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Date: 5th May 2022 Location: Trident Hotel, Mumbai – Captain's Room Time: 9:30 PM
The air conditioning in Aarav's suite was humming, but it was barely audible over the laughter filling the room. It was a tradition now—the night before a match, the boys gathered in the Captain's room. Not for heavy strategy, but to breathe.
Abhishek Sharma, the local boy, was holding court. He sat on the edge of the sofa, animatedly gesturing to a captivated audience consisting of Umran Malik, Yash Dayal, and Rinku Singh.
"Listen, paaji, you haven't seen struggle until you've taken the 8:05 AM fast local from Virar to Churchgate," Abhishek said, his eyes wide. "In Mumbai, you don't need legs to move. You just stand at the door. The public behind you pushes you in, and at the station, the public inside pushes you out. It is simple physics! If you try to use your own muscle, you will dislocate a shoulder."
Rinku laughed, shaking his head. "Bhai, I'll stick to my bike in Aligarh. That sounds like a wrestling match, not a commute."
Umran grinned, looking at his fast-bowling partner Yash. "Maybe we should train there? Good for core strength, na?"
In the corner, near the balcony door, the mood was different. Aarav Pathak stood with his arms crossed, deep in conversation with Head Coach Ashish Nehra and Mentor Gary Kirsten. Nehra was talking rapidly, using his hands to simulate field placements, while Gary nodded, offering quiet inputs.
Aarav listened, absorbing the data, his face calm. But as the clock ticked closer to 10 PM, he shifted gears.
"Alright, boys!" Aarav's voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the room like a knife.
Instantly, the laughter died down. Abhishek stopped mid-sentence. Rinku straightened up. The room went silent, every pair of eyes locking onto their captain. The shift from 'friend' to 'leader' was instantaneous.
Aarav walked to the center of the room. "Tomorrow, we walk into the Wankhede. It's Mumbai's home, and the crowd will be loud. They bleed blue, but tomorrow, we make sure it's the darker shade of blue they remember."
He looked at each of them. "We have qualified for the playoffs. The media says we can relax. I say we don't give them an inch. We are playing the same XI. We keep the momentum. We don't change the winning habit just because we are safe. Clear?"
"Clear, Captain!" the room echoed.
Date: 6th May 2022 Location: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Match: Gujarat Titans vs. Mumbai Indians
The Wankhede was a cauldron of noise. The floodlights beamed down on a galaxy of stars—not just on the field, but in the stands. The VIP box was glittering. Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan were seen chatting animatedly, while Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal waved to fans. Saif Ali Khan, looking regal in sunglasses despite the night game, sat watching intently.
The Toss Murali Kartik stood with the microphone on the pitch. "Heads is the call," Rohit Sharma said. The coin landed. "Heads it is."
Rohit smiled, shaking hands with Aarav. "We'll have a bat first, Murali. Looks like a good wicket, want to put runs on the board."
Aarav smirked, adjusting his cap. "We would have bowled anyway, Rohit bhai. We like chasing."
The start was electric. Rohit Sharma, who had struggled for timing all season, suddenly looked like the 'Hitman' of old. He decided to take on the GT pace attack early.
Beside him, Ishan Kishan matched the aggression. The ball was flying to all parts of the ground. The crowd went berserk as Rohit pulled a short ball into the stands.
The scorecard raced past 70 without loss. Aarav remained calm, rotating his bowlers, waiting for the error.
Over 8.4: Arshdeep Singh steamed in from around the wicket. He nailed the perfect yorker—swinging in late. Rohit tried to flick it but missed. The pad echoed. "Gone!" The umpire's finger went up. Rohit Sharma (45 off 28) walked back, looking frustrated but having done his job.
Over 10.2: Josh Hazlewood, the metronome, stuck to his line. Ishan Kishan tried to force a drive through covers but nicked it behind to Klaasen. Ishan Kishan (45 off 29) departed.
Suddenly, two new batters were at the crease: Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) and the young sensation Tilak Varma.
Aarav Pathak decided to take matters into his own hands. He brought himself on in the 15th over for second spell.
Ball 3: Aarav bowled a slower cutter, gripping into the surface. Tilak Varma, looking to accelerate, mistimed the pull. The ball went straight up, and Shubman Gill took a comfortable catch at long-on. Tilak Varma (21 off 16) out.
Ball 5: The dangerous SKY was on strike. He tried his signature scoop shot over fine leg. Aarav, anticipating it, had bowled it wide and full. SKY had to reach for it, slicing it straight to point where Miller swallowed the catch. Suryakumar Yadav (13 off 11) out.
The Captain had broken the backbone of the Mumbai middle order in a single over.
The Finish Kieron Pollard walked in, looking to muscle the ball. But Kuldeep Yadav was too clever. He tossed one up, tempting the big man. Pollard swung, the ball turned, and the top edge was taken safely. Pollard (4 off 4) out.
Hazlewood returned to dismiss Daniel Sams cheaply. GT looked set to restrict MI to 160.
However, Tristan Stubbs had other plans. The young South African, alongside Kumar Karthikeya, launched a brutal counter-attack in the final two overs, punishing the death bowling. Their late hitting dragged Mumbai Indians to a competitive total of 177 runs.
Target for Gujarat Titans: 178 runs.
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The cool night air of the Wankhede was thick with anticipation. The lights created a halo around the pitch as the Mumbai Indians spread out onto the field.
Ravi Shastri (Boisterous): "Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen! The target is 178. It's a good score, a fighting score. But if there is one team that can chase anything down this season, it is the Gujarat Titans. Out come the openers—Shubman Gill, classy as ever, and the young dynamite, Abhishek Sharma."
