemistry; I call it telepathy."
Jatin Sapru: "Speaking of telepathy, let's talk about the other centurion. The Captain. The prrinceeee of Cricket. Aarav Pathak. 114 not out off 40 balls. 10 Sixes. Harsha, you called him a 'God' during the World Cup. What is he now?"
Harsha Bhogle: "He is... inevitable. That's the word. When he walks out, you don't ask 'will he score runs?', you ask 'how many?'. Today, he was in a different zone. We call him 'Power Pathak', but look at the finesse. That late cut off Khaleel? That reverse slap off Lalit Yadav? It's not just brute force. It's a 360-degree assault."
Ravi Shastri: "He is the engine, Harsha. Look at his entry point. Number 3. The score was 73/1. Most captains would take a sighter. He hit his first scoring shot for a boundary. He hit his second for a six. He demoralized the bowling attack. Poor Khaleel Ahmed. Poor Shardul Thakur. They didn't bowl badly; they just bowled to a man who was playing stick cricket."
Jatin Sapru: "We have to discuss the connection between these two. Aarav and Abhishek. They aren't just teammates; they are childhood friends. They grew up playing cricket together. Does that bond translate to the pitch?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "Without a doubt. You can see it in the running between the wickets. There is no calling. They just look at each other and run. They trust each other. When Abhishek was on 95, Aarav didn't try to hog the strike to hit a six; he took a single. When Aarav was on 98, Abhishek gave him the strike. That is brotherhood. That is rare in franchise cricket where everyone is playing for their own contract."
Gautam Gambhir: "It also helps that they are left-hand/right-hand. It's a nightmare for the captain to set a field. Pant was lost today. He moves mid-wicket back for Aarav, Abhishek comes on strike and hits over covers. He brings fine leg up for Abhishek, Aarav scoops it. They manipulated the field because they know each other's game inside out. It's like they were batting in the nets in Punjab or Mumbai, just having fun."
Jatin Sapru: "Let's look at the bowling figures for Delhi. It's a horror show."
The screen flashed the bowling card.
Mustafizur Rahman: 4-0-58-0
Shardul Thakur: 4-0-62-0
Khaleel Ahmed: 4-0-55-1
Ravi Shastri: "Ouch. That hurts the eyes. Shardul going for 60... The Lord was taken to the cleaners today. But what could they do? The pitch was true, yes, but the hitting was superior. I think the only mistake Delhi made was feeding the slot. You cannot bowl in the slot to 'Power Pathak'. He will clear the stadium. You saw the solar panels? They are going to need repairs tomorrow."
Harsha Bhogle: "It raises a question about the 'fast cricket' philosophy Aarav spoke about. Everyone laughed when he said 'We aim for 220'. Well, nobody is laughing now. They scored 283. Is this the future of T20? Just relentless attacking from ball one to ball 120?"
Gautam Gambhir: "It is high risk. If it comes off, you get 283. If it fails, you get 120 all out. But today, it worked because the skill level matched the ambition. Can they do it every game? I doubt it. But in Patra City, on this wicket? They are going to be unbeatable."
Jatin Sapru: "284 to win. It sounds like a joke. Is there any hope for Delhi Capitals? Prithvi Shaw? Pant?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "Well, in cricket, you never say never. But 284? That's 14.2 runs per over from the start. You need three centuries to chase that. The only thing Delhi can play for now is Net Run Rate. Try to get to 200 so they don't destroy their season in the first game."
Ravi Shastri: "I disagree, Sunny! This is the IPL! Where talent meets opportunity! If Prithvi Shaw hits six sixes in the first over... who knows? But realistically? No. The Gujarat Titans have batted them out of the game, out of the stadium, and possibly out of the state."
Jatin Sapru: "There you have it. The 'Baby Titans' have grown up in 20 overs. Aarav Pathak and Abhishek Sharma—the childhood friends who turned into the destroyers of Lucknow and now Delhi. 283 on the board. The chase... or the formality... begins shortly."
[CUT TO COMMERCIAL: An ad featuring Aarav for Astra Smart Glasses, winking at the camera.]
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The target was mythical. 284 runs. In the history of T20 cricket, no team had ever chased this. It required a run rate of 14.2 from ball one. The Delhi Capitals walked out not to win, but to save face. To lose by less than 100 runs would be a moral victory.
The Gujarat Titans took the field. We weren't tense. We were floating. The adrenaline of the first innings was still coursing through our veins. I looked at the team. They were smiling, joking.
"Focus," I clapped my hands, though I was grinning too. "Let's finish this professionally. NRR matters."
Tim Seifert and Prithvi Shaw walked out to open. Two of the most destructive openers in the world, walking into a funeral.
I held the new ball. Usually, I opened the bowling. Or Hazlewood. But tonight was not a night for logic. Tonight was a night for vibes.
