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The Powerplay had ended with the Royals at 41/1, a steady but slightly sluggish start given the batting paradise Eden Gardens usually becomes under lights. The humidity was rising, and the ball was starting to get slippery.
Aarav Pathak tossed the ball to his trump card. Rashid Khan.
Commentary Box:Ian Bishop: "Here comes the magician. Rashid Khan. 6.83 runs per over required for a par score, but the Royals will be eyeing 180-plus. Sanju Samson is the key here. He plays spin beautifully."
Sunil Gavaskar: "But he has to be careful against Rashid. The ball is skidding on. You cannot play across the line."
Over 7 to 9: The Stabilization
Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler began to rebuild. It wasn't frantic hitting; it was calculated aggression. Samson, using his wrists, flicked Rashid through mid-wicket for a boundary. Buttler, looking to break the shackles, reverse-swept Kuldeep Yadav for a four past short third man.
The scoreboard ticked over. 60/1... 70/1...
The Breakthrough: Over 10
Rashid Khan came in for his second over. He shortened his length, bowling quicker through the air (98 kmph). Sanju Samson, batting on 34 off 23 balls, saw the flight. It was a googly, but slightly fuller. Sanju's eyes lit up. He cleared his front leg, looking to launch it over long-on.
But the ball dipped. That famous Rashid Khan dip. Sanju mistimed it. The bat turned in his hand. The ball skewed high, swirling in the night sky towards deep mid-wicket. Rinku Singh, the safest pair of hands in the outfield, ran in, settled under it, and took it reverse-cup.
Ravi Shastri: "CAUGHT! The magician strikes! Sanju Samson was looking dangerous, but you cannot take liberties with Rashid Khan! He deceived him in the air, and Rinku Singh makes no mistake. A massive wicket for Gujarat!"
Sanju Samson c Rinku b Rashid 34 (24)RR: 78/2 (9.4 Overs)
The Middle Overs Battle: Arshdeep's Return
Devdutt Padikkal walked in at Number 4. The tall left-hander wasted no time. He looked in sublime touch, driving Kuldeep Yadav inside-out over covers for a majestic six on his second ball.
But the danger man was still Jos Buttler. He was on 40, looking set for a hundred. Aarav Pathak made a tactical change. He brought back Arshdeep Singh in the 13th over. A gamble to use up his death bowler early, but he needed Buttler gone.
Over 13: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler
Ball 1: Low full toss. Buttler missed the scoop.
Ball 2: Slower bouncer. Buttler pulled early. One run. Ball 3: Padikkal took a single.
Ball 4:The Wicket. Arshdeep went round the wicket. He angled it across the right-hander, hiding the ball behind his back until the last moment. It was the knuckleball. Buttler, expecting pace, threw his bat at it. He was way too early. The ball took the toe end of the bat and looped gently to short cover, where Shubman Gill took a dolly.
Harsha Bhogle: "And the gamble pays off! Aarav brings back his strike bowler, and Arshdeep delivers the big fish! Jos Buttler goes for 44. He struggled for rhythm tonight, never quite looked like the Buttler of old, and Arshdeep's change of pace does the trick."
Jos Buttler c Gill b Arshdeep 44 (26)RR: 110/3 (13 Overs)
With two new batsmen at the crease Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer the Titans sensed an opening to restrict RR to 160. But Devdutt Padikkal had other ideas.
He took on the spin of Kuldeep Yadav. Padikkal used his reach to sweep Kuldeep for two consecutive boundaries. He was finding gaps with surgical precision.
Shimron Hetmyer, usually the destroyer, struggled. The GT bowlers executed a plan of wide yorkers. Hetmyer swung and missed, connecting only with thin air. He managed a scratchy 15 off 13 balls before holing out to long-off off the bowling of Josh.
RR: 145/4 (16 Overs)
Out walked Riyan Parag. The young man from Assam had faced immense criticism on social media for his attitude and lack of runs. Tonight, he walked out to a chorus of boos from a section of the crowd.
He didn't care. He adjusted his collar, chewed his gum, and marked his guard.
Over 17: Kuldeep Yadav vs Riyan Parag
Ball 1: Parag danced down the track. He didn't look to defend. He smashed it straight over the bowler's head. One bounce, Four. Ball 2: Kuldeep tossed it up wide. Parag reached out and slog-swept it over mid-wicket. SIX!
