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Date: 23rd May 2022 – 24th May 2022 Event: IPL 2022 Qualifier 1 Location: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The Titan Force
The tarmac at Surat International Airport shimmered under the afternoon sun as the Gujarat Titans bus pulled up next to the beast that awaited them. This was the Titan Force—a customized Boeing 737, painted in the team's signature dark blue and gold, leased specifically for the playoffs.
Inside, the luxury was palpable. Reclining leather seats, ample legroom for the fast bowlers (much to Josh Hazlewood's relief), and a personalized entertainment system for each player. The mood was different from the league stage. The jokes were still there, but there was an underlying current of focus. The 'vacation' was over. The business end had begun.
Aarav sat in seat 1A, reviewing match footage of Jos Buttler on his tablet. Ashish Nehra sat opposite him, already animatedly discussing field placements for Yuzvendra Chahal.
"Buttler is the key, Nehra paaji," Aarav muttered, tapping the screen. "He's been quiet for the last few games. That makes him dangerous. He's due for a big one."
"We stick to the plan," Nehra said, popping a gum into his mouth. "Hard lengths. Cramp him for room. If he hits, let him hit to the big boundary."
The flight to Kolkata was short, but as they descended into the City of Joy, the scale of what lay ahead became clear. The Hooghly River snaked below them, and the massive structure of the Eden Gardens stood out like a coliseum waiting for its gladiators.
Upon landing, the schedule was packed. Before the nets session, the media team had organized a special shoot. This wasn't just the usual IPL glamor shots; it was something personal to the franchise's identity.
The shoot took place in a makeshift studio inside the team hotel. It wasn't just the stars like Gill, Rashid, and Miller. The camera crew had flown in people from Patra City and the Vijay Khel Maidan—the groundsmen who prepared the pitches where GT grew up.
It was a documentary titled "The Rise of Titans."
The teaser, released later that evening on the official Gujarat Titans YouTube channel, broke the internet within hours.
The screen is black. The sound of a heartbeat thumping slowly.Flash: A worn-out cricket ball hitting a single stump on a dusty maidan.Flash: A young boy's hands gripping a bat.Flash: The massive lights of the Vijay Khel Maidan turning on.
Cut to: The faces of the unsung heroes. A groundsman wiping sweat. A net bowler tying his laces. The masseur preparing the ice bath.
Voiceover (Ashish Nehra): "People see the trophy. They don't see the sweat."
Montage of IPL 2022 action: Josh uprooting a stump. Gill driving through covers. Tewatia hitting a six.
The music swells—a mix of traditional Gujarati drums and cinematic orchestral scores.
The final shot: A dark room. A silhouette sits on a chair. The light slowly hits his face, revealing the sharp jawline and intense eyes of the Captain.
Aarav Pathak, wearing the pristine white GT jersey, looks directly into the lens.
"Hello Gujarat. This is your Captain, Aarav Pathak. We are not just eleven players. We are six crore heartbeats. Prepare the dhol. We are coming home."
Fade to logo: GUJRAT TITANS. #AavaDe.
The comment section went wild. It wasn't just cricket; it was emotion. It grounded the glitzy IPL franchise into the soil of its home state.
Match Day: 24th May 2022
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Time: 6:30 PM (Pre-match Warmup)
The humidity in Kolkata hit you like a physical wall. It was sticky, heavy, and loud. The Eden Gardens, with its capacity of over 66,000, was a sea of color. While it was a neutral venue, the crowd was split. The Pink of Rajasthan Royals was visible, but the darker Blue of Gujarat was surprisingly dominant—Aarav's popularity transcended state lines.
Center pitch. The trophy—the golden, glittering IPL trophy—sat on a pedestal.
Sanju Samson, the cool, calm captain of the Royals, walked out. He shook hands with Aarav. They were a study in contrast. Sanju was understated, soft-spoken, a silent assassin. Aarav was charismatic, imposing, yet equally calm in his demeanor.
"Ready for the noise?" Sanju smiled, squinting against the flashbulbs.
"Always," Aarav replied, standing next to the trophy. "But looking at the sky, I think we should be ready for the dew more than the noise."
They posed for the cameras—two young Indian leaders who had taken the tournament by storm. The image was instantly beamed to millions: The Battle of the Royals.
High above the stands, the legends of the game were settling in.
Ravi Shastri (Booming voice): "Good evening, Kolkata! Good evening, India! It is the business end of the TATA IPL 2022. Qualifier 1. The top two teams. The Gujarat Titans, the debutants who have played like veterans, versus the Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural champions looking to reclaim their glory."
