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April 8, 2022. PCA Stadium, Mohali.Match 16: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans.
The journey from the futuristic utopia of Patra City to the historic, open-air cauldron of Mohali was a shift in atmosphere, but not in intensity. The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium has a reputation—fast pitch, long boundaries, and a crowd that loves its cricket loud.
We arrived at the ground to a surprising sight. Amidst the sea of Punjab's red and silver, there were distinct pockets of Navy Blue. Our brand of cricket the 'fast cricket' had traveled. The "Titans Army" was growing, fueled by YouTube highlights and the sheer audacity of our batting.
The Toss:Mayank Agarwal, the Punjab captain, won the toss. "We'll bat first," Mayank said. "Good wicket. Runs on the board."
I smiled. "We prefer chasing anyway. We like to know the target."
Punjab Kings came out swinging. They had power hitters—Mayank, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Liam Livingstone.
Our bowling was disciplined upfront. Aarav removed Mayank early. Arshdeep Singh, playing on his home ground against his old team, bowled with fire, removing Dhawan.
But then, Liam Livingstone arrived. The Englishman is a brute. He treated Rashid Khan with disdain, hitting him for a 117-meter six that cleared the stadium roof. He scored a blistering 64 off 27 balls. Just as we thought we were chasing 200+, Rashid had the last laugh, trapping him LBW with a quicker googly.
However, Shahrukh Khan provided a late flourish, smashing Josh in the 20th over.
Punjab Kings: 180/9 (20 Overs).Target: 181.
It was a competitive score. The Mohali pitch had pace, and Kagiso Rabada was waiting.
Shubman Gill walked out. For him this was a homecoming. He is Punjab boys, raised on these pitches. The crowd roared conflicted between supporting their franchise and their local heroes.
Over 1: Kagiso Rabada. Rabada, one of the best in the world, marked his run-up. He wanted to silence the youngster.
Ball 1: Rabada steamed in. 145 kmph. Back of a length. Abhishek didn't care about reputations. He knew this pitch. He knew the bounce. He stepped out. He slapped it over long-off. SIX!
The Mohali crowd erupted. They couldn't help themselves.
Ball 2: Rabada corrected. Fuller. Abhishek cleared his front leg. Straight Six. Right back over the bowler's head. 12 runs off 2 balls.
Ball 3: Rabada went wide. Abhishek tried to guide it over point—a cut shot he plays so well. But the extra pace of Rabada defeated him. The ball got big on him. It flew to Odean Smith at third man. Caught.
Abhishek Sharma c Smith b Rabada 12 (3)GT: 12/1.
Abhishek walked off, swinging his bat. He had done his job momentum. But he was disappointed not to carry on.
I walked out at Number 3. The noise spiked. "Aarav! Aarav!"
I met Gill in the middle. "Good pitch," Gill said. "True bounce. We can chase this if we don't panic."
I faced Rabada. I punched him through covers for FOUR to get off the mark. I pulled Vaibhav Arora. I pulled him for SIX.
I raced to 35 off 20 balls. I was looking set for another big one. But then, Rahul Chahar came into the attack. The leg-spinner floated one up. I saw the googly. I went for the slog sweep to clear the long boundary. I mistimed it. The ball held in the air. Shahrukh Khan at deep mid-wicket took a good catch.
Aarav Pathak c Shahrukh b Chahar 35 (20)GT: 58/2 (6.4 Overs).
Usually, when the captain falls, the run rate drops. But Shubman Gill decided today was his day. He was joined by Heinrich Klaasen. They didn't try to match my strike rate. They played smart cricket. Gill played glorious drives. He cut with precision. He reached his 50 off 35 balls.
Klaasen attacked the spinners, hitting Chahar for two sixes, before falling for 25. GT: 110/3.
David Miller walked in. The required rate was climbing. 10 runs per over. Miller stabilized. He hit a few boundaries but fell trying to accelerate against Kagiso Rabada. GT: 145/4.
Equation: 36 runs needed off 18 balls.
Rinku Singh walked out. The Finisher. He joined Gill, who was on 80.
Over 18: Kagiso Rabada. Gill hit a four. Rinku hit a four. 10 runs. Need 24 off 12.
Over 19: Vaibhav Arora. Rinku Singh showed his class. He didn't slog. He played with the field. He scooped a yorker for FOUR. He pulled a short ball for SIX. Gill took a single. 17 runs off the over. Need 7 off 6.
Over 20: Sandeep Sharma. Sandeep is a clever bowler. He bowls knuckles, wides, yorkers. Ball 1: Gill on strike. 95 runs. Sandeep bowled a wide yorker. Gill squeezed it to deep point. 1 Run.Need 6 off 5.
Ball 2:Rinku Singh on strike. Sandeep tried the yorker. He missed by an inch. It was in the slot. Rinku cleared his front leg. He swung with that beautiful, clean arc. The ball flew over long-on. It sailed into the stands.