Kevin Pietersen: "Hello! Where has this been hiding? That is a clean strike! Riyan Parag is silencing the critics right here at Eden Gardens!"
Parag took 16 runs off the over. The momentum shifted violently.
The Disaster Over: Josh Hazlewood (Over 19)
Aarav threw the ball to his most reliable bowler. Josh Hazlewood. The 'Hoff'. The man who never misses his length. But pressure does strange things to even the best.
Ball 1: Parag moved across his stumps. Hazlewood tried to follow him but bowled a high full toss. NO BALL. The umpire signaled it immediately. Free Hit.
Ravi Shastri: "Oh, Josh! That slipped! That is a beamer! Above waist height. Free hit coming up. Parag has a license to kill now."
Free Hit: Parag sat deep in his crease. Hazlewood bowled a yorker, but missed by an inch. Parag helicoptered it. The wrists of steel whipped the ball over long-on. SIX!
Ball 2: Hazlewood, rattled, overstepped. NO BALL. Another siren went off in the stadium. The crowd went berserk.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Unbelievable! Hazlewood? Bowling no-balls? This is panic! The young man Parag has got under his skin!"
Free Hit: Hazlewood went short. Parag pulled. It wasn't timed well, but it flew over the short boundary at fine leg. FOUR.
Ball 3: Wide yorker. Parag sliced it over point. FOUR.
Ball 4: Finally a dot. A perfect yorker.
Ball 5: Parag took a single.
Ball 6: Ashwin on strike. He scooped it for a single.
Riyan Parag had destroyed the figures of the world's number one Test bowler. 22 runs came off the 19th over.
Aarav Pathak took the responsibility for the 20th over. He bowled fast and straight. Parag tried to hit a third six but was caught at deep cover on the second ball.
Riyan Parag c Miller b Aarav 37 (18)
As Parag walked off, he raised his bat. The boos had turned into applause. He had played a gem.
Ravichandran Ashwin then played a cheeky cameo. He reverse-scooped Aarav for a boundary and then ran hard doubles with Trent Boult.
Bowling Card (GT):
Aarav Pathak: 4-0-38-2 (Expensive at the death, brilliant in powerplay)
Arshdeep Singh: 4-0-32-1 (The pick of the bowlers)
Rashid Khan: 4-0-28-1 (Economical)
Josh Hazlewood: 4-0-52-0 (A nightmare outing)
Kuldeep Yadav: 4-0-44-1
The Mid-Innings Show
The players walked off the field. Aarav looked at the scoreboard. 203. It was a mountain. In a high-pressure Qualifier, chasing 200+ was historically nearly impossible.
Ravi Shastri (Pitch Report): "203 is a massive score. The dew is settling in, which will help the batting, but the scoreboard pressure is immense. Riyan Parag was the difference. That 19th over from Hazlewood changed the complexion of the game. Gujarat Titans need a record chase to make the final tonight."
Ian Bishop: "It's not just the runs, Ravi. It's the momentum. Rajasthan is flying. They walked off pumping their fists. Gujarat looked a bit shell-shocked. Aarav Pathak has a huge job on his hands. He needs to rally his troops."
In the Dressing Room
Ashish Nehra was pacing. "20 runs too many. Josh, you missed the length. It happens. Forget it."
Aarav sat down, drinking water. He looked calm. "We chased 190 against Punjab," he said quietly. "We chased 195 against SRH. The pitch is a road. The dew is here. 203 is par."
He looked at Shubman Gill. "We go hard in the Powerplay. No sighters. If we get 70 in the first 6, this game is ours."
Gill nodded, strapping on his pads. "Let's spoil their party."
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Perspective: The Fans (Stand D, Upper Tier)
Characters: Raju, Jignesh, and Vikram - Three childhood friends who took the train from Ahmedabad to Kolkata.
The humidity in Stand D was stifling, clinging to the skin like a wet jersey. Raju wiped his forehead with a Gujarat Titans flag, his knuckles white as he gripped the railing.
"204 is too much, bhai," Jignesh mumbled, biting his nails. He had been vibrating with anxiety since the last ball of the first innings. "Hazlewood gave away 22 runs. That's the match right there. We are finished. My return ticket is non-refundable."