Ian Bishop: "The atmosphere is electric, Ravi. Eden Gardens never disappoints. And look at the conditions—it's humid. The ball might swing early, but the dew factor later on is going to be massive."
Kevin Pietersen: "It's a battle of heavyweights. Jos Buttler against that Gujarat bowling attack. Aarav Pathak against Yuzvendra Chahal. This is why we love this game. The matchups are mouthwatering."
Sunil Gavaskar: "Experience plays a huge part here. Sanju has been around. But Aarav Pathak... his leadership has been the story of the season. Calm, aggressive, and tactically astute. Let's see how he handles the pressure of a knockout game."
The Toss: 7:00 PM
The two captains walked out to the middle, flanked by the Match Referee Manu Nayyar. Ravi Shastri stood with the microphone, looking dapper in his suit.
"We have the two captains here. Sanju Samson and Aarav Pathak. The crowd is buzzing. Aarav, you have the coin."
Aarav took the gold coin. He showed it to Sanju. "Heads is the call."
He flicked it high into the Kolkata night sky. It spun, glinting under the floodlights, and landed in the grass.
Manu Nayyar leaned down. "It's Tails."
Aarav pumped his fist gently. A small but crucial victory.
Ravi Shastri: "Aarav Pathak wins the toss. What are you going to do?"
Aarav: "We are going to bowl first, Ravi."
Ravi Shastri: "Not surprising given the history here. Dew playing on your mind?"
Aarav: "Yeah, definitely. We've seen in practice that the ball gets wet quite early here. Later in the second innings, gripping the ball bowlers will be tough. We want to know what we are chasing. Plus, our batting lineup is confident chasing any total."
Ravi Shastri: "Any changes to the XI? You rested the big guns in the last league game."
Aarav: "Yes, the vacation is over. The boys are refreshed. Rashid , Josh , David Miller, myself, and the full strength squad is back. We are playing our best XI."
Ravi Shastri: "Good luck."
Ravi turned to Sanju. "Sanju, would you have done the same?"
Sanju Samson: "We would have bowled first too, honestly. But we have put runs on the board before. We have a good bowling attack that can defend. The boys are excited. It's a great occasion."
The Playing XIs
Rajasthan Royals Playing 11
Jos Buttler (WK-Batter)
Yashasvi Jaiswal (Batter)
Sanju Samson (C & WK)
Devdutt Padikkal (Batter)
Shimron Hetmyer (Batter)
Riyan Parag (Batter)
Ravichandran Ashwin (Bowling Allrounder)
Trent Boult (Bowler)
Prasidh Krishna (Bowler)
Yuzvendra Chahal (Bowler)
Obed McCoy (Bowler)
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Gujarat Titans Playing 11
Abhishek Sharma
Shubhman Gill
Aarav Pathak (c)
Heinrich Klassen (wk)
David Miller
Rinku Singh
Rahul Tewatia
Rashid Khan
Kuldeep Yadav
Josh Hazlewood
Arshdeep Singh
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FLASHBACK:
Date: 23rd May 2022 (One Day Before Qualifier 1) Location: ITC Sonar, Kolkata – Conference Room 'Victoria' Time: 11:45 PM
The air conditioning in the conference room was set to a chilling 18 degrees, but Kumar Sangakkara felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.
The room was packed. The entire brain trust of the Rajasthan Royals was assembled. It wasn't just the playing XI; it was the army behind them.
The Attendees:
Think Tank: Kumar Sangakkara (Head Coach), Sanju Samson (Captain), Jos Buttler (The General), Ravichandran Ashwin (The Professor).
Coaching Staff: Lasith Malinga (Fast Bowling), Sairaj Bahutule (Spin Bowling), Amol Mazumdar (Batting), Dishant Yagnik (Fielding), Trevor Penney (Assistant Coach).
Management: Romi Bhinder (Manager), Zubin Bharucha (Performance Director).
The Future: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag (sitting quietly in the back, soaking in the tension).
In the center of the room stood a massive whiteboard. On it, written in bold black marker, were two words: GUJARAT TITANS.
Underneath, the board was a mess of red lines, crosses, and question marks.
Zubin Bharucha broke the heavy silence. He clicked a remote, and the projector screen lit up with a wagon wheel chart. It was a kaleidoscope of color, lines radiating to every corner of the boundary.
"This," Zubin said, his voice grave, "is Aarav Pathak's wagon wheel for the season."
The room stared at it.
"Where is the weak zone?" Trent Boult asked, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing. "Every batsman has a weak zone. Outside off? Short leg?"