SIX!
GUJARAT TITANS WIN BY 6 WICKETS!
Gill ran to Rinku and hugged him. Shubman Gill: 96 (59 balls).* A masterclass in anchoring a chase.
Aarav came to the field. He hugged Gill first. "Brilliant," I said. "That is how you control a game. Pure class."
Then he hugged Rinku. "One hit," he laughed. "You needed one hit, and you nailed it."
Post-Match Presentation.
Shubman Gill was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 96*.
Harsha Bhogle: "Shubman, you watched wickets fall, but you kept going. Was there pressure?"
Gill: "A little bit. But the target was in reach. Aarav gave us a good start, and Rinku finished it perfectly. I just wanted to be there till the end."
Fielding Medal Ceremony (Dressing Room):
Abichal Kumar stood in the center. "Great win boys. Tough chase, but we held our nerve." He held up the medal. "Today, the fielding was sharp. But one man was electric. He saved at least 10 runs at point. He took a sharp catch."
"The winner is... Shubman Gill!"
The room cheered. Gill smiled, wearing the medal over his jersey. Player of the Match. Fielder of the Match. It was a good day for the Prince-in-Waiting.
We were 3 for 3. The juggernaut was rolling.
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The Gujarat Titans juggernaut was rolling. Played 3. Won 3. We had dismantled Lucknow. We had annihilated Delhi with a record score. We had chased down Punjab in their own den. The "Baby Titans" narrative had been replaced by a new one: The Inevitables.
But cricket is a game of variables, and today, we were changing the biggest variable of all: The Pitch.
I stood in the center of the Vijay Khel Maidan with Ashish Nehra and the head curator. The sun was still high, casting a harsh light on the strip. Unlike the flat, batting paradise we had prepared for the Delhi game, this pitch had a distinct greenish tinge. It looked hard. It looked like something imported from Adelaide or Perth.
"Bounce," Nehra said, pressing his thumb into the surface. "Good carry. The ball will fly."
"Perfect," I nodded. "We have Arsh, Hazlewood, Umran, and me. If we can't use a green top, who can?"
"It's a risk," the curator warned. "SRH has pace too. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T. Natarajan, Sean Abbott, Kartik Tyagi.
"They have Bhuvi," I said. "He will swing it. But we have the pace battery. We bowl first if we win the toss?"
"Bowl first," Nehra agreed. "Unleash the hounds."
While I was plotting wicket-taking lengths, a different kind of scene was unfolding near the boundary rope.
Abhishek Sharma and Rashid Khan were walking towards the Sunrisers Hyderabad dugout. For several years, they had worn the Orange Army jersey. They had been the young hope and the superstar of Hyderabad. Now, they were returning as conquerors in Blue.
Kane Williamson, the SRH captain, was waiting. The nicest man in cricket smiled warmly as he saw his former teammates.
"Rashid!" Kane called out.
Rashid jogged over, hugging Kane. "Skipper! Good to see you."
"You look good in blue," Kane lied politely. "Though I miss the wickets."
Abhishek Sharma was surrounded by his old mates Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. "Oye, Sharma ji!" Bhuvi laughed, ruffling Abhishek's hair. "I saw that century. 116? You never did that for us!"
"You never gave me the License, Bhuvi bhai," Abhishek grinned. "Here, I have a contract to kill."
"Contract to kill?" Nicholas Pooran (SRH) raised an eyebrow. "Sounds dangerous. We better watch out."
"Just don't bowl in my slot, Nicky," Abhishek winked.
It was a warm reunion. Hugs, laughter, shared memories of bubble life. But beneath the smiles, there was a competitive edge. SRH had let them go. GT had made them stars. Tonight was about proving who made the right choice.
Outside the boundary ropes, the stadium was filling up fast. It was another Housefull. 60,000 tickets sold out in hours.
The "Student Stand" was rocking. But today, the management had introduced a new initiative to keep the buzz alive. "The Family Box." A section of the East Stand had been converted into a family-friendly zone with reduced ticket prices, free meal boxes for kids, and face-painting stations. It was a sea of families—grandparents, parents, toddlers—all wearing the GT jersey.
I walked back from the pitch inspection, waving to the crowd. The noise was deafening. "Aarav! Aarav!"
I saw a group of students holding a banner: PATRA CITY IS THE NEW GABBA. FORTRESS.
I smiled. They were buying into the narrative.
Time: 6:30 PM. Dressing Room.
We gathered for the final briefing. The music was lower today; the mood was focused.
"Listen up," I said, standing by the whiteboard. I drew a line representing the pitch.
"This is not the Delhi pitch," I warned the batters. "This is not a 280 pitch. This is a 170-180 pitch. The ball will bounce. It will nip."