Gautam Gambhir (Serious): "It's a tricky total, Ravi. 178 isn't 200, but it's not 150 either. The key here isn't just boundaries; it's about not losing wickets in clusters. MI has a good attack with Bumrah and Sams. You have to respect the new ball."
Over 1: Daniel Sams to Shubman Gill
Daniel Sams started with a tight line, getting the ball to shape away slightly. Gill was watchful, respecting the conditions.
Ball 1-4: Dot balls. Good probing length. Ball 5: Gill taps it to mid-off and scampers for a single. Ball 6: Abhishek defends solidly.
Score: 1/0 Anjum Chopra: "A quiet start. Just one run off it. But that's calm before the storm, perhaps? Abhishek Sharma is on strike now, and he's facing Jasprit Bumrah."
Over 2: Jasprit Bumrah to Abhishek Sharma
Parthiv Patel: "This is the battle to watch. The best bowler in the world against a young man who has no fear. Bumrah will look for that yorker early."
Ball 1: Gill rotates strike immediately. 1 run.
Abhishek Sharma took his stance. He tapped the bat hard. Bumrah steamed in.
Ball 2:FOUR. Width on offer. Abhishek didn't try to overhit it. He just leaned back, used Bumrah's 140kmph pace, and guided it late past backward point.
Ravi Shastri: "Slash! And slash hard! That flew off the bat. You cannot give him width there, Jassi. He will hurt you."
Ball 3:FOUR. Bumrah corrected his line, aiming for off-stump, but Abhishek was ready. He opened the face of the bat at the last second, steering it through the gap at covers.
Gautam Gambhir: "See, that is poor bowling. I expect better from Bumrah. You are the leader of the pack; you cannot bowl back-to-back length balls to a set batsman's strength. He needs to attack the stumps."
Ball 4: Dot. A sharp bouncer. Abhishek ducked.
Ball 5:SIX. Bumrah tried the bouncer again, but it didn't rise enough. Abhishek was waiting. He swiveled, pulling it with disdain over square leg. The sound of the bat was like a gunshot.
Ravi Shastri (Screaming): "HUGE! That has gone into orbit! He's taken on the best in the business and deposited him into the stands! What a talent this boy is!"
Anjum Chopra: "Fearless cricket. He is not looking at the name on the back of the jersey. He is just playing the ball."
Ball 6:WICKET! The revenge was instant. Bumrah went full—crushing the toes. A perfect, inswinging yorker at 145 clicks. Abhishek's bat came down late. Clack! The stumps were shattered.
Ravi Shastri: "BUT BUMRAH HAS THE LAST LAUGH! The timber is disturbed! You live by the sword, you die by the sword! A brilliant cameo comes to an end, but Bumrah shows why he is the master!"
Abhishek Sharma b Bumrah 14 (5)GT: 16/1 (2 overs)
The crowd roared as the Number 3 walked out.
Parthiv Patel: "And here comes the captain. Aarav Pathak. He has a calm head, but he can accelerate when needed. MI has brought on spin early—Murugan Ashwin."
Ball 1: Gill plays it defensively. Dot. Ball 2: Gill pushes it to long-on for a single.
Aarav Pathak took strike. He looked around the field, adjusting his gloves. Murugan Ashwin tossed it up.
Ball 3:FOUR. Aarav didn't wait. He saw the flight, shimmied down the track, and lofted it straight over the bowler's head. One bounce and into the ropes.
Ravi Shastri: "BANG! Welcome to the crease, Captain! Steps out, meets the pitch of the ball, and says 'Thank you very much!' That is authority!"
Gautam Gambhir: "That is the right intent. Don't let the spinner settle. But he must be careful, Murugan has a good googly."
Ball 4: Dot. Aarav respects the googly, defending it back.
Ball 5: Single. Driven to deep cover.
Ball 6: Single. Gill works it to square leg.
GT: 23/1 after 3 overs.
Anjum Chopra: "An eventful start to the chase. GT has lost a wicket, but the run rate is healthy. This partnership between the Captain and Gill will be crucial."
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Ravi Shastri (Booming): "Twenty-three for one after three. The start has been frantic, electric! Abhishek Sharma came, he saw, he conquered for a brief moment, and then Bumrah did what Bumrah does. But now, look at the two men in the middle. The Prince of Indian cricket , the man who has redefined leadership this season, Captain Aarav Pathak and young sensation Shubhman Gill. They need a partnership, but they also need to keep that required rate in check."
Gautam Gambhir (Cutting in): "The required rate is manageable, Ravi. What they cannot afford is stagnation. We saw in the first innings how the pitch slowed down slightly for the new batter. Daniel Sams is continuing his spell. He bowled a tight first over, but now he has to contend with a set Gill. Sams needs to swing it; if he bowls straight, he travels."
Daniel Sams stood at the top of his mark, rolling the white Kookaburra in his hand. He ran in, looking to angle the ball across the right-hander.
The Fourth Over
Sams hit the deck hard on a length, shaping away. Gill, looking as serene as a monk in a riot, leaned forward. It wasn't a smash; it was a caress. He presented the full face of the bat, playing the ball right under his eyes.
CRACK.
The sound was exquisite. The ball raced through the covers, bisecting the two fielders as if guided by a laser.
Anjum Chopra: "Oh, that is glorious! That is pure art. You can have all the power hitters in the world—Klaasen, Miller—but when Shubman Gill plays a cover drive, the world stops to watch. He barely hit that; he just timed the life out of it."
Parthiv Patel: "Four runs. He's looking dangerous now. And notice the footwork—he's not committing too early. He's waiting for the ball to come to him."
The crowd cheered as the replay showed the slow-motion elegance of the shot. Sams grunted, frustrated. He adjusted his line for the next ball, trying to cramp Gill for room. But Gill was already anticipating it. He stood tall, punched the ball down the ground past the bowler. It wasn't hit with anger, but the timing was so sweet that mid-off didn't even bother diving.