"There isn't one, Trent," Amol Mazumdar sighed, rubbing his temples. "We've analyzed every ball he's faced this season. 700+ runs. Average of 65. Strike rate of 186. If you bowl wide, he slices it over point. If you bowl straight, he hits it over your head. If you bowl short... well, we saw what he did to Meredith and Nortje."
"The No-Look Pull," Riyan Parag whispered, almost reverently.
"So, what is the plan?" Sanju Samson asked, his voice calm but his eyes betraying the stress. "We have to bowl to him. We can't forfeit."
Lasith Malinga, the legend of the yorker, stood up. He walked to the board and drew a circle at the crease.
"The Yorker," Malinga said. "It is the only way. To the toes. Take the LBW out of the equation because he shuffles. Just hit the base of the stumps."
"He stands outside the crease, Mali," Ashwin interjected, his mind racing through permutations. "He negates the yorker length and turns it into a full toss. If we bowl spin, he uses his feet. If we bowl pace, he uses the pace. The man is playing cricket 3.0 while we are stuck on version 2."
"We can try to frustrate him?" Dishant Yagnik suggested tentatively. "Pack the off-side. Bowl dry lines?"
"He has the patience of a monk when he wants to," Sangakkara shook his head. "We saw that against CSK. He blocked for three overs and then scored 20 in the fourth. He dictates the tempo. We don't."
A heavy silence descended again. The conclusion was terrifyingly simple: There was no tactical plan for Aarav Pathak. You just bowled your best ball and prayed he made a mistake.
"Okay," Trevor Penney tried to shift the focus. "Let's assume, by some miracle, Trent gets Aarav early. Swing, nick, gone. What then?"
Zubin clicked the slide. A new list appeared. 1. Shubman Gill2. Abhishek Sharma3. Aarav Pathak4. Heinrich Klaasen5. David Miller6. Rinku Singh7. Rahul Tewatia8. Rashid Khan
"This batting lineup," Sairaj Bahutule muttered, "is illegal. It shouldn't be allowed under the salary cap."
"Abhishek Sharma and Gill," Amol Mazumdar pointed out. "Fire and Ice. If we get Gill, Abhishek destroys the powerplay. If we get Abhishek, Gill anchors the innings."
"And then..." Sangakkara pointed to Number 4 and 5. "The Cerberus. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller."
"Klaasen is the issue for us," Yuzvendra Chahal spoke up for the first time. The purple cap holder looked worried. "He plays spin on the back foot. He hits sixes off good length balls. If I toss it up, he hits me out of the stadium. If I bowl flat, he cuts me."
"And Miller," Jos Buttler chimed in, his English accent cutting through the room. "I've played with him. When he's in 'Killer Miller' mode, grounds are too small. And then Rinku Singh... the guy who eats pressure for breakfast."
"It's endless," Romi Bhinder whispered. "We take 4 wickets, and we still have to bowl to Miller and Rinku. We take 6 wickets, and Rashid Khan walks in with a strike rate of 200. There is no tail. It's all teeth."
"Right," Sanju exhaled. "So we have to out-bat them. If they score 200, we score 201. Let's look at their bowling."
Zubin clicked the remote again. Pace: Aarav Pathak, Josh Hazlewood, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.Spin: Rashid Khan, Kuldeep Yadav.
"8 overs," Ashwin said, staring at the names. "We have to face 8 overs of Rashid and Kuldeep."
"Kuldeep is bowling slower through the air this year," Jaiswal noted, his young mind trying to find a positive.
"And turning it square," Ashwin countered. "And Rashid... well, he's Rashid. You don't hit Rashid. You survive Rashid."
"Josh Hazlewood," Buttler grimaced. "The robot. He lands the ball on a coin. Over after over. No freebies. And Arshdeep at the start... his yorkers are as good as yours, Mali."
Malinga nodded, conceding the point. " The boy is good. Very good."
"And the Captain bowls too," Sangakkara reminded them. "Aarav. He brings himself on whenever there is a partnership or at death with Josh. He breaks the rhythm. He bowls cutters, he bowls 150 clicks. He is a golden arm."
The meeting had been going on for an hour. The whiteboard was now covered in frantic scribbles, arrows, and circles, but none of them pointed to a clear victory.
The Rajasthan Royals were a fantastic team. They had the Orange Cap (Buttler) and the Purple Cap (Chahal). They had Hetmyer, Boult, Ashwin. In any other season, they would be clear favorites.
But this Gujarat Titans team... it felt different. It felt like an anomaly.