I looked at Abhishek Sharma. He had just scored 116 not out. He was buzzing with energy. "Abhi," I tossed him the ball. "You want to bowl?"
Abhishek caught it, surprised. "New ball? Against Tim Seifert and Shaw?" "Why not?" I shrugged. "It's your night. Everything you touch turns to gold today. Go on."
Over 1: Abhishek Sharma. Left-arm orthodox spin. Prithvi Shaw was on strike. He looked angry. He wanted to hurt someone for that 283 score.
Ball 1: Abhishek darted it in. Flat. Shaw cleared his front leg. He didn't care about the line. He swung with raw violence. SIX. Over long-on.
Ball 2: Abhishek adjusted, bowling wider. Shaw stepped out. He slashed. The ball flew over extra cover. SIX.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Twelve off two balls! Prithvi Shaw is not going down without a fight! He sees the part-timer and he is feasting! Maybe this was a mistake from Aarav? Getting carried away with the 'fun' aspect?"
I stood at mid-off. I didn't say anything. I just nodded at Abhishek. One more.
Ball 3: Abhishek didn't panic. He slowed it down. He gave it air. He drifted it onto the middle stump line. Shaw's eyes lit up. He went for the hat-trick of sixes. He tried to slog sweep against the turn. But the ball gripped. It turned just enough to beat the bat. It crashed into the stumps.
Prithvi Shaw b Abhishek 12 (3)DC: 12/1.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "He has the Midas touch! I told you! Today, Abhishek Sharma can do nothing wrong! Whatever he touches turns to gold! He gets hit for two sixes, and then bowls Prithvi Shaw! What a day he is having!"
Tim Seifert watched from the non-striker's end, shaking his head.
I kept Abhishek on. I wanted to see how far this magic stretched. And it stretched far.
Over 3: Tim Seifert tried to attack him. Abhishek bowled an arm ball. Tim Seifert cut it straight to point. Shubman Gill took a sharp catch. Tim Seifert c Gill b Abhishek 4.
Over 5:Mandeep Singh tried to step out. Stumped by Heinrich Klaasen. Mandeep st Klaasen b Abhishek 18.
Abhishek's Figures in Powerplay: 3 Overs. 28 Runs. 3 Wickets.
DC: 55/3 (6 Overs).
The chase was dead. It was now just a matter of the margin.
I brought myself on in the middle overs. The crowd chanted my name. "Aarav! Aarav!"
Rishabh Pant was at the crease. My friend. My rival captain. He was fighting a lone battle. He was hitting boundaries, trying to salvage some pride for Delhi.
Over 10: I ran in to Pant. 152 kmph. Pant pulled it for FOUR. He nodded at me. Still got it.
Ball 4: I bowled a slower bouncer. Lalit Yadav tried to hook. Top edge. Kuldeep Yadav at fine leg took it. Lalit Yadav c Kuldeep b Aarav 10.
Over 12:Rovman Powell came in. The West Indian power hitter. I didn't give him a sighter. 148 kmph Yorker. It crushed his toe. LBW.Rovman Powell lbw b Aarav 2.
DC: 98/6.
While wickets fell like ninepins around him, Rishabh Pant played a gem of a knock in a losing cause. He reverse-swept Rashid Khan. He lofted Kuldeep Yadav. He reached his 50 off 30 balls.
He screamed in frustration when Axar Patel got run out. He looked at the scoreboard. 150/9.
Over 18:Arshdeep Singh. Last wicket. Khaleel Ahmed on strike. Arshdeep bowled a yorker. Khaleel missed. Stumps shattered.
Delhi Capitals All Out: 167.
GUJARAT TITANS WIN BY 116 RUNS.
The stadium was a carnival. The players shook hands. I hugged Pant. "Tough luck," I said. "You guys were on drugs today," Pant laughed ruefully. "283? Seriously?" "We like to bat," I grinned.
Post-Match Presentation.
Harsha Bhogle: "What a night. Records tumbled like dominoes. A 116-run victory. But there is only one man we can call up."
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma.Performance: 116* (48 balls) & 3/28 (3 Overs).
Abhishek walked up, beaming. He held the trophy. "I just listened to the Captain," Abhishek said, looking at me. "He said 'Go Kill'. So I tried to kill the ball."
Harsha Bhogle: "And the bowling?" "That was luck," Abhishek laughed. "I think the ball was scared of me today."
I took the mic next. Aarav Pathak (Winning Captain): "Perfect game. The batting was just out of the world. The bowling was disciplined. Abhishek... I've known him since we were kids. Today, the world saw what I've known for years. He is a superstar."
We walked a lap of honor. The Vijay Khel Maidan was rocking. The statement had been made. The critics who called us 'Baby Titans' were silent. We weren't just the future. We were the present.
Points Table:
Gujarat Titans: 4 Points (NRR +4.500).
We were on top. And we planned to stay there.
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Author's Note: - 5800+ Words
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