Ravi Shastri: "Straight as an arrow! Don't bother running for that! That's gone to the fence before the bowler has finished his follow-through. Eight runs off the first two balls. The shackles are off!"
The next four balls were a masterclass in rotation. No ego, just sensible cricket. Gill tapped one to square leg for a single. Aarav, looking intense and focused, worked the ball into the gaps, rotating the strike. They weren't letting the bowler settle. Every ball had a purpose. Four singles followed the two boundaries.
Gautam Gambhir: "This is what hurts a bowling side more than boundaries. Twelve runs from the over without taking a risk after the first two balls. This is smart batting. They are milking the bowling now. MI needs a wicket desperately. Rohit needs to change something because this game is drifting."
As the umpire called "Over," the scoreboard ticked over to 35/1.
The Fifth Over
Rohit Sharma threw the ball to Riley Meredith. The Australian speedster, known for his raw pace and aggressive lengths, marked his run-up. He was the enforcer. His job was to rattle the captain.
Parthiv Patel: "A change in bowling. Pace on pace. Riley Meredith comes into the attack. He's quick, he's skiddy, and he can hurry the batsman. But he's bowling to Aarav Pathak, who loves the ball coming onto the bat. This is going to be a fascinating contest. Powerplay is coming to an end; GT will want one big over to really stamp their authority."
Aarav stood at the crease, tapping his bat. He looked around the field. Fine leg was up. Third man was back. The off-side field was packed. He knew Meredith would attack the stumps or bang it in short.
Ball 1: Meredith steamed in, looking for the yorker to start. But the ball slipped. It came out as a waist-high full toss, swinging in towards the body.
For a lesser player, it was a wicket-taking delivery—awkward and fast. For Aarav, it was a gift. He didn't panic. He didn't try to over-hit it. He simply used his wrists, leaned back, and punched the ball.
THWACK!
The contact was sweet, metallic, and violent. The ball didn't just clear the rope; it flew flat into the stands over deep square leg.
Ravi Shastri (SCREAMING): "PICK THAT UP! THAT IS A MONSTER! He hasn't just hit it; he's dismissed it from his presence! A punch for six! Pure timing! And look at the stands!"
The camera snapped instantly to the VIP box. Janhvi Kapoor, dressed in a GT jersey, was on her feet, jumping up and down, screaming with joy. She grabbed the person next to her, pointing wildly at the field, her face a picture of pure adrenaline.
Anjum Chopra: "Janhvi Kapoor is absolutely loving it! And why wouldn't she? That was a shot of pure class. Meredith got it wrong, and Aarav made him pay the maximum penalty."
Ball 2: Meredith, rattled, tried to correct his length. He went for the hard length, aiming for the pads to cramp Aarav, hoping for an LBW shout. 142 kmph.
Aarav cleared his front leg slightly. He saw the line early. With a wrists-of-steel flick, he whipped the ball off his pads. It wasn't a slog; it was a helicopter-like whip. The ball soared high, incredibly high, sailing over the fine-leg fielder's head.
Ravi Shastri: "AGAIN! HE'S DONE IT AGAIN! Two in two! This is carnage! He just flicked that like he was swatting a fly, and it's landed ten rows back! The Captain is on fire!"
The camera cut back to the box. Janhvi was now clutching her head in disbelief, laughing hysterically, high-fiving Sara Ali Khan next to her. The cameraman zoomed in on her beaming smile, the sheer excitement radiating from her.
Gautam Gambhir (Critical): "That is poor bowling. You cannot bowl on the pads to an Indian batsman, especially someone like Aarav who is so strong on the leg side. Meredith is bowling to his strengths. He needs to go wide outside off; make him reach for it. This is serving runs on a platter."
Ball 3: Meredith, face red, decided to go full and straight, hoping to beat Aarav for pace. Aarav presented the full face of the bat. A classic on-drive. The ball raced past the non-striker, Shubman Gill, who had to jump to avoid it. Mid-on chased it, but the outfield was lightning fast.
Parthiv Patel: "Four more! He is toying with the field now. Meredith goes full, Aarav goes straight. The margin for error is zero right now. Aarav has moved to 24 off just 9 balls."
Ball 4: The crowd was chanting. "Aa-rav! Aa-rav!" Meredith had had enough. He banged it in short. A heavy ball, rising sharply towards the head at 146 kmph.
Aarav didn't flinch. He didn't back away. He swiveled on the spot, transferring his weight to the back foot. He played the pull shot, but he didn't even look at where the ball was going. He kept his head down, completing the follow-through, posing for the cameras.
THE NO-LOOK SHOT.
The ball rocketed into the second tier over deep mid-wicket.
Ravi Shastri (Voice cracking): "OH MY GOODNESS! LOOK AT THAT SWAGGER! THE NO-LOOK PULL! He didn't even watch it! He knew! He knew the moment it left the bat! That is arrogance! That is confidence! That is the Captain of the Gujarat Titans telling the world, 'I am here!'"
Anjum Chopra: "Style. Panache. Charisma. Look at Janhvi! She can't believe it!"
The camera focused on Janhvi Kapoor again. She was stunned, mouth open, hands on her cheeks, shaking her head in awe before breaking into applause, blowing a kiss towards the field. The big screen replayed the shot, then the reaction, then the shot again.
Gautam Gambhir: "It's a great shot, yes. But looking at the bowler, Meredith has lost the plot. He is just feeding pace. On this wicket, pace is your enemy if you don't have variation. Aarav is sitting on the back foot waiting for it."
Ball 5: Meredith, visibly shaken, finally bowled a slower ball, wide outside off. Aarav tried to cut but missed. Dot ball.