"They have won 11/12 {I forgot} out of 14 games," Zubin Bharucha summarized, closing the laptop. "The game they lost, they rested half their squad. They haven't been beaten; they have been momentarily delayed."
Ashwin leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen. "It's not just the skill, Sanga. It's the aura. When Aarav walks onto the field, the opposition shoulders drop. When Rashid holds the ball, the batsmen panic. They have won the mental battle before the first ball is bowled."
Riyan Parag, sitting in the corner, looked at Jaiswal. "It's like playing a boss level in a video game where the difficulty is locked to 'Impossible'."
Jaiswal nodded silently. "Aura farming. That's what they are doing. They are just collecting fear."
Kumar Sangakkara stood up. He wiped the whiteboard clean. The red marks, the plans, the frantic strategies—all gone.
He turned to his team. He looked at Sanju, at Jos, at Trent, at Yuzi.
"Gentlemen," Sangakkara said softly. "We have analyzed them to death. And the data says one thing: They are better than us. On paper, man for man, they are stronger."
A hush fell over the room. It was rare for a coach to admit this.
"But," Sangakkara continued, a glint in his eye. "Cricket isn't played on paper. It isn't played on wagon wheels. It is played on grass. They are human. Aarav Pathak is human. He bleeds, he feels pressure. Tomorrow, they will come with their aura, their swagger, their documentary crews."
He slammed his hand on the table.
"We don't need to be better than them for a season. We just need to be better than them for 40 overs. Just one bad day. That's all we need to induce. One mistake from Aarav. One drop catch by Miller. One bad over from Rashid."
"We can't stop them," Jos Buttler said, standing up, his face set in stone. "So we have to outrun them. We attack. If they score 200, we aim for 220. We don't defend. We don't hide. We punch the giant in the nose and see if he blinks."
Sanju Samson stood up, adjusting his jersey. "We are the Royals. We don't bow down. Let them have the aura. We will take the win."
The room erupted in a cheer, a release of the tension. But as they filed out of the room, heading back to their suites, the lingering thought remained in everyone's mind.
How do you kill a Titan that has no weakness?
Ashwin lingered behind, looking at the blank whiteboard one last time. He shook his head, a wry smile on his face.
"Aarav Pathak," he muttered to himself. "You've really created a monster, haven't you?"
He clicked the lights off, plunging the war room into darkness.
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Date: 24th May 2022 (Morning of the Match) Location: Kolkata / All Over India (Digital Space)
The Morning Papers
The sun rose over the Hooghly River, but for the millions of cricket fans in India, the day didn't start with tea; it started with the headlines. The morning dailies had devoted their front pages not to politics or the economy, but to the colossal clash at Eden Gardens.
THE TIMES OF INDIASports Page - Headline: "THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE MEETS THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT?"By Arnab Sen, Senior Cricket Correspondent
"Tonight, the Eden Gardens will witness a collision that feels less like a cricket match and more like a coronation. On one side, the Rajasthan Royals, led by the astute Sanju Samson, looking to reclaim the glory of 2008. On the other, the Gujarat Titans, a team that has not just entered the IPL but bulldozed it.
But the story isn't just about the teams. It is about the man wearing the Number 4 jersey. Aarav Pathak.
In a league that usually humbles debutant captains, Pathak has looked bored by the difficulty setting. With 700+ runs, 19 wickets and a captaincy style that blends Dhoni's calm with Kohli's fire, he has become the narrative. Tonight, Kolkata doesn't just host a qualifier; it hosts a phenomenon."
HINDUSTAN TIMESExclusive Report: "PANIC IN THE PINK PARADISE? INSIDE RR'S STRATEGY MEETING"Sources: Anonymous
"If rumors from the ITC Sonar hotel are to be believed, the mood in the Rajasthan Royals camp is far from confident. A source close to the coaching staff revealed to HT that last night's strategy meeting went on until midnight, ending with a grim realization.
'They spent two hours analyzing Aarav Pathak's wagon wheel,' the source claimed. 'And the conclusion was that there is no plan. Kumar Sangakkara allegedly told the team that they cannot stop him tactically, they can only hope for a mistake.'
Is this mind games from the Royals, or genuine despair? When an opposition coach reportedly admits, 'He is playing Cricket 3.0,' you know the fear factor is real. The Royals are banking on their heavy artillery—Boult, Ashwin, Chahal—but the leaked whispers suggest they feel they are bringing knives to a nuclear gunfight."
DAINIK JAGRAN (Hindi Daily)Headline: "KOHLI KA UTTARADHIKARI? (Kohli's Successor?)"