"Chup kar (Shut up), Jignesh!" Raju snapped, adjusting his blue wig. "Have you forgotten who we are? We are Titans. We chase. That is what we do."
Vikram, the calmest of the three, was scrolling through Twitter on his phone. "The dew is settling, guys. Look at the outfield. It's shining like a mirror. The ball will skid. If Gill and Abhishek survive the first three overs of Boult, we win. Boult is the only threat."
Below them, the two Gujarat openers walked out. Shubman Gill, looking princely and calm, and Abhishek Sharma, looking like he had consumed three Red Bulls before walking out.
"See!" Raju pointed. "Fire and Ice. Let's go! GT! GT!"
The chant started low in their block but soon spread like wildfire. "AA-VA DE! AA-VA DE!"
Commentators: Ravi Shastri, Ian Bishop, Kevin Pietersen
The lights dazzled off the helmets of the batsmen. Trent Boult, the greatest first-over bowler in T20 history, marked his run-up. The new white ball was in his hand.
Over 1: Trent Boult to Abhishek Sharma
Ian Bishop: "Welcome back. 204 to win. A place in the Final awaits. It is the left-arm thunderbolt, Trent Boult, up against the young left-hander, Abhishek Sharma. Swing is key here."
Ball 1: Boult steamed in, the seam position picture-perfect. He angled it into the left-hander. Abhishek, watchful, tapped it with soft hands to mid-on and took off. "One!" A quick single to get off the mark.
Ball 2: Shubman Gill on strike. The crowd cheered for the Prince of Kolkata (his former home ground). Boult swung it away. Gill left it alone.
The over proceeded cautiously. Boult found movement, beating the bat once. The Titans finished the first over with just 4 runs on the board.
Over 2: Prasidh Krishna Prasidh Krishna bowled with pace but strayed in line. Abhishek capitalized on a wide delivery, guiding it for a four past point. GT moved to 12/0.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"Okay, okay, survived Boult's first over," Jignesh exhaled, finally releasing his grip on the railing. "But Gill looks stuck. He is 6 off 8 balls. He needs to rotate."
"He is assessing the conditions, you idiot," Vikram muttered, eyes glued to the pitch. "He knows Boult swings it for two overs only. He is waiting."
"I don't like waiting," Jignesh shook his leg. "Required rate is already 10.5."
"Here comes Boult again," Raju warned. "Hold your breath."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 3: Trent Boult to Shubman Gill
Kevin Pietersen: "This is the matchup. Boult vs Gill. Boult will look to bring one back in."
3.1: WICKET! It was the classic Boult setup. He had swung two away in the first over. This one started outside off, and Gill, anticipating the outswinger, planted his front foot to drive through covers. But the ball jagged back in viciously. It sliced through the gap between bat and pad. Click. It didn't hit the stumps, but it kissed the inside edge and flew straight into Sanju Samson's gloves.
Ravi Shastri: "CAUGHT BEHIND! The sniper strikes! Trent Boult does it again in the Powerplay! Shubman Gill has to go! He was looking to dominate, but the movement defeated him. Gujarat loses their anchor early!"
Shubman Gill c Samson b Boult 6 (9)Score: 12/1
The stadium erupted in a mix of cheers (from RR fans) and a stunned silence from the blue sections.
But then, the PA system blasted a sound—a heavy, rhythmic drum beat. The giant screen flashed: THE CAPTAIN.
From the dugout, Aarav Pathak walked out.
Ian Bishop: "Listen to that roar! He is the opposition captain, but Kolkata loves him. Aarav Pathak walks in at Number 3. The target is 192 away. The pressure is immense."
Aarav took his guard. He looked at Boult. No smile. Just focus.
3.2: Dot. Boult tested him with a short ball. Aarav ducked.
3.3:FOUR. Aarav didn't wait. Boult pitched it up, looking for swing. Aarav leaned into it—a classic cover drive. He didn't hit it hard; he just timed it. The ball raced across the lightning outfield.
3.4:FOUR. Boult adjusted, going straighter. Aarav used his wrists, flicking it through mid-wicket. The placement was surgical.
3.5: Dot. Good length. Defended. 3.6: Dot.