Ball 6: Aarav tapped a length ball to point and took a quick single. He retained the strike? No, Gill would be on strike next over. Aarav jogged to the other end, punching gloves with Gill.
Ravi Shastri: "Seventeen runs off the over! A massive, massive over for the Titans! The powerplay is done and dusted, and GT are flying. The Mumbai Indians look shell-shocked. Rohit Sharma has his hands on his hips. He needs answers, and he needs them fast."
Score Summary:GT: 52/1 after 5 overs. Aarav: 31* (12) Gill: 7* (8)
Parthiv Patel: "52 on the board. The required rate has dropped significantly. This batting display... it's not just hitting; it's psychological warfare. Aarav Pathak has just announced himself to the Wankhede."
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Ravi Shastri (Booming): "Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Rohit Sharma has no choice left. He has to go to the bank, and he has to withdraw his biggest asset. Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack. He bowled a gem of an over earlier to get rid of Abhishek, but now he runs into the 'Prince of Indian Cricket'. This isn't just a battle; it's a war for dominance!"
Gautam Gambhir (Intense): "It's a desperate move, but a necessary one, Ravi. You cannot let Aarav Pathak bat like this against your fifth or sixth bowler. If he stays for another four overs, this game is dead and buried. Bumrah has to pick a wicket. Not just stop the runs, he needs to send the captain back. But look at Aarav... the confidence, the stance. He knows he is the prize wicket."
The scene in the middle was cinematic. Jasprit Bumrah, with his short, stuttering run-up, stood at the top of his mark. At the other end, Aarav Pathak, towering at 6'2", tapped his bat on the crease. He didn't look like a batsman under pressure; he looked like a monarch surveying his lands. Shubman Gill, the young rookie at the non-striker's end, watched in awe, learning from the master.
BEST VS BEST PRINCE VS BOOM BOOM!!
Ball 1:
Bumrah steamed in. The arm speed was lightning fast. He banged it into the surface—a heavy, good-length delivery that kicked up sharply off the deck. For a shorter batsman, this would have been a rib-tickler, a ball to fend off awkwardly.
But Aarav Pathak was different. He used his height to perfection.
He didn't back away. Instead, he cleared his front leg just an inch to create a free swing of the arms. He stood tall, riding the bounce that was meant to intimidate him. With a high elbow and a majestic follow-through, he punched the ball on the up. It wasn't a slog; it was a lofted straight drive played with the arrogance of a man who owned the 22 yards.
BOOM.
The ball sailed over the sight screen, landing deep into the Sachin Tendulkar Stand.
Ravi Shastri (Screaming): "STAND AND DELIVER! That has gone miles! He is six-foot-two, and he uses every inch of it! Bumrah tries to hit the deck, but the Prince says, 'Not today!' That is a statement shot! Straight back past the bowler!"
The camera cut immediately to the VIP box. Janhvi Kapoor was on her feet, her hands raised in triumph, screaming something indiscernible over the roar of the crowd, her eyes locked onto the figure of Aarav in the middle. The sheer energy in the box mirrored the chaos in the stands.
Parthiv Patel: "That is the advantage of his height. The ball was rising, but for Aarav, it was right in the slot. He just extended his arms and punched it. To hit Bumrah for a straight six is one of the hardest things in cricket, and he made it look like a net session."
Ball 2:
Bumrah was not one to take a beating lying down. He adjusted instantly. The smile was gone. The focus was razor-sharp. He aimed for the toes—the yorker that had destroyed stumps all over the world.
It came out perfectly. A 145 kmph laser beam directed at the base of the off-stump.
Aarav, however, was in a trance. He saw the length early. He knew he couldn't get under it to drive, so he improvised. At the very last fraction of a second, he opened the face of the bat. He didn't try to stop the ball; he used its own velocity against it.
As the ball dipped towards the yorker length, Aarav sliced down on it. The ball kissed the toe of the bat, skidding rapidly past the keeper and racing away to the third-man boundary.
Anjum Chopra: "Oh, how clever is that? That is genius! A perfect yorker from Bumrah, and Aarav just opens the face and guides it past the keeper. He waited until the ball was almost past him. You can't set a field for that!"
Gautam Gambhir: "That is technically superb. Most batsmen would try to dig that out back to the bowler. Aarav knew fine leg was up inside the circle. He took the risk to play it fine. That shows his awareness of the field. He is playing with Bumrah's mind now."
Ball 3:
Bumrah, looking visibly frustrated, shortened his length slightly, bowling tight on the off-stump. Aarav defended it with soft hands, dropping it into the covers and calling for a sharp single.
Ravi Shastri: "Smart cricket. 10 off the first two balls, and he takes the single. Now the pressure is on the youngster, Shubman Gill. He's new to this level, and facing an angry Bumrah is not the place you want to be."
Ball 4:
Shubman Gill took the strike. He looked nervous, tapping the pitch repeatedly. He knew he had to support his captain, but the quality of bowling at the other end was world-class.
Bumrah sensed the blood in the water. He didn't go short. He didn't go wide. He went for the killer blow.
He bowled a sharp in-dipper, starting outside off and jagging back in viciously. Gill, expecting the pace to carry it through, tried to play a flick shot across the line—a rookie mistake against a moving ball.
He missed. The ball thudded into the pads.
THUD.
The appeal from Bumrah and Rohit was deafening. "HOWZAT!"
The umpire's finger went up instantly.
Ravi Shastri: "GONE! PLUMB! He's caught him in front! The youngster tries to flick, but he misses the line completely. That was crashing into the middle stump! Bumrah strikes back!"
Gautam Gambhir: "That's inexperience. You don't play across the line to Bumrah when the ball is nipping back. Gill's head fell over, and he was beaten for pace. A good knock from the young man, but he has to learn. The Prince is still there, but he's losing partners."