I looked at Shubman Gill and Abhishek. "Watch the first two overs. Bhuvi will swing it. If you nick off trying to hit a six first ball, I won't be happy. Give yourself an over. Then explode."
"Understood," Gill nodded. "Play late."
Then I turned to the bowlers. Josh Hazlewood, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik to add extra pace on this bouncy track.
"Arsh, Umran, Josh, Me," I listed. "Four bowlers who can hit 145+. On this wicket, short balls are lethal. Aim for the throat. Make them uncomfortable. Kane is a master, but even he doesn't like it at the nose."
"Bodyline?" Arsh grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Aggressive cricket," I corrected. "We don't want to hurt them. We just want to scare them."
"Same thing," Umran Malik chuckled.
Nehra clapped his hands. "Fielding. Rinku, you have the medal. Defend it. I want energy. We are 3-0. Let's make it 4-0 and put one foot in the playoffs."
"TITANS!"
We walked out. The sun was setting, turning the sky a deep purple. The lights of the Vijay Khel Maidan flickered on. The reunion was over. The battle was about to begin.
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Aarav stood in the middle with Kane Williamson, the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain. Ravi Shastri was holding the microphone, looking at the pitch with raised eyebrows.
"Gentlemen," Shastri boomed. "The pitch looks spicy. There is grass. There is hardness. Kane, you have the coin."
Kane flipped it. "Heads," I called. It was Tails.
"Kane Williamson wins the toss," Shastri announced. "What is it going to be?"
Kane Williamson: "We'll have a bowl, Ravi. There's a bit of grass on it, might get some movement early on. We have Bhuvi and Nattu who can exploit that. We want to see what we are chasing."
Shastri: "Changes for the Orange Army?"
Kane: "Yeah, Marco Jansen comes in. We want that extra bounce."
Shastri turned to me. "Aarav, asked to bat first. Happy?"
Aarav: "Not really. We wanted to bowl on this too. It's a green top. We prepared it to fly. But we bat deep. We need to respect the first few overs."
Shastri: "I see some serious pace marking the run-up in the warm-ups. Any changes to the XI?"
I smiled, a glint of excitement in my eyes. This was the gamble.
Aarav: "Yeah, one big change. We are trying a new combination today. The pitch demands pace, not spin. So, Kuldeep Yadav misses out, unfortunately. And Umran Malik makes his debut for the Titans."
Shastri: (Surprised) "Umran Malik? The Jammu Express? So you are going in with only one specialist spinner in Rashid Khan?"
Aarav: "Yes. We have Tewatia, Abhishek if needed. But look at this deck. It screams pace. We have Arsh, Josh Hazlewood, myself, and now Umran. We want to fight fire with fire."
Shastri: "Bold move. Good luck."
FLASHBACK
February 14, 2022. Jammu.Two days after the Auction.
[Umran Malik POV]
The phone in my hand felt heavy, like a cricket ball after 80 overs. I was sitting on the roof of my house in Gujjar Nagar, looking at the Tawi River. My life had changed 48 hours ago. The Gujarat Titans had bought me for 4 Crores.
4 Crores. My father, who sold fruits for a living, had cried. My mother had distributed sweets to the entire neighborhood.
But the money wasn't the only thing on my mind. It was the call I had received just ten minutes ago.
"Umran? Ashish Nehra bol raha hoon."
The Head Coach of Gujarat Titans.
"Listen, son," Nehra had said, his voice casual but sharp. "Pack your bags. You are coming to Gujarat early. We aren't waiting for the camp."
"Yes, Sir," I had stammered. "But why early?"
"Because the Captain wants you," Nehra said. "Aarav Pathak specifically asked for you in the auction meeting. He said, 'I want the fastest bowler in India in my team.' He wants to work with you personally."
My heart hammered against my ribs. Aarav Pathak. The man who bowled 156kmph. The man who was currently the best cricketer on the planet. He wanted me?
"He says he can guide you," Nehra continued. "He bowls 150. You bowl 150. He speaks your language. Be ready."
I hung up, staring at the sky. I had never had a proper mentor. In Jammu, I just ran in and bowled fast. I didn't know about wrist positions or load-ups. I just knew if I ran hard, the stumps broke. But now... I had a teacher.
February 20, 2022. Patra City, Gujarat.The Sardar Patel Sports Complex.
I stepped off the bus and my jaw hit the floor. I had seen stadiums on TV. I had been to the SRH camp. But this... this was different. The facility looked like a spaceship. The gym was made of glass. The swimming pool was bigger than my street.
"Welcome to the den, Umran," a voice said.
I turned. Aarav Pathak was standing there, wearing a training kit, holding a bottle of water. He looked taller in person. More... imposing.
"Captain," I said, instinctively standing at attention.
"Relax," Aarav smiled, shaking my hand. His grip was iron. "No 'Sir."
He replied, "Just Aarav or Skipper. You hungry?"
"No... yes," I admitted.