Score: GT 21/1.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"See?!" Raju was jumping now, grabbing Jignesh by the shoulders. "Did you see that drive? That is pure class! He is not scared of Boult!"
"He is the King," Jignesh admitted, wiping sweat. "But 21 runs in 3 overs? We need a big over. The Powerplay is half gone."
"Abhishek is on strike next," Vikram noted. "McCoy is bowling. Pace off. Abhishek likes pace off."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 4: Obed McCoy to Abhishek Sharma
Sanju Samson brought on the left-arm seamer, Obed McCoy, to mix things up.
4.1:FOUR. McCoy started with a length ball on the pads. A gift. Abhishek Sharma swiveled and whipped it behind square. Easy pickings.
4.2: Dot. Slower ball. Abhishek was early, mistimed to mid-off.
4.3: Two runs. Driven to deep cover.
4.4: McCoy tried the back-of-the-hand slower ball, but it floated. It sat up in the slot. Abhishek Sharma cleared his front leg. He swung with the full arc of the bat. CRACK. The sound was deafening. The ball soared high over long-on. It kept going. It cleared the boundary. It cleared the first tier. It cleared the roof!
Ravi Shastri (SCREAMING): "THAT IS OUT OF EDEN GARDENS! He has absolutely smoked that! It's gone onto the streets of Kolkata! Abhishek Sharma has just sent a message to the Royals dugout! You want a fight? You got one!"
Kevin Pietersen: "That is 105 meters at least! He picked the bones out of that! Look at Aarav, even he is clapping!"
4.5: Single. 4.6: Single.
Score: GT 35/1.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"Oye! Where is the ball?" Raju screamed, laughing hysterically. "Go check the Howrah Bridge! Maybe it landed there!"
Jignesh was finally smiling. "Okay, okay. 14 runs from that over. Momentum is shifting. 35/1 is decent."
"Prasidh Krishna is coming back," Vikram pointed out. "He has pace. And Aarav is on strike. This will be fiery."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 5: Prasidh Krishna to Aarav Pathak
Prasidh Krishna, tall and aggressive, ran in to bowl to the GT Captain.
5.1: Krishna bowled short and wide. Aarav stood tall and punched it. He sliced the gap between point and cover-point. The ball rocketed to the fence for FOUR.
5.2: No run. Good bouncer. Aarav swayed out of the way.
5.3: Krishna got angry. He tried to bowl the heavy ball—bang it into the pitch. But on this humid Kolkata night, the ball sat up nicely. Aarav swiveled. The 'No-Look' Pull Shot came out. He didn't even watch it. The moment it left the bat, he turned to look at the umpire. The ball sailed over the square leg roof and disappeared into the darkness of the parking lot outside.
Ian Bishop: "Oh, stop it! Just stop it! Two balls lost in two overs! That has gone into the parking lot! Aarav Pathak with the swagger of a man who owns the place. Prasidh Krishna is being taken to the cleaners!"
The umpires called for the box of balls. The 5.3 ball was gone forever. A replacement ball (used for about 4-5 overs) was selected.
5.4: Dot. Aarav respected the new (old) ball.
5.5:FOUR. Full toss. Aarav just steered it past short third man. Intelligent batting.
5.6:SIX! Krishna overcompensated and went full. Aarav presented the full face of the bat. A lofted straight drive. It sailed over the sight screen.
Score: GT 55/1.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
Jignesh was no longer nervous. He was hugging a stranger next to him. "He is a god! I am telling you, he is a god!" Jignesh yelled. "20 runs off Prasidh! We are cruising!"
"Don't jinx it!" Vikram slapped his arm. "One more over in the Powerplay. McCoy again. We need to finish strong."
"Abhishek is on strike," Raju noted. "He will try to match the captain."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 6: Obed McCoy to Abhishek Sharma
Ravi Shastri: "55 for 1. The Titans have recovered brilliantly from the loss of Gill. This is the last over of the Powerplay. Can they make it a 70-run start?"
5.1: Abhishek Sharma tried to keep the tempo high. McCoy bowled a cutter, wide outside off. Abhishek reached for it, trying to slash it over point. He didn't get the elevation. The ball flew flat and hard... straight into the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal at backward point.
Kevin Pietersen: "A soft dismissal! He hit that well, but straight to the man. Abhishek Sharma was looking dangerous, but he perishes. The partnership is broken just when it was hurting Rajasthan."