Shubman Gill lbw b Bumrah 7 (10)
The crowd gave a polite applause as the young Gill walked back, head down. He had watched the masterclass from the non-striker's end, but his time was up.
Ball 5: The South African Powerhouse
Out walked Heinrich Klaasen. The muscular South African, known for his ability to destroy spin, now had to face the heat of Bumrah immediately.
Parthiv Patel: "Heinrich Klaasen is the new man. GT has a deep batting lineup, but losing a wicket in the Powerplay is always a setback. He needs to get off strike."
Bumrah greeted him with a sharp back-of-a-length delivery. Klaasen, looking solid, punched it off the back foot towards deep point. It was a controlled shot to get his eye in.
"One," Klaasen called, jogging to the other end.
Ball 6: The Final Flourish
The strike was back with the captain. The crowd noise swelled again. It was the final ball of the Powerplay. Aarav Pathak adjusted his helmet. He had 12 runs from the over so far (including the single). He wanted to finish on a high.
Bumrah tried a slower ball—the off-cutter. He rolled his fingers over it, trying to deceive Aarav with the lack of pace.
But Aarav picked it from the hand. He waited. He waited an eternity. As the ball arrived, he leaned into a sumptuous cover drive. He didn't over-hit it; he just extended his arms and punched it through the gap between cover and mid-off.
The timing was exquisite. The outfield at Wankhede was lightning fast, and the fielder gave up the chase halfway.
Ravi Shastri: "FOUR MORE! He picks the slower one, and he creams it through the covers! What a way to end the Powerplay! Aarav Pathak is putting on a clinic in Mumbai! He is batting on a different planet!"
Anjum Chopra: "Sixteen runs and a wicket from the over. You'd take that any day if you are GT. The loss of Gill is a blow but look at the score! They are flying!"
Gautam Gambhir: "This is where the game is being won. The counter-attack. Usually, when Bumrah comes on, teams play him out. Aarav has gone after him. He has scored 15 runs off Bumrah in this over alone. That is demoralizing for a bowling unit."
Score Summary:GT: 68/2 after 6 overs (Powerplay End). Aarav Pathak: 48* (16) Heinrich Klaasen: 1* (1)
The camera panned to the GT dugout, where Ashish Nehra was clapping enthusiastically, and then to the VIP box, where the celebrations continued. The first six overs had belonged entirely to the Gujarat Titans, led by their charismatic captain. The Prince was truly ruling his court tonight.
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Ravi Shastri (Deep voice): "The field spreads out. The frenetic pace of the Powerplay is done. Now begins the middle phase—the chess match. Rohit Sharma turns to his mystery spinner, Kumar Kartikeya. This is a crucial passage of play. Aarav Pathak is sitting on 48 off just 16 balls. If he settles against the spin, Mumbai is in big trouble."
Gautam Gambhir (Analytical): "This is the right move. Pace was traveling. You have to take pace off the ball. Kartikeya has a strange action, he bowls wrist spin, finger spin, everything. Aarav hasn't seen much of him. Let's see if the 'Prince' can read the mystery."
Kumar Kartikeya marked his run-up. The young spinner looked focused, undaunted by the reputation of the man at the non-striker's end or the brute force of Klaasen on strike.
Ball 1: Klaasen, always proactive against spin, leaned forward and eased the ball down to long-off. "Single," he called, his voice booming.
Ball 2: Aarav Pathak was back on strike. 48 runs. Two away from a milestone that had come at blistering speed. Kartikeya tossed it up, drifting in. Aarav didn't look to blast it. He played it with soft hands, working it to deep mid-wicket. One run. He moved to 49.
Ball 3: Klaasen punched one off the back foot to sweeper cover. Single.
Ball 4: The crowd knew what was coming. Aarav took strike. Kartikeya bowled a flatter trajectory, trying to cramp him. Aarav, cool as a cucumber, just tapped it gently towards long-on. He jogged through for the single.
As Aarav completed the run, the stadium erupted. It wasn't a roar for a boundary; it was an appreciation for a masterclass.
Ravi Shastri (Screaming): "FIFTY! The Prince of Indian Cricket raises his bat! A half-century off just 18 balls! It has been an innings of pure destruction and sublime elegance! He acknowledges the crowd, he acknowledges the dugout!"
Aarav raised his bat towards the fans, a small, smile on his lips.
The camera instantly cut to the VIP stand. Janhvi Kapoor was beaming, clapping enthusiastically, her eyes shining with pride. Beside her, Sara Ali Khan was shouting something, pointing at the screen. The Bollywood brigade was fully invested in the Aarav Pathak show.
Anjum Chopra: "Look at those reactions! The stars are out in Mumbai, but the biggest star is right there in the middle of the pitch. That smile says it all. He knows he's in the zone. But watch now... the helmet is off."
Aarav signaled to the 12th man. He handed over his helmet and asked for a cap. The Mumbai heat was stifling, but for Aarav, it seemed like a style statement. With his hair swept back and the Gujarat Titans cap pulled low, he looked less like a cricketer and more like a warrior at ease.
Parthiv Patel: "He's taking the helmet off against the spinners. That's confidence. He trusts his eyes. He trusts that he won't get hit. It sends a message to the bowler: 'I am not afraid of your bounce or your turn.'"
The rest of the over saw two more singles. It was a quiet over—just 6 runs—but it was the calm after the storm.
As the overs progressed, a clear pattern emerged. Aarav Pathak, having done the heavy lifting in the Powerplay, shifted gears. He became the anchor, the conductor of the orchestra. He nudged, he swept, he drove into gaps for ones and twos, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking without risk.
Heinrich Klaasen, on the other hand, was the destroyer.