"Good. Because Ramji Srinivasan (the Trainer) has a diet plan for you that is going to make you hate food for a week. But then, you will run like a cheetah."
The next three weeks were the hardest of my life. It wasn't just bowling. It was a complete reconstruction of my lifestyle.
6:00 AM: Recovery pool session. 8:00 AM: Breakfast (measured to the gram—proteins, carbs, zero sugar). 10:00 AM: Gym. Not just lifting weights, but explosive movements. Jumping, sprinting, core work. Aarav was there in several session whenever he got time, lifting heavier than me, pushing me. "Come on, Umran! Fast bowlers need glutes! Push!"
Then came the nets. Ashish Nehra stood by the stumps. Aarav stood at the top of the run-up.
"Show me," Aarav said on the first day.
I ran in. I wanted to impress him. I put everything into the ball. It was fast. 148 kmph. But it was wide. Way down the leg side.
I looked down, embarrassed.
Aarav walked up to me. He didn't scold me. He put an arm around my shoulder. "You know why you sprayed that?"
"I tried to bowl too fast," I mumbled.
"No," Aarav corrected. "You tried to bowl fast with your shoulder. You forgot your legs."
He walked me back to the mark. "Your run-up is your engine, Umran. You are stuttering at the end. You are losing momentum. I want you to run in like you are sprinting 100 meters. Don't slow down at the crease. Run through the crease."
He demonstrated. His run-up was smooth, rhythmic, and terrifyingly fast. He didn't just release the ball; he exploded through it.
"And don't compromise on speed," Aarav said, looking me in the eye. "Every other coach will tell you to slow down to be accurate. Line pakdo, length pakdo. Screw that."
He tapped my chest. "You have a gift. 150 is a gift from God. Don't throw it away to hit a coin. We will teach you accuracy at 150. Even if you bowl wides, I want them to be fast wides. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Skipper."
"Good. Again."
We worked for hours. Aarav taught me how to hold the ball cross-seam for skid. He taught me how to use the crease to change angles. But mostly, he taught me mindset. "When you have the ball," he said, "you are the King. The batsman is scared of you. Even if it's Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. At 150, everyone is scared. Smell their fear."
By the end of the third week, I was different. My body felt like a coiled spring. My run-up was smoother. And the speed gun... the speed gun was flashing numbers I had only dreamed of.
151... 153... 155.
"Ready," Aarav said one evening, watching me shatter a stump in the nets. "You are ready."
April 10, 2022. The Night Before the Match.
I was in my hotel room when there was a knock. It was Ashish Nehra. He held a team jersey in his hand.
"Iron it," Nehra said, his trademark grin in place. "You're playing tomorrow in place of KD."
My heart skipped a beat. "Playing? But Kuldeep bhai..."
"Pitch is green," Nehra winked. "Captain wants fire. He wants the Jammu Express."
I took the jersey. It had MALIK 24 on the back. I closed the door and sat on the bed, holding the jersey. I thought of the tennis ball matches in the streets of Jammu. I thought of the trials. And I thought of the last three weeks of sweat and pain in Patra City.
I wasn't just a raw pacer anymore. I was a weapon. Sharpened by the best.
[END FLASHBACK]
Back to Present.April 11, 2022.
The huddle broke. The team dispersed to prepare for batting. I stood near the boundary, holding my cap.
Aarav Pathak walked up to me. He was wearing his pads, ready to bat at Number 3, but he stopped. He held out the Debut Cap.
"Umran," Aarav said. The cameras were zooming in.
I looked at him. The man who had changed my game in 21 days.
"You earned this," Aarav said, placing the cap on my head. "Today, the world sees what I saw in the nets. Don't worry about runs. Don't worry about wides. Just run in and tear the floor up."
He gripped my shoulder. "Welcome to the Titans."
I adjusted the cap. It fit perfectly. I looked at the pitch. The green top. It looked like a runway. And I was the jet.
"Thank you, Skipper," I said, my voice thick with emotion.
"Go warm up," Aarav grinned, turning to walk to the dugout. "I'll set a target. You defend it."
I ran to the bowling marker. The crowd cheered. They didn't know me yet. Not really. But they would. By the end of the night, they would know the name Umran Malik.
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Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill walked out to the center. The "Titans Army" in the stands rose as one, a sea of navy blue flags waving in a synchronized rhythm. The noise was a physical force, a wall of sound that hit you in the chest.
Kane Williamson gathered his troops. He threw the new white Kookaburra ball to his most trusted lieutenant. Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The Swing King. The man who could land a ball on a coin and make it talk in two languages.
I sat in the dugout, my eyes narrowed. "Watch the first six balls," I muttered to Gary Kirsten. "Bhuvi on a green top is a different beast."
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "The atmosphere is absolutely electric here in Patra City! You can't hear yourself think! It's the Battle of the Paces, but first, it's the Battle of Swing. Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball. Abhishek Sharma on strike. The 'Fast Cricket' philosophy versus the classical art of swing bowling. Buckle up!"