Abhishek Sharma c Jaiswal b McCoy 16 (10)Score: 55/2
New Batsman: Heinrich Klaasen.
Ian Bishop: "Here comes the muscle. Heinrich Klaasen. He doesn't take time to settle."
5.2: Dot. Klaasen defended solidly.
5.3:FOUR. Klaasen leaned back and punched a back-of-a-length delivery through covers. He got off the mark in style.
5.4: Dot.
5.5: Single. Klaasen pushed to mid-on.
5.6: Aarav on strike. McCoy went full, searching for the yorker. He missed by inches. Aarav didn't slog. He leaned forward, high elbow, and punched it down the ground. It beat mid-off and raced away. FOUR.
End of Powerplay.
Score: GT 64/2. Aarav Pathak: 32* (13) Heinrich Klaasen: 5* (3)
Commentary Summary
Ravi Shastri: "What a Powerplay! It had everything. Wickets, monster sixes, lost balls, and pure class from the Captain. 64 for 2 is a fantastic start chasing 204. They are actually ahead of the required rate."
Sunil Gavaskar: "But they lost two wickets. That is the only worry. Gill and Abhishek are gone. Now it is up to this pair. Aarav is looking in ominously good touch. That pull shot over the roof was the shot of the tournament for me."
Ian Bishop: "The Royals will be happy they got rid of the openers, but they know the danger isn't over. Aarav Pathak is batting on a different surface. He is 32 off just 13 balls. If he stays for another 10 overs, this game is over."
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"64 for 2," Vikram calculated, wiping his glasses. "We need 140 from 14 overs. 10 runs per over."
"Easy!" Raju grinned, buying a popcorn bucket from a vendor. "Klaasen is there. Miller is left. And Aarav... well, Aarav is Aarav."
Jignesh looked at the scoreboard. "But two wickets down... if one more falls..."
"Stop it, Jignesh!" Raju and Vikram shouted in unison. "Enjoy the match!"
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The Powerplay had provided the fireworks, but as the field restrictions were lifted, a hush fell over Eden Gardens. The humid air seemed to thicken. Sanju Samson, cool and calculated, threw the ball to his trump card—the Purple Cap holder, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Commentary BoxHarsha Bhogle: "The field spreads out. The two men in the deep on the leg side are patrolling the boundary. Sanju Samson knows he needs to stem the flow of runs. Chahal into the attack. He tosses it up, he invites you to hit him, but he has a heart of a lion."
Over 7: Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal started with a loop. Slow, drifting away. Aarav, looking to consolidate after the Powerplay, played it cautiously.
The over was a chess match. Just rotation. Chahal was teasing the batsmen with flight, daring them to step out. They didn't bite. Runs: 6 Score: 70/2.
Ian Bishop: "Sensible cricket. The required rate is just over 9.5. They don't need to take risks against the best spinner immediately. They are setting a platform."
Over 8: Ravichandran Ashwin into the Attack
Sunil Gavaskar: "And now, the Professor. Ravichandran Ashwin from the other end. Spin from both ends. This is where the game can be won or lost. Ashwin will try everything—the carrom ball, the off-spinner, the slider. Klaasen has to be very careful."
7.1: Ashwin surprised everyone. He dragged the length back significantly. A tennis-ball bounce spinner. Klaasen, expecting a flighted delivery, was late on the pull shot. Thud. The ball skidded off the surface and rapped him on the helmet before lobbing gently to Sanju Samson. "No run!" Klaasen shouted, shaking his head.
Harsha Bhogle: "Oh, that's nasty! From a spinner! He darted that in, and it just kept rising. Klaasen was completely blindsided."
7.2: Ashwin went round the wicket. Worked off the back foot to mid-wicket by Klaasen. No run. Pressure building.
7.3: Klaasen finally got off strike. He flicked a flatter delivery to deep fine leg. 1 run.
7.4: Aarav Pathak on strike. He looked at the field. Point was up. He waited for the carrom ball, read it from the hand, and defended it softly to the right of point. He scampered through for a quick single. 1 run.