Over 9: Murugan Ashwin
Ball 2: Murugan Ashwin tossed one up, a googly. Klaasen read it from the hand. He stayed deep in his crease and brutalized it over extra cover. SMASH. Four runs.
Gautam Gambhir: "That is the difference. Aarav is happy to rotate now because he knows Klaasen eats spinners for breakfast. Why take a risk when the guy at the other end can hit boundaries at will? This is mature captaincy."
Ball 4: Ashwin went short. Klaasen rocked back and pulled it like a sledgehammer. The ball rocketed to the mid-wicket fence. Four more.
Over 11: Kartikeya Returns
The partnership was flourishing. The required run rate had dropped below 7. Aarav was cruising on 62, Klaasen on 24.
Aarav tapped a single to give Klaasen the strike. Kartikeya tried to fire one in wide. Klaasen reached out, extending those powerful arms, and lofted it straight back over the bowler's head. It wasn't about timing; it was about raw power. SIX.
Ravi Shastri: "MUSCLE! Pure South African muscle! He hits them long, he hits them hard! This partnership is taking the game away from Mumbai rapidly. Fifty partnership up between these two!"
By the 14th over, the score had moved to 135/2. The target was in sight. Just 43 runs needed off 42 balls. It was a walk in the park.
Rohit Sharma threw the ball to the big man, Kieron Pollard. The veteran all-rounder, with his slow, deceptive cutters, was the last roll of the dice.
Over 14: Kieron Pollard to Aarav Pathak
Aarav was batting on 74. He looked invincible. He had just driven Pollard for a single on the first ball. Klaasen took a single. Aarav back on strike.
Ball 3: Pollard ran in from round the wicket. He bowled a slower ball, an off cutter that gripped into the surface. It was wide outside off.
Aarav's eyes lit up. He saw the width. He went for the expansive drive, trying to clear the cover boundary to finish it quickly. But the ball stuck in the pitch just a fraction longer than he anticipated.
He was through the shot too early. The ball sliced off the outer half of the bat. It flew high, swirling in the night sky towards deep point.
Tilak Varma ran in from the boundary. He kept his eyes on the ball, dived forward, and plucked it inches from the grass.
Ravi Shastri: "CAUGHT! Is there a twist? The big man Pollard does the trick! Aarav Pathak has to go! He tried to finish it with a flourish but mistimed it completely. A magnificent innings comes to an end!"
Anjum Chopra: "Silence in the Wankhede... followed by applause. They know they have witnessed something special. 74 runs of the highest quality. But Mumbai has a sniff now. One wicket can bring two."
Aarav Pathak c Varma b Pollard 74 (38)
As Aarav walked back, he didn't look angry. He raised his bat to all corners of the ground. The VIP box was on its feet giving him a standing ovation. Janhvi looked disappointed but clapped proudly.
Parthiv Patel: "Out comes 'Killer Miller'. David Miller joins Heinrich Klaasen. Two of the best finishers in the world at the crease. GT still needs 40-odd runs. It should be easy, but cricket is a funny game."
It turned out, there was nothing funny about the way Miller and Klaasen handled the situation. They were professional hitmen.
Miller started cautiously, taking a few balls to get his eye in against Pollard. But the moment the pace returned in the form of Riley Meredith in the 16th over, Miller unleashed.
Ball 4: Short and wide. Miller cut it ferociously past point. Four. Ball 5: Full on the pads. Whipped away to deep square leg. Four more.
Gautam Gambhir: "The left-hand right-hand combination is a nightmare for bowlers. You can't settle on a line. Miller is hitting square, Klaasen is hitting straight."
Over 17: Jasprit Bumrah
Rohit brought Bumrah back to try and force a miracle. But the pressure was off. Klaasen and Miller played him smartly. No risks. Just singles. Respecting the best bowler, knowing they could target the others. 4 runs off the over.
18th Over. Daniel Sams. GT needed 12 runs to win.
Heinrich Klaasen decided it was time to go home.
Ball 1: Length ball. Klaasen cleared his front leg and mowed it over long-on. Massive Six! Ball 2: Single.
Miller on strike. 5 runs needed. Sams bowled a full toss trying for the yorker. David Miller said thank you. He swung his bat in that beautiful, clean arc. The ball sailed over deep mid-wicket and into the euphoric Gujarat Titans dugout.
Ravi Shastri (Thundering): "DAVID MILLER FINISHES IT IN STYLE! Gujarat Titans win by 7 wickets! They have chased down 178 without breaking a sweat! A masterclass from the Captain set it up, and the finishers applied the icing on the cake! Aarav Pathak's team marches on!"
Anjum Chopra: "Clinical. Absolutely clinical. Mumbai Indians had no answers today. From the moment Aarav Pathak stepped onto the field, he owned this game. And look at the scenes! The team onto the field!"
Post-Match Scenes
The camera lingered on the handshake. Rohit Sharma hugged Aarav, patting him on the back. "Well played, Aarav," Rohit seemed to say. Aarav smiled, shaking hands with Pollard and Bumrah.
But the final shot of the night wasn't the players. It was the VIP box. Janhvi Kapoor was high-fiving the person next to her.
Result: Gujarat Titans won by 7 wickets.Man of the Match: Aarav Pathak (74 off 38 & 2 wickets)
Parthiv Patel: "A perfect night for GT. They solidify their top spot. Mumbai Indians have a lot of thinking to do. But tonight belongs to the Prince."
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The match at Wankhede had barely ended when the second game began the one played on screens, timelines, and news tickers.
While the Gujarat Titans were shaking hands and collecting their accolades, the internet was melting down. The catalyst wasn't Aarav Pathak's destructive 74 runs off 38 balls. It wasn't his tactical genius in rotating the bowlers. It wasn't even the victory that cemented their top spot.