Ian Bishop (Comms): "This pitch has grass on it, Ravi. Live grass. Bhuvi will be licking his lips. Abhishek Sharma has been given the license to attack, but against a moving ball, aggression is a double-edged sword."
Ball 1: Bhuvneshwar marked his run-up. He looked calm, almost serene amidst the chaos. He ran in. Smooth action. Perfect wrist position. He pitched it on a good length, just outside the off-stump. The ball hit the seam and jagged away late. Conventional outswing, amplified by the surface. Abhishek watched it. He fought the urge to throw his hands at it. He lifted his bat, letting it pass through to Nicholas Pooran. Dot Ball.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "Respect shown. That is a good leave. On this pitch, the ball will fly off the edge. You have to be sure before you drive."
Ball 2: Bhuvi went a fraction fuller, tempting the drive. Abhishek saw the length. The 'License' flashed in his mind. He didn't wait. He threw his hands at it, looking to slash it over point. But the ball moved further than he anticipated. It beat the outside edge by a coat of varnish. Whoosh.Dot Ball.
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "That is dangerous! Living on the edge! He is swinging hard against the moving ball. Bhuvi will enjoy that. He knows if he brings one back in now, the gate is wide open."
Ball 3: Bhuvi decided to test the aggression. He bowled it slightly wider, testing the reach. Abhishek didn't back down. He stepped across. He didn't try to over-hit it this time. He used the pace. He opened the face of the bat and guided it through the gap between cover and point. The timing was exquisite. The ball raced across the lightning-fast outfield. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Shot! That is a beauty! He adjusted well there. He realized he couldn't hit through the line, so he played with the angle. First blood to the Titans!"
Ball 4: Bhuvi frowned. He didn't like being hit through the off-side. He tried to drag the length back, to hit the 'hard length'. But on this pitch, the ball sat up slightly more than he liked. It drifted onto the pads. Abhishek saw it. He didn't hesitate. He swiveled. The Pick-Up Flick. It wasn't a slog; it was a whip of the wrists, borrowing from the Yuvraj Singh school of elegance. He picked it up off his legs and deposited it over the deep square leg boundary. It flew into the stands.
SIX!
The stadium erupted. 10 runs off 2 balls.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "OH MY WORD! That is disdainful! Bhuvi misses his line by an inch, and Abhishek Sharma punishes him with a mile! That has gone deep into the crowd! This young man has no fear! He respects no reputation!"
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That is the danger of bowling to him. He has that arc on the leg side. If you stray on the pads, you pay the tax. Bhuvi needs to get back to that fourth stump line."
Ball 5: Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn't panic. He walked back to his mark, polishing the ball on his trousers. He had seen the aggression. He had seen the footwork. Abhishek was planting his front foot, looking to hit down the ground or over leg. His head was falling over slightly. The Trap is set.
Bhuvi ran in. Same run-up. Same action. But the wrist position changed. He didn't bowl the outswinger. He bowled the Inswinger. He bowled it fuller, inviting the drive again. Abhishek fell for it. He saw the full ball and thought 'Cover Drive'. He planted his front foot, leaving a massive gap between his bat and his pad. The ball started outside off, but then it hooped back in. Sharply. viciously. It beat the inside edge. It crashed into the front pad, right in front of the middle stump.
THUD.
"HOWZAT!" Bhuvi roared, turning to the umpire. It wasn't an appeal; it was a demand. The umpire didn't hesitate. The finger shot up. OUT.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "GONE! The Swing King strikes back! You live by the sword, you die by the sword! He set him up beautifully! Four, Six, and then the nip-backer to trap him plumb in front! Abhishek Sharma misses the line completely!"
Abhishek stood there, frozen. The adrenaline of the six was instantly replaced by the cold reality of dismissal. He looked at Shubman Gill at the non-striker's end. "Review?" he mouthed, tapping his pad. Gill walked down a few steps, shaking his head firmly. "No chance, Abhi. It's hitting middle. Plumb."
Abhishek sighed. He tucked his bat under his arm and began the long walk back to the dugout. He had scored a quickfire 10 off 5 balls, but on this pitch, the team needed him to stay.
GT: 10/1.
The crowd's roar dipped for a split second as Abhishek walked off, a collective sigh of disappointment rippling through the stands. The momentum had taken a hit.
But then, the giant screen flashed the graphic. The silhouette of a man holding a bat. The number 04. NEXT BATSMAN: AARAV PATHAK.
The silence was shattered. It started in the Student Stand—the North Stand where the die-hard fans sat. "Hooo... Hooo... HOOO!" A rhythmic, gladiatorial chant. Then the chant changed. It became a name. "AARAV! AARAV!""GUJARAT KA GAURAV!" (The Pride of Gujarat!) "POWER PATHAK!"