"BCCI ke galiyaron mein charcha garam hai (The discussion is hot in the corridors of BCCI). For a decade, Virat Kohli has been the face of Indian cricket. But tonight, as the world watches Eden Gardens, the board is silently preparing for the next era.
Sources suggest that the BCCI marketing team has been instructed to amplify Aarav Pathak's presence. 'He has the looks, the game, and the charisma,' a BCCI official said off the record. 'We are seeing engagement numbers on Aarav's reels that rival Virat's peak years. He is the Golden Goose.'
Tonight is not just a match; it is an audition for the throne."
The Digital Campaign: Project 'Face of Cricket'
While the newspapers dealt in words, the BCCI's digital machinery dealt in visuals. It was subtle, but to the trained eye, it was a deliberate shift.
Usually, the IPL social media handles rotated focus between Rohit, Dhoni, Kohli, and the emerging stars. But for the last month especially last 48 hours, the feed was 80% Gujarat Titans. Specifically, 80% Aarav.
@IPL Official Instagram:Post 1: A slow-motion reel of Aarav walking out to bat, synced to dramatic orchestral music. The caption simply read: The Prince Arrives. #Qualifier1 #AavaDe
Post 2: A split-screen video comparing a young Virat Kohli's cover drive to Aarav Pathak's cover drive. The caption: Evolution. 🇮🇳
BCCI Headquarters, Mumbai (Internal Memo - Fictionalized):From: Head of Digital MarketingTo: Content TeamSubject: Qualifier 1 Strategy
"Guys, let's push the 'Leader' narrative tonight. Get camera angles on Aarav talking to his bowlers. Mic him up if possible (check with GT management). We need to capture every expression. If he hits a six, I want the reel up in 30 seconds. The metrics show that the 18-24 demographic is obsessed with him. Let's feed that. He is the next big IP after VK."
Star Sports Promo: The TV promo playing on loop featured voiceovers from legends. Ravi Shastri: "India has had its Kings. It has had its Maharajas. Now... it has a Titan." Visual: Aarav standing on the roof of the Titan Force bus, looking at the Kolkata skyline.
Ground Zero: The Streets of Kolkata
Outside the Eden Gardens, five hours before the toss, the atmosphere was akin to a carnival. The famous Kolkata humidity couldn't dampen the spirits of the thousands gathering near the maidan.
Reporter (News 24): "I am standing here at the Babu Ghat area, just a stone's throw from Eden Gardens. As you can see, the sea of Blue is overwhelming. Kolkata, which usually bleeds Purple for KKR, seems to have adopted a second home."
Vox Pop 1: The Group of College StudentsReporter: "Whose jersey are you wearing? It says 'Pathak 4'." Student (Painted face): "Aarav Bhai! Who else? KKR didn't qualify, so we are supporting GT. Aarav is love, man. Did you see that no-look shot? We are here just to see that live." Reporter: "But what about Sanju Samson? Rajasthan is a good team." Student 2: "Sanju is good, bro. But Aarav is a vibe. He is... how do I say it? He is main character energy. We traveled from Siliguri just for him."
Vox Pop 2: The Old TimerReporter: "Dada, you have seen Ganguly, you have seen Dhoni. What do you think of this new boy?" Elderly Man (Adjusting glasses): "He reminds me of Pataudi. The Nawab. That same arrogance in the stance. He doesn't look like he is struggling. He looks like he owns the place. If he plays well for India, he will be bigger than everyone. But let's see tonight. Eden Gardens tests character."
Vox Pop 3: The Nervous Royals FanReporter: "You are wearing Pink. Are you confident?" RR Fan (Holding a 'Halla Bol' flag): "Honestly? No. I read the news about the leaked meeting. Even Sanga sir is worried. If we get Aarav out early, we win. If he stays for 10 overs... we can go home. I just hope Boult bowls a magic ball. Otherwise, it's a massacre."
Vox Pop 4: The 'Viral' GirlReporter: "You have a poster that says 'Marry Me Aarav'. Is that serious?" Girl (Giggling with friends): "100 percent! I mean, Janhvi Kapoor clarified she isn't dating him, right? So the slot is open! He is so cute! And he is perfect!"
Inside the GT Camp: Reaction to the Noise
Back at the team hotel, the players were having lunch. The noise from the outside world inevitably seeped in.
Shubman Gill walked into Aarav's room, holding a tablet. "Have you seen this?" Gill grinned, showing the Hindustan Times article about the 'Panic in Pink Paradise'. "They are saying Sangakkara gave up on planning for you."