7.5:WICKET! The trap was sprung. Ashwin saw Klaasen stepping back to create room. He bowled the off-cutter, but slower through the air. Klaasen saw the width and went for a ferocious pull shot, trying to clear mid-wicket. But the ball gripped. It stopped on him. The bat came through too early. A faint, almost imperceptible tickle on the bottom edge. Sanju Samson stayed low and pouched it cleanly.
The appeal was instant. The umpire's finger went up.
Sunil Gavaskar: "The Professor teaches a lesson! That is brilliant bowling! He saw Klaasen backing away and just took the pace off. The ball gripped, kissed the edge, and the danger man is gone! Gujarat Titans are in a spot of bother now!"
Heinrich Klaasen c Samson b Ashwin 7 (9)(Note: Score corrected to match match-flow)Score: 72/3
Out walked David Miller. The southpaw. The finisher. The man they call 'Killer Miller'. The stadium roared, but the tension was palpable. 72 for 3 chasing 204 was not ideal.
7.6: Miller faced his first ball. Ashwin crowded the bat with a slip and a silly point. Miller leaned forward and defended solidly. No run.
End of Over 8: GT 72/3.
Over 9: Yuzvendra Chahal Continues
Harsha Bhogle: "Two overs, 8 runs, 1 wicket. Rajasthan Royals are turning the screws. The required rate has climbed to 11. David Miller and Aarav Pathak need a partnership, but they cannot afford to stagnate."
Ball 1: Aarav on strike. He stepped out, turning a good length ball into a full toss, and drove it to long-off. 1 run.
Ball 2: Miller on strike. Chahal tossed it up wide, tempting the drive. Miller reached out and swept it along the ground to deep square leg. 1 run.
Ball 3: Aarav worked it into the gap at mid-wicket. Good running. 1 run.
Ball 4: Miller pushed it to long-on. 1 run.
Ball 5: Aarav took a single to deep cover.
Ball 6:FOUR. Miller had enough of sighters. Chahal dragged the length back slightly—a mistake. Miller rocked back onto his left foot. The bat swing was ferocious. He pulled it flat and hard over mid-wicket. It bounced once and smashed into the advertising cushions.
Ian Bishop: "That sounded like a gunshot! He picked the length so early. David Miller is saying, 'I am here to play.' A much-needed boundary to end the over."
Score: GT 81/3. Equation: 123 runs needed from 66 balls.
Over 10: The Counter-Punch
Sanju Samson brought Obed McCoy back into the attack, hoping his variations would unsettle the left-right combination.
Ball 1: Aarav on strike. McCoy bowled a cutter. Aarav waited and guided it to third man. 1 run.
Ball 2:SIX! David Miller was on strike. McCoy tried the back-of-the-hand slower ball, but he telegraphed it. Miller didn't move his feet much. He just cleared his front leg and swung through the line. The connection was pure. The ball sailed over the long-on boundary, landing deep into the stands.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Monster! That is massive! He read the slower one and waited for it. That's the power of David Miller. You miss your length by an inch, and he deposits you into the parking lot!"
Ball 3: McCoy, rattled, went for a wide yorker. Miller squeezed it out to deep point. 1 run.
Ball 4:FOUR. Aarav Pathak joined the party. McCoy missed the yorker, offering a low full toss on the pads. Aarav didn't try to hit it too hard. He just used his wrists, flicking it effortlessly through the gap between mid-wicket and mid-on. The timing was exquisite.
Harsha Bhogle: "Oh, the wrists! That is distinctly Hyderabadi... or should I say, uniquely Aarav Pathak. Just a flick, and it races away. The pressure is shifting back to the bowler!"
Ball 5: Aarav tapped a length ball to cover for a quick single. 1 run.
Ball 6:FOUR. Miller back on strike. McCoy went short, trying to surprise him. But the ball sat up on this pitch. Miller swiveled, rolling his wrists over the pull shot. He placed it perfectly behind square leg, beating the fine leg fielder.
Ian Bishop: "Seventeen runs off the over! That is the big over they needed! Gujarat Titans are fighting back! At the halfway mark, they are 98 for 3. They are right in this chase!"
End of Over 10.Score: GT 98/3. Aarav Pathak: 41* (21) David Miller: 17* (7)
Drinks Break
As the umpires called for the timeout, the noise in Eden Gardens reached a fever pitch. Aarav walked over to Miller, punching his gloves. "We stay here," Aarav said, his eyes intense. "Spinners are done. Now we target the pacers. 106 from 60 balls. We've done this before."