I stood up in the dugout. I adjusted my gloves. The noise washed over me like a physical wave, vibrating through the floorboards. This was my home. This was my fortress. And my people were calling.
I jogged onto the field. The cheers reached a crescendo, a deafening wall of sound that drowned out the PA system music. I met Gill in the middle. We punched gloves. "Moving a bit," Gill said, his eyes serious. "Bhuvi is on song. That inswinger is sharp." "I saw," I nodded. "Let's unsettle him. He's pitching it up."
I took my guard. Middle stump. I marked the crease with my spikes. I looked up. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was waiting. He looked focused, dangerous. He had his tail up.
Ball 6: Last ball of the over. Bhuvi ran in. He wanted to test the new captain. He wanted to make it a double-wicket over. He bowled a length ball, shaping away outside off. He wanted me to fish. He wanted the edge. But I wasn't biting. I waited. I watched the swing. I opened the face of the bat at the very last second. soft hands. I glided it past the slip cordon, towards third man. 1 Run.
End of Over 1.Gujarat Titans: 11/1.Aarav Pathak: 1 (1).* Shubman Gill: 0 (0).*
Ian Bishop (Comms): "And the Captain is off the mark! What a start to this match! Action-packed! Boundaries, a six, a wicket, and the entry of the hero! The atmosphere here is absolutely electric. Bhuvi has drawn first blood, but Aarav Pathak is in the middle. The battle lines are drawn!"
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "This is going to be a fascinating contest. The pitch has spice. The bowlers have their tails up. But this Gujarat batting lineup... they don't know how to back down. Aarav vs Bhuvi. Pace vs Swing. Youth vs Experience. It doesn't get better than this!"
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Kane Williamson looked at his options. He needed to maintain the pressure. He threw the ball to the tallest man on the field. Marco Jansen. The 6'8" South African left-arm pacer. A man who extracts bounce from concrete, let alone a lively track like this.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Here comes the skyscraper. Marco Jansen. This is a fascinating matchup. Aarav Pathak stands tall at 6'3", but Jansen towers over him. It's the battle of the giants. On this surface, Jansen's release point makes the ball behave unnaturally. It's like facing a bowler from the first floor of a building."
Matthew Hayden (Comms): "The bounce shouldn't affect Aarav as much because of his reach and upright stance. But for Shubman Gill? If Jansen gets it to rear up from a length, Gill's tendency to play with hard hands could be an issue. But right now, it's the Captain on strike."
Ball 1: I stood at the crease, adjusting my guard. Jansen marked his run-up. His stride was long, loping, almost deceptive. He ran in. Over the wicket. 132 kmph. He hit a good length outside off, angling across. The bounce was steep. But I was ready. I didn't try to get on top of it; I used the height. I stood tall on my toes. I punched through the line. The Cover Drive. It wasn't along the ground. I hit it on the up, piercing the gap between cover point and extra cover. The timing was exquisite. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "That is authority! Jansen hits the deck hard, but Aarav stands taller. He rode the bounce beautifully. A back-foot punch that raced away like a cover drive. That is the sign of a man in supreme form."
Ball 2: Jansen didn't like that. The fast bowler's ego kicked in. He banged it in short. 138 kmph. Ideally, on this pitch, a bouncer is a good option. But Jansen directed it at the helmet. I saw it early. The Brett Lee & Ponting Mechanics and allowed my weight transfer to be instant. I didn't duck. I swiveled. I hooked it. The ball hit the middle of the bat with a crack that silenced the slip cordon. It flew over fine leg. SIX!
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "He has deposited the giant into the stands! You cannot bowl short to this young man! He has so much time. He waited for it, got inside the line, and helped it on its way. 10 runs off the first two balls! This is a counter-attack!"
Ball 3: Jansen went fuller, correcting his length. I pushed it to mid-off for a quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Gill on strike. Jansen angled it across. Gill left it alone. The ball carried through to Nicholas Pooran (WK) at head height. Dot Ball.
Ball 5: Gill defended solidly to point. Dot Ball.
Ball 6: Gill worked a length ball off his hips for a single.
End of Over 2.GT: 23/1.Run Rate: 11.5.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued. He was in the middle of a beautiful spell. Shubman Gill was on strike. He looked tentative. The ball was still moving.
Ball 1: Outswinger. Gill beaten. Ball 2: Inswinger. Inside edge onto pads. Ball 3: Length. Defended.
Graeme Smith (Comms): "Bhuvi is tying him up in knots. Gill is struggling to find the middle of the bat. This is Test match bowling in T20 clothing."
Ball 4: Gill finally found a gap. He pushed to mid-on. 1 Run.
Ball 5: I took a single to deep square. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Gill took a single to retain strike. 1 Run.
End of Over 3.GT: 26/1. The pressure was building on Gill. He was striking at less than 100.