Aarav, who was stretching on a yoga mat, laughed. "It's media nonsense, Shubman. Sanga is a fox. He probably leaked that himself to make us complacent. 'Oh, look, we are scared.' And then—Bam! They have a specific trap set for the fourth stump line."
"Maybe," Gill sat on the sofa. "But the BCCI thing is real. Look at the Instagram handle. It's the 'Aarav Fan Club' today. They posted a compilation of your captaincy calls. Even Virat bhai doesn't get this much screen time lately."
Aarav sat up, wiping sweat from his forehead. "It's pressure, Shubman. They are building the pedestal so high that if I fall, the crash will be entertaining for them too. 'Next Kohli', 'Face of Cricket'... it's just tags. Tonight, if I get a duck, the same papers will ask 'Is he overrated?'"
"True," Gill nodded. "But looking at the crowd outside... I don't think they believe you can fail. They think you're a superhero."
Aarav walked to the window, looking down at the tiny figures swarming around the stadium entrance miles away.
"That's the dangerous part," Aarav murmured. "They think I'm a superhero. I just need to make sure I don't forget I'm just a guy watching the ball."
As the team bus—The Titan Force on wheels—left the hotel for the stadium, the streets were lined with fans. They banged on the sides of the bus. They held up posters.
Inside the bus, Gary Kirsten stood up. "Look at them," he pointed to the frenzy outside. "They are not here for a cricket match. They are here for a show. You," he looked at Aarav, "are the ringmaster. But remember, the ringmaster doesn't get distracted by the applause. He focuses on the lion."
Aarav put on his noise-canceling headphones. He played his pre-match playlist. The noise of Kolkata faded into a dull thump. The articles, the leaked reports, the viral tweets, the 'Next Kohli' tags—they all dissolved.
The bus turned into the Eden Gardens tunnel. The darkness engulfed them for a moment, before the bright lights of the stadium awaited at the end.
The Media Storm was over. The Cricket was about to begin.
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PRESENT
Match: Qualifier 1 - Gujarat Titans vs. Rajasthan Royals Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Phase: The First Innings
Commentators: Ravi Shastri, Ian Bishop, Kevin Pietersen, Sunil Gavaskar
The noise was a physical entity. It vibrated through the soles of the spikes, a deep, guttural roar of sixty-six thousand throats screaming in unison. Half the stadium chanted "Hal-la Bol!" (Attack!), while the other half, a surprising sea of blue in the City of Joy, screamed "Aa-va De!" (Let it come!).
In the middle of this sonic cauldron, eleven men in dark blue jerseys formed a tight circle.
Aarav Pathak stood in the center. He didn't shout. He didn't need to. His eyes, burning with a cold intensity, locked onto each of his teammates. He held the brand-new white Kookaburra ball in his right hand, the seam standing up proud and sharp.
"Listen to that," Aarav said, his voice cutting through the din. "They are loud. They are excited. But in ten minutes, I want them silent. We don't wait for the game to come to us. We grab it by the throat from ball one. Arshdeep, swing it. Josh, hit the sticker. Fielders, I want you diving on cement if you have to. Nothing gets through. Let's go!"
"TITANS!" The shout was unified, primal.
As the huddle broke, Aarav walked to his mark. He tossed the ball from hand to hand. He signaled to the slip cordon. "Two slips," he commanded. "Gilly, first slip. Miller, second."
David Miller looked surprised but moved into position. Two slips in a T20 Qualifier? It was a statement. It was aggression.
As the umpires Bruce Oxenford and Virender Sharma walked out, followed by the GT fielders, the stadium erupted.
Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat. The air was thick with humidity and anticipation.
Over 1: Aarav Pathak to Jos Buttler
Commentary BoxRavi Shastri: "Here we go! The wait is over. The Eden Gardens is ready to explode. It is the Captain, Aarav Pathak, taking the new ball himself. He is up against the Orange Cap holder, the dangerous Jos Buttler. Two slips in place! This is Test match aggression in a T20 game!"
Ian Bishop: "He has the pace to justify it, Ravi. 150 clicks in the warm-up. He wants to remove Buttler early. If he does, half the battle is won."
Aarav marked his run-up. He turned. He ran. The rhythmic thud of his feet on the turf accelerated. He loaded up at the crease, a perfect fusion of biomechanics and raw power.
Ball 1: 153.4 kmph. Outswinger. It started on the off-stump and shaped away late at terrifying speed. Buttler, looking to feel the ball on bat, poked tentatively. The ball whizzed past the outside edge, thudding into Klaasen's gloves. The sound of the ball hitting the gloves echoed like a gunshot.