It was a six-second clip.
Specifically, the clip of Janhvi Kapoor jumping in the VIP box, clutching Sara Ali Khan's arm, and screaming "YES!" when Aarav hit the no-look six off Riley Meredith.
Twitter (now X) was the first to ignite. Within twenty minutes of the match ending, the hashtag #Aarvi (Aarav + Janhvi) was trending at Number 1 in India, displacing #GTvsMI.
@CricketCrazy07 tweeted:"Did anyone else see that look Aarav gave the VIP box after his fifty? That wasn't for the fans, guys. That was personal. 😉 #AaravPathak #JanhviKapoor #GTvsMI"
@BollyBlindGossip posted:"CONFIRMED? The chemistry is undeniable. She comes to the match in a GT jersey, he plays a knock for the ages. Is this the new Power Couple of India? #CricketMeetsBollywood"
Instagram Reels were being churned out at an industrial pace. Editors were mixing slow-motion footage of Aarav taking off his helmet with Janhvi's reaction, overlaying romantic Arijit Singh tracks like Kesariya or Raataan Lambiyan. The comment sections were a war zone of heart emojis and heartbroken fans.
"OMG they look so good together!" "My heart is broken 💔 Aarav is mine!" " It's Aarav era now!"
Every major news channel jumped on the bandwagon. Aaj Tak ran a ticker: "Aarav ka 'No-Look' Six, Janhvi ka Dil Clean Bowled?" (Aarav's No-Look Six, Janhvi's Heart Clean Bowled?). India TV had a panel of astrologers predicting the compatibility of a Leo and a Pisces. Zoom TV was dissecting Janhvi's body language frame by frame.
There was, however, one glaring exception.
NDTV, the channel owned by the Pathak family empire, was stoically ignoring the gossip. Their prime time debate was focused strictly on "GT's Bowling Depth vs Rajasthan's Batting Order." The editors there knew better. You don't gossip about the owner's son if you want to keep your job. While the rest of the media circus was hyperventilating about a potential romance, NDTV was analyzing Aarav's strike rate against spin.
Inside the Gujarat Titans team bus, the mood was light, but indifferent to the external noise.
"Bhai, look at this reel," Rinku Singh chuckled, shoving his phone towards Rahul Tewatia. "They have put Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge music over Captain's entry."
Tewatia rolled his eyes, scrolling through his own feed. "TRP ka khel hai, Rinku. (It's a game of TRP). Tomorrow they will link him with someone else. Remember last week? They said Rashid was dating a Korean actress because he ate Kimchi."
The bus erupted in laughter. Rashid Khan shook his head from the back seat. "No Kimchi for me, thank you. Only Biryani."
The players were seasoned professionals. They knew the drill. The media needed a narrative, and a handsome, young, bachelor captain who was also a Bollywood actor was the ultimate goldmine. They swiped past the rumors, more interested in where they were ordering dinner from.
However, the bus was lighter by two passengers tonight.
As the team headed back to the Trident Hotel, a sleek black SUV pulled up alongside the bus at the stadium exit.
"Coach, I'm heading home," Aarav said, slinging his kit bag over his shoulder. "Mom's calling."
"Me too, paaji," Abhishek Sharma chimed in, grabbing his backpack. "Home food calls. Can't say no to Maa ke haath ka khana."
Ashish Nehra waved them off. "Go, go. Enjoy the home comfort. Be back by tomorrow afternoon for the recovery session."
Aarav and Abhishek fist-bumped the boys and hopped off. Abhishek got into his waiting car, heading towards the suburbs, while Aarav walked towards the beast waiting for him—his customized, matte-black Range Rover SV.
Pathak Villa
The drive from Wankhede to his home at this hour was surprisingly smooth. The city lights blurred past Aarav's tinted windows. He had the radio off. After the deafening roar of thirty thousand people, silence was the greatest luxury.
He checked his phone. 145 unread WhatsApp messages. He ignored them all.
The car turned off the main road and approached a massive set of wrought-iron gates. A brass plaque on the pillar read: PATHAK VILLA.
The security guards, recognizing the car instantly, snapped to attention and swung the heavy gates open. The Range Rover crunched over the gravel driveway, passing manicured lawns and a fountain that shimmered under the ambient lights. The villa itself was a sprawling structure, a blend of modern architecture and colonial charm, exuding old money and power.
Aarav parked the car in the porch. Before he could even kill the engine, the heavy oak front door swung open.
Ramakaant, the elderly house help who had been with the family since before Aarav was born, stood there with a beaming smile.
"Welcome home, Baba," Ramakaant said, taking the heavy kit bag from Aarav's shoulder as if it weighed nothing. "Match was wonderful. We all watched."
"Thanks, Kaka," Aarav smiled, the tension of the captaincy finally melting away from his shoulders. "Are they awake?"
"In the dining room. Waiting for you."
Aarav walked into the foyer. The house smelled of sandalwood and home. The high ceilings, the Persian carpets, the Husain painting on the wall—it was a world away from the sweaty dressing rooms and the chaotic stadiums. Here, he wasn't Captain Aarav Pathak, the strategy genius. He was just the son.
He walked into the dining room. The table was set for three, though his parents had clearly finished their main meal and were lingering over dessert.
His father, Rajat Pathak, a titan of industry with greying hair and intimidating spectacles, looked up from his iPad. His mother, Priya Pathak, elegant in a cotton saree, her face lighting up the moment she saw him.
"You're late," his father grunted, though there was a twinkle in his eye. "We thought the presentation ceremony would go on until sunrise."
"Man of the Match interviews take time, Dad," Aarav grinned, walking over to hug his father.