Marco Jansen returned. He had analyzed the previous over. He knew Gill was feeling the pressure of the dot balls.
Ball 1: Jansen bowled short of a length, wide of off stump. Gill flashed at it. Missed.
Ball 2: Similar length. Gill tried to cut. Mistimed to point. No run.
Ball 3: Jansen went round the wicket. He cramped Gill for room. Gill defended awkwardly.
Ball 4: The release shot. Jansen banged it in short again. It was a steep bouncer, angling across. Gill, frustrated, went for the pull shot. But the ball got too big on him. The extra bounce from Jansen's height was the undoing. He was late on the shot. Top Edge. The ball went straight up. Nicholas Pooran called for it. He ran forward, settled under the high ball, and took it with ease.
Shubman Gill c Pooran b Jansen 7 (14)GT: 27/2.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "And the pressure tells! Shubman Gill departs! He never looked comfortable against the moving ball today. Jansen used his height perfectly. That extra bounce just climbed on him. Gujarat are two down inside the Powerplay, and the run rate has stalled!"
The crowd expected Heinrich Klaasen. He was listed at Number 4. But as the giant screen flashed the next batsman, a murmur went through the ground. Walking out was David Miller.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "Hello? A change in the batting order! David Miller is walking out at Number 4! Usually, you see Klaasen in this position. Why Miller so early?"
Gautam Gambhir (Comms): "It's a tactical masterclass, Ravi. Look at the situation. You have lost two wickets quickly. The ball is moving. Miller has the experience. He has played over 400 T20s. He can anchor if needed, but he is also a left-hander. It disrupts the bowlers' lines. And more importantly..."
Gambhir paused.
"It saves Klaasen and Rinku for the back end. If Miller settles, he sets the platform for the finishers. And let's not forget Rahul Tewatia hasn't even batted this season yet. This lengthens the lineup."
I met Miller in the middle. "Tough deck," I said. "Bounce is variable." "Just how I like it," Miller grinned. "Let's build."
Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled his third over on the trot. Kane Williamson wanted to kill the game right here. Bhuvi was magnificent. He varied his pace. He swung it. I managed a single. Miller managed a single. Four runs off the over. GT: 31/2 (5 Overs).
The Powerplay was slipping away. We needed a big over to shift the momentum.
Kane Williamson made a gamble. He had bowled out Bhuvi (3 overs) and Jansen (2 overs). He needed a sixth over to complete the Powerplay. He didn't want to expose Natarajan or Kartik Tyagi yet. He tossed the ball to Aiden Markram. Part-time off-spin. Against a set Aarav Pathak and a left-handed David Miller.
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "This is a massive risk! Markram against these two? Aarav Pathak eats spin for breakfast, and Miller loves the ball turning into him. Kane is hoping to sneak an over in, but this could backfire spectacularly."
Ball 1: Markram to Miller. He darted it in flat. Miller rocked back. He punched it through covers. FOUR. The pressure released instantly.
Ball 2: Markram tossed it up slightly. Miller didn't wait. He stepped out and lofted it over long-on. It wasn't timed perfectly, but it cleared the infield comfortably. 3 Runs. (Good fielding in the deep).
Ball 3: I was on strike. 18 (10).* Markram bowled flat and wide. I cut it past point. FOUR.
Ball 4: Markram went straighter. I stepped out. I turned it into a full toss. I whipped it over mid-wicket. SIX!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "The floodgates have opened! This is exactly what Gujarat needed! Aarav Pathak identifies the weak link and punishes it! Markram is being taken apart!"
Ball 5: I took a single to long-off. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Miller on strike. Markram bowled short. Miller pulled it through mid-wicket. FOUR.
22 Runs off the over.
End of Over 6 (Powerplay).GT: 53/2.
Aarav Pathak: 29* (13). David Miller: 11* (5).
We walked off for the timeout. The gamble had failed for SRH. We had recovered from 27/2 to a healthy 53/2.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That over changes everything. 22 runs. Gujarat Titans have snatched the momentum back right at the end of the Powerplay. Aarav Pathak's eyes lit up when he saw Markram, and he didn't miss out. Now, with the field spreading, they can cruise."
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Over 7: Washington Sundar. The off-spinner came in to target the left-handed David Miller. Miller was cautious. He worked the angles, using his feet to negate the turn. Aarav Pathak was aggressive. He stepped out to Sundar and lofted him inside-out over covers for FOUR. 7 runs off the over.
Over 8: Kartik Tyagi. Young, fast, and raw. Tyagi hit the deck hard. He hurried Miller with a bouncer. He beat Aarav with sheer pace. But Aarav used the pace. He guided a short ball over the slips for SIX. 10 runs off the over.
Over 9: T. Natarajan. Natarajan bowled tight lines. He didn't give any width. Singles and twos. The partnership was building, brick by brick. Score: 78/2.