Kevin Pietersen: "Oh my goodness! Did you see the carry? That flew to the keeper! That is serious heat first up. Buttler had a little nibble at that."
Ball 2: 154.1 kmph. Inswinger. Aarav adjusted his wrist. The ball jagged back in sharply. Buttler was cramped for room, tucking it awkwardly to mid-wicket. No run.
Ball 3: 152.8 kmph. Outswinger. Wide of off stump. Buttler left it alone. A wise decision.
Ball 4: 138 kmph. The Cutter. Aarav rolled his fingers over it. It looked like the fast one, but it gripped the surface. Buttler was early on the drive, check-driving it towards mid-off. "No run!" Buttler shouted, eyes wide.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Variation already! In the first over! He is showing his full repertoire. He is not just a tearaway fast bowler; he is a thinking cricketer."
Ball 5: 153.9 kmph. Full and straight. Buttler presented the full face of the bat, pushing it past the bowler. Mid-on chased it down. Two runs.
Ball 6: 154.5 kmph. Good length. Buttler worked it off his hips to deep square leg for two more.
Score: RR 4/0
Over 2: Arshdeep Singh to Yashasvi Jaiswal
Ravi Shastri: "Arshdeep Singh from the other end. The left-arm angle again. He will try to swing it back into the young Yashasvi Jaiswal. This is a classic matchup."
Arshdeep, with his smooth, rhythmic run-up, didn't have Aarav's raw pace, but he had guile.
Ball 1: Wide outside off. Jaiswal slashed hard but missed.
Ball 2: Full, swinging in. Jaiswal drove beautifully through covers. Three runs. Good running.
Ball 3: Buttler on strike. Arshdeep cramped him. Single.
Ball 4: Jaiswal defended.
Ball 5: Jaiswal stepped out, lofting it over covers. Not timed perfectly, but safe. Two runs.
Ball 6: Single to end.
Score: RR 11/0
Ian Bishop: "A steady start for the Royals. They haven't lost a wicket, which is crucial against this attack. But they aren't flying either. 11 runs from 2 overs. The pressure is building."
Over 3: Aarav Pathak to Yashasvi Jaiswal
The crowd buzzed as the Captain took the ball again. He adjusted the field. Third man went back. Fine leg came up. He was inviting the big shot.
Kevin Pietersen: "Aarav is back. Jaiswal is a wonderful talent, but facing 155 kmph is a different beast. Watch for the yorker."
Ball 1: Aarav steamed in. He didn't hold back. He put every ounce of his shoulder into this delivery. The ball left his hand like a laser beam. Speed: 155.2 kmph.
It started way outside the leg stump. Jaiswal, seeing the line, shuffled across slightly and lifted his bat, judging it to be a wide or a ball drifting down the leg side. He decided to leave it alone, posing for the umpire.
But late—very late—the ball swung. Conventional swing at extreme pace. It hooped from the leg side towards the middle.
Jaiswal realized his mistake a fraction of a second too late. His eyes widened in horror. He tried to bring his bat down. CRASH.
The ball smashed into the leg stump, uprooting it with such violence that the LED lights flashed red for a split second before the stump cartwheeled towards the keeper.
Ravi Shastri (SCREAMING): "BOWLED HIM! CLEANED HIM UP! What a delivery! Speed! Swing! And a terrible judgment from the youngster! He left it! He thought it was wide, but the Prince has bent it like Beckham! That is absolute timber! 155 clicks and swinging! You cannot leave those!"
Sunil Gavaskar: "Oh, dear, dear, dear. A brain fade from Jaiswal. But take nothing away from the ball. That started on leg stump and hit middle and leg. That is reverse-swing movement with a new ball! Aarav Pathak has drawn first blood!"
Aarav didn't celebrate wildly. He just stood there, arms spread wide, soaking in the roar of the Eden Gardens. He looked at Jaiswal walking back, shook his head slightly, and high-fived Miller.
Yashasvi Jaiswal b Aarav Pathak 5 (8)RR: 11/1 (2.1 Overs)
New Batsman: Sanju Samson
Out walked the Rajasthan Royals captain. The pressure was immense.
Ball 2: 154.0 kmph. Bouncer. A welcome gift for Sanju. It rose sharply towards the helmet. Sanju ducked. Dot ball.
Ball 3: 153.5 kmph. Full, outside off. Sanju Samson is a class act. He didn't let the wicket rattle him. He leaned forward and caressed the ball through the covers. The timing was exquisite. The ball raced across the lightning-fast outfield. FOUR.