Miller nodded, taking a sip of water. "The ball is skidding on nicely, Skipper. Let's take it deep."
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The strategic timeout ended. The buzz in the stadium had settled into a nervous hum. The equation was simple yet daunting: 106 runs needed from 60 balls.
Sanju Samson threw the ball to Yuzvendra Chahal. The chess player. The grandmaster of spin.
Over 11: Yuzvendra Chahal to Aarav Pathak
Kevin Pietersen: "We are back. Chahal to the Captain. The field is set for the catch in the deep. Can Chahal tempt him?"
Ball 1: Chahal tossed it up beautifully, flighting it outside off, turning away. He saw Aarav stepping out and shortened the length just a fraction, hoping to beat him in flight for a stumping. But Aarav read the drift. He reached the pitch of the ball before it could spin. He met it on the full and lofted it straight back over the bowler's head. SIX!
Ravi Shastri: "That is decisive! He didn't let it land! He killed the spin in the air! Aarav Pathak moves to 47. He is leading from the front!"
Ball 2: Aarav pushed a flatter delivery to long-off. 1 run.
Ball 3: David Miller on strike. Chahal bowled on the legs. Miller went down on one knee and swept it powerfully behind square. FOUR.
Score: 109/3. The over was turning expensive. Chahal looked unfazed. He adjusted his field, moving fine leg finer.
Ball 4: Chahal noticed Miller's footwork. Miller was planting his front foot early to sweep. Chahal bowled wide outside off—very wide—and much slower (78 kmph). Miller, premeditating the sweep to the leg side, tried to drag it. He lost his balance. He missed the ball completely as it turned further away. Sanju Samson gathered it cleanly and whipped the bails off in a flash. Miller's back foot was on the line, but not behind it.
Harsha Bhogle: "STUMPED! Checkmate. That is the mind of a chess player! Chanchal Chahal! He saw the sweep coming, he threw it wide, he slowed it down, and David Miller dragged his foot out! The dangerous Killer Miller is gone!"
David Miller st Samson b Chahal 21 (9)
Score: 109/4
Ball 5:Rinku Singh walked in. The crowd cheered, but nervously. Chahal bowled a googly. Rinku defended. Dot.
Ball 6: Another googly. Rinku picked it and defended. Dot.
End of Over 11: GT 109/4.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
Jignesh had his head in his hands. The euphoria of the six and four had vanished instantly.
"Gone," Jignesh whispered. "Miller is gone. Now what? Rinku is good, but this is a Qualifier. The pressure is different."
"Relax," Vikram said, though his voice was tighter now. "Look at the screen. Win probability."
The giant screen flashed the stats. Win Probability:Rajasthan Royals: 55% Gujarat Titans: 45%
"See?" Jignesh pointed. "RR is favorites. 55%. We are losing."
Raju, chewing his nails, shook his head. "Only 55? After getting Gill, Abhishek, Klaasen, and Miller? That number is wrong. It should be 70% for them."
"It's not wrong," Vikram said quietly, pointing to the figure standing at the non-striker's end. "That 45% is basically just one man. As long as Aarav stands there, the computer knows anything is possible."
Perspective: The Broadcast (Commentary Box)
Kevin Pietersen: "Interesting graphic on screen. RR is nosing ahead at 55%. But you have to ask yourself, why is it only 55? They have removed the top order and the finisher."
Harsha Bhogle: "It's the 'Aarav Factor', KP. One man is balancing the entire equation. The algorithm knows his strike rate. Other batsmen have come and gone, but the Captain is still there on 48. He is the anchor and the engine."
Ravi Shastri: "Spot on. If Aarav survives the next 12-15 balls, that Gujarat win percentage goes to 65% immediately. But if he gets out... that RR number jumps to 75-80%. It is a one-wicket game now. Rinku is new. Tewatia and Rashid are left in the shed. It's all on the Captain's shoulders."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 12: Ravichandran Ashwin to Aarav Pathak
Ashwin returned. He knew the situation. Squeeze. Build pressure. Force a mistake.