He turned to his mother. She didn't wait. She pulled him into a tight embrace, patting his back vigorously.
"You look thin," was the first thing she said, pulling back to inspect his face. "Are you eating? That hotel food is rubbish, I know it. Look at these dark circles."
Aarav laughed, the sound echoing in the large room. "Mom, I have a team of nutritionists. I am literally in the best shape of my life."
"Nutritionists don't know love," Priya dismissed, guiding him to his chair. "Sit. I made Gajar ka Halwa. And Ramakaant made your favorite Mutton Curry."
Aarav sat down, reaching for the water jug. He was starving. The adrenaline crash always left him ravenous. He reached for a piece of naan bread.
WHACK.
A sharp slap landed on the back of his hand.
Aarav froze, looking at his mother. She was glaring at him, hands on her hips.
"What?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"Go wash your hands!" Priya scolded, pointing towards the washbasin. "You have been shaking hands with half of Mumbai, touching that dirty ball, rolling in the grass. God knows what germs you have brought into my dining room. Go! Soap! Twenty seconds!"
Aarav looked at his father for support. Vikram Pathak just shrugged, suppressed a smile, and went back to his iPad. "She's the Captain here, son. Do as you're told."
Aarav sighed, a smile creeping onto his face. This was it. This was the reality check he needed. Outside these walls, he was a superstar. Millions of girls were tweeting about him. Brands paid him crores just to hold a bottle of cola. But here? Here, he was just a boy with dirty hands.
He walked to the basin, scrubbing his hands obediently.
"Did you see the match?" Aarav asked, wiping his hands on a towel and returning to the table. Ramakaant began serving him, piling the plate high with fragrant rice and rich, spicy curry.
"Of course we saw it," Priya said, sitting opposite him, watching him eat with a hawk-like gaze. "That shot... the one where you didn't look? That was dangerous, Aarav. What if the ball hit the edge? What if it hit your face? Why do you have to show off so much? Just hit it normally."
Aarav nearly choked on his rice. "Mom, it's called style. It intimidates the bowler."
"It gives me a heart attack," she retorted. "And that Pollard... why did you try to hit him so hard? You were on 74. You could have got a hundred."
"I was trying to finish the game, Mom."
"Patience matters more," she countered instantly.
Vikram finally put his iPad down. "He played well, Priya. Let him breathe. The way you handled Bumrah was impressive, son. That straight six... reminded me of your grandfather. He had that same upright stance."
Aarav smiled, savoring the taste of the home-cooked mutton. It melted in his mouth. No hotel chef in the world could replicate this spice blend.
"The media is going crazy," Vikram added casually, removing his glasses. "Something about Janhvi Kapoor?"
Aarav paused mid-chew. He kept his expression neutral. "You know how they are, Dad. She came to watch. News need a headline."
Priya, however, wasn't looking amused. She slammed her spoon down on the table, the sharp clang making both men jump slightly.
"Headlines! It is nonsense!" she fumed, her eyes flashing. "I was watching India TV. They had an astrologer saying Janhvi is your soulmate! Soulmate! Can you believe it? I should sue them! I should sue every single one of them for defamation!"
Aarav sighed, putting down his naan. "Mom, relax. It's just PR. It happens every IPL."
"It is not just PR, Aarav!" Priya snapped. "What about Shradha? Hmm? Have you thought about her? Poor girl is sitting at home, probably watching all this rubbish. Imagine how she feels seeing her fiancé linked with every actress in Bollywood!"
The room went quiet. The name hung in the air, heavy with significance. Shradha Tendulkar.
To the world, she didn't exist in this capacity. She was just the youngest, quietest child of the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. The media barely had photos of her. She was private, studious, and fiercely protected by her family.
But inside Pathak Villa, she was family.
Aarav said softly. "She knows how this works. She trusts me."
"Trust is one thing, Aarav," Priya said, her voice softening but still stern. "But humiliation is another. We have kept this engagement a secret to protect her privacy, to protect both of you until the right time. But these channels are testing my patience. I will call the lawyers. One legal notice and they will shut up."
Vikram chuckled, reaching for his dessert. "Priya, if you sue the media, you confirm the rumor that he's taken. Let it be. Silence is the best defense right now."
"Besides," Aarav added, a fond smile touching his lips. "Shradha isn't insecure, Mom. She's stronger than you think. She probably finds it funny. She texted me after the match saying, 'Nice shot, but Dad played it better in Sharjah.'"
Vikram laughed out loud. "That sounds like a Tendulkar. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
It was the best-kept secret in Indian cricket. Even the dressing room didn't know—except for Abhishek Sharma, Aarav's childhood best friend, who was sworn to secrecy under threat of death. And, of course, the Gill household knew, because Shubman was dating Sara, Shradha's older sister. The two cricketing dynasties—the Pathaks (Business/Cricket owners) and the Tendulkars (Cricket Royalty)—were set to merge, but not a whisper had leaked.
"Still," Priya grumbled, picking up her spoon again. "Next time you hit a six, don't look at the VIP box. Look at the ground. Look at your bat. Look at the umpire. Just don't give them ammunition. I don't want my future daughter-in-law to feel like second place."
Aarav got up, walked around the table, and wrapped his arms around his mother from behind, kissing her cheek. "She's never second place, Mom. And neither are you. Now, pass the Gajar ka Halwa before Dad eats it all."
Priya melted, as she always did. She patted his cheek. "You and your charm. It won't work on me forever. Eat. You need strength for the next match."
As Aarav dug into the dessert, the chaos of the outside world—the tweets, the reels, the rumors—felt very far away. He was home, he was safe, and in his heart, he knew exactly who he was playing for. And it wasn't the girl jumping in the VIP box.
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Author's Note: - 8400+ Words [Is this Biggest Chapter?]
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