Ian Bishop: "That is class. Pure class. 153 kmph, and he just leans on it. Sanju Samson says, 'I am here to play.'"
Ball 4: 154.8 kmph. Good length, nipping back. Sanju defended solidly back to the bowler. Dot.
Ball 5: 153.2 kmph. Outswinger. Sanju played and missed. A collective "Ooooh" from the crowd. Dot.
Ball 6: 155.0 kmph. Yorker attempt. It ended up being a low full toss. Sanju drove it straight to mid-off. No run. Dot.
Score: RR 15/1
Kevin Pietersen: "What an over! A wicket and pure pace. The Royals are on the back foot. 15 for 1 after 3 overs in the Powerplay is not what they wanted."
Over 4: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler
Arshdeep continued. With Jaiswal gone, Buttler had to take responsibility.
Ball 1: Single.
Ball 2: Sanju on strike. Arshdeep bowled a slower one. Sanju picked it and worked it for two.
Ball 3: Sanju pushed for a single.
Ball 4: Buttler, frustrated, charged down the track. Arshdeep saw him coming and pulled the length back. Buttler adjusted and pulled it awkwardly. It fell in no man's land. Two runs.
Ball 5: Single.
Ball 6: TWO runs.
Score: RR 24/1
Ravi Shastri: "Arshdeep is doing a fantastic job supporting his captain. He's not giving anything away. 9 runs from the over, but no boundaries. The pressure is mounting on Buttler."
Over 5: Josh Hazlewood to Sanju Samson
Ian Bishop: "A change in bowling. The 'Hoff'. Josh Hazlewood comes into the attack. Precision, height, and accuracy. This is relentless from Gujarat."
Hazlewood, tall and imposing, marked his run-up.
Ball 1: Good length, top of off. Sanju defended. Ball 2: Short ball. Sanju pulled it. Not timed well. One run. Ball 3: Buttler on strike. Hazlewood strayed onto the pads. A rare error. Buttler flicked it fine. FOUR.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Too easy. You cannot bowl there to Jos Buttler. He will pick that gap with his eyes closed."
Ball 4: Hazlewood corrected immediately. Fourth stump line. Buttler defended. Ball 5: Buttler drove on the up. Punchy shot past mid-off. Miller chased it down. Three runs. Ball 6: Sanju on strike. Hazlewood bowled a heavy ball. Sanju steered it to third man for two runs.
Score: RR 34/1 Kevin Pietersen: "10 runs from the over. A bit loose from Hazlewood by his standards, but the Royals will take it. They need a move on."
Over 6: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler
The final over of the Powerplay.
Ravi Shastri: "Last over of the restrictions. RR is 34 for 1. They need a big one here to reach a par score for the Powerplay. Arshdeep to bowl his third on the trot. That shows faith from Captain Aarav."
Ball 1: Dot. Wide yorker well executed. Ball 2: Buttler managed to squeeze a single to point.
Ball 3: Sanju on strike. Arshdeep went round the wicket. He angled it in. Sanju flicked it in the air... but it fell short of mid-wicket. Safe. Two runs.
Ball 4: Dot. Slower bouncer. Sanju was early on the pull.
Ball 5:FOUR. Sanju stepped out, made room, and slashed it over backward point. A risky shot, but it paid off.
Ball 6: Dot to end the over. A play and a miss.
End of Powerplay.
Score: RR 41/1 Run Rate: 6.83
Ravi Shastri: "And that is the Powerplay done and dusted! Gujarat Titans will be the happier side. They have the big wicket of Jaiswal, and they have kept the run rate under 7. The ball of the tournament so far has to be that inswinging yorker from Aarav Pathak. 155 clicks!"
Sunil Gavaskar: "Absolutely, Ravi. That delivery was unplayable. But credit to Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler. They have absorbed the pressure. 41 is not a disaster, but they are behind the 8-ball. They need to accelerate now, but with Rashid Khan coming into the attack soon, it won't be easy."
Ian Bishop: "The story of the first six overs is pace. Pure, unadulterated pace from the Gujarat Captain. He has set the tone."
Kevin Pietersen: "It's a chess match now. The field spreads out. Aarav will likely bring on spin. How Buttler plays Rashid Khan will decide this game. But for now, round one goes to the Titans."
The players took a drinks break. Aarav walked over to Arshdeep, patting him on the back. "Great spell, Arsh. You kept them quiet. Now go rest. Rashid, you're up."
The stage was set for the middle overs. The Royals had survived the blitz, but the trap was just beginning to close.
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