Over 10:Kartik Tyagi (SRH).
Ball 1: Aarav on strike. 42 (24).* Tyagi bowled a length ball. Aarav pulled it to deep mid-wicket. FOUR. He moved to 46.
Ball 3: Aarav drove through covers for FOUR. FIFTY FOR AARAV PATHAK!27 Balls. It wasn't his fastest, but on a tricky pitch, it was gold. He raised his bat, acknowledging the roar of the Patra City crowd.
Over 12: David Miller decided to join the party. He targeted Washington Sundar. Slog sweep for SIX. Straight drive for FOUR. Miller reached his 50 off 35 balls. A mature, stabilizing knock.
GT: 125/2 (12 Overs). The platform was set for a massive total. 180 looked likely.
Over 13: Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kane brought his ace back. Bhuvi had bowled three overs in the Powerplay. This was his last over. He needed a wicket to break the stand.
Ball 1: Aarav on strike. 54 runs. Bhuvi ran in. He didn't have the pace of Tyagi or the bounce of Jansen. He had guile. He bowled a knuckleball. Aarav picked it. He waited and punched it to long-on. 1 Run.
Ball 2: Miller single.
Ball 3: Aarav back on strike. Bhuvi went wide of the crease. He angled it in. 132 kmph. It was the perfect Test match delivery. Good length, inviting the drive. Aarav went for it. He wanted to hit it through covers. But the ball jagged back in sharply off the seam. It cut him in half. It took the inside edge.
CRASH.
The ball cannoned into the leg stump.
Aarav Pathak b Bhuvneshwar 56 (30)(6 Fours, 2 Sixes)
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "BOWLED HIM! The Swing King has the last laugh! Bhuvi finishes his spell with the big fish! That nipped back beautifully. Aarav left a gap, and Bhuvi found it. A captain's knock ends, but SRH are back in this!"
I walked off, frustrated. Bhuvi had outsmarted me. GT: 128/3.
Heinrich Klaasen walked out at Number 5. "Spin is done," I told him as we crossed. "Watch the yorkers."
Over 14: T. Natarajan. The left-arm pacer came back. He targeted the set batter, David Miller.
Ball 2: Natarajan bowled a cutter. Into the pitch. Miller tried to pull. He was early on the shot. The ball hit the toe end of the bat. It looped to mid-off. Kane Williamson took the simplest of catches.
David Miller c Williamson b Natarajan 52 (38)GT: 130/4.
Two set batsmen gone in two overs. The momentum stalled. Rinku Singh walked out to join Klaasen.
The new pair had to rebuild and finish at the same time. The pitch was slowing down. The ball was getting soft.
Overs 15-17: Klaasen and Rinku ran hard. They converted ones into twos. They hit the odd boundary—Klaasen smashed Tyagi for a straight six, Rinku pulled Nattu for four. But boundaries were hard to come by.
Score after 17 Overs: 155/4.
Over 18: Marco Jansen. The giant returned. Ball 3:Heinrich Klaasen tried to take him on. He went for a lofted drive over extra cover. But the bounce defeated him. He sliced it. Third man fielder ran in and took it.
Heinrich Klaasen c Abbott b Jansen 18 (12)GT: 162/5.
Rahul Tewatia walked in. The Iceman. With 9 balls left, he didn't have time to settle.
Over 19: T. Natarajan. Natarajan nailed his yorkers. Rinku and Tewatia could only dig them out. 6 Runs.
Over 20: Kartik Tyagi. The young pacer had the responsibility of the final over. GT: 168/5.
Ball 1:Rinku Singh on strike. Full toss. Rinku didn't miss. He flogged it over deep mid-wicket. SIX!
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Rinku Singh! That is the shot of a finisher! He waited for the error and punished it! That takes Gujarat past 170!"
Ball 2: Rinku took a single.
Ball 3:Rahul Tewatia on strike. Tyagi went wide. Tewatia shuffled across. He scooped it. It flew over fine leg. FOUR.
Ball 4: Single. Ball 5: Rinku Two runs. Ball 6: Rinku pulled to deep square leg. 1 Run.
Total Runs off Over: 15.
GUJARAT TITANS: 183/5 (20 Overs).
The Mid-Innings Analysis
Ravi Shastri (Comms): "183. That is a fighting total on this surface. Remember, it's not the highway we saw in the first match. This has bounce, it has nip. Aarav Pathak and David Miller set the platform, but Rinku and Tewatia gave it the finish. Sunrisers have a mountain to climb against this Gujarat attack."
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "Credit to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 4 overs, 2 wickets, and the crucial wicket of Aarav. He kept SRH in the game. But 183... with Aarav, Josh and Arshdeep and Umran Malik bowling on this green top? I think Gujarat are favorites."
I walked back to the dressing room. "183," I said to Ashish Nehra. "Enough?"
Nehra grinned. " More than enough. Let's go defend the total."
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