Ball 1: Aarav worked a carrom ball to deep mid-wicket. Single. (Aarav moves to 49). Ball 2: Rinku Singh, looking calm, tapped it to long-on. Single. Ball 3: Aarav clipped it to square leg. Single. Fifty for Aarav Pathak! (50 off 24 balls). No celebration this time. Just a nod.
Ball 4: Rinku punched to sweeper cover. Single. Ball 5: Aarav drove to long-off. Single.
Ball 6: Wide!
Ball 6: Rinku pushed to deep point. dot.
Analysis: A brilliant over from Ashwin. Just 6 runs. No boundaries. The required rate climbed. Score: 115/4. Equation: 89 runs needed from 48 balls.
Over 13: Obed McCoy to Aarav Pathak
Sanju Samson brought back McCoy to target Rinku with pace, but Aarav was on strike. Aarav knew they couldn't afford another quiet over.
Ball 1:FOUR. McCoy bowled short and wide, offering width. Aarav didn't try to hit it hard. He just opened the face and guided it through the gap between backward point and short third man. Surgical precision.
Ball 2:FOUR. McCoy overcorrected, going full on the pads. Aarav whipped it. The wrists rolled over the ball, keeping it along the ground, beating deep mid-wicket.
Harsha Bhogle: "He is finding gaps that shouldn't exist! He is manipulating the field. That was hit with soft hands, pure timing."
Ball 3: Slower ball. Aarav picked it and tapped it to cover. Quick single.
Ball 4: Rinku Singh on strike. He pulled a short ball to deep square leg. Single.
Ball 5: McCoy nailed the yorker to Aarav. dug out. Dot.
Ball 6: Aarav kept the strike. Driven to long-off. Single.
Score: 126/4. 11 runs from the over. A good response from the Captain.
Over 14: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ball 1: Rinku Singh swept to deep square. Single. Ball 2: Aarav stepped out but defended as Ashwin shortened length. Dot. Ball 3: Aarav worked it to mid-wicket. Single. Ball 4: Rinku cut to deep point. Single. Ball 5: Aarav pushed to long-on. Single. Ball 6: Rinku drove to long-off. Single.
Equation: 73 runs needed from 36 balls. Required Rate: 12.16.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"73 off 36," Raju calculated, his voice hoarse. "That's two big overs. We need a 20-run over somewhere."
"Ashwin have one," Vikram noted, checking the bowling card. "That is good news. But Chahal has one overs left too. Boult has two. Krishna has two. Who do we target?"
Jignesh was shaking his leg violently. "Rinku hasn't hit a boundary yet. He is 6 off 7. He needs to go or get out. Tewatia is waiting."
"Trust the process," Vikram said, though he wiped sweat from his brow. "Aarav is on 62. He is set. He is waiting for the 16th over. I can feel it."
The stadium lights flickered as the DJ played a song to hype up the crowd. The Eden Gardens was split—half praying for a wicket, half praying for the Prince to explode.
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Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
Over 15: Yuzvendra Chahal to Aarav Pathak
Sanju Samson handed the ball to Chahal for his final over. The pressure was suffocating. Every dot ball felt like a wicket. Every single felt insufficient.
Ball 1: Rinku Singh on strike. Chahal bowled a slider on the pads. Rinku worked it to deep square leg. 1 run.
Ball 2: Aarav Pathak on strike. Chahal floated it up outside off. Aarav waited, opening the face of the bat at the last second. He played it with incredibly soft hands, guiding it into the large gap at deep mid-wicket. It was a comfortable single.
But Aarav was hungry. He saw the fielder, Riyan Parag, running in from the boundary. "TWO! TWO! TWO!" Aarav screamed, turning blindly for the second run. He was sprinting like a man possessed.
Rinku Singh panicked. He was halfway down the pitch when he heard the call. He looked at Aarav charging towards him. Then, fatally, he looked at the ball. He saw Riyan Parag attacking the ball. The hesitation was split-second, but at this level, it was an eternity. Rinku stuttered. He took a half-step back, then tried to accelerate again.
Riyan Parag didn't fumble. He picked it up one-handed and unleashed a flat, rocket throw right over the stumps at the striker's end. Sanju Samson didn't even have to move his gloves. THWACK. The bails lit up. Rinku Singh sprawled, diving desperately, but he was inches short.
The stadium went silent. Aarav Pathak stopped mid-pitch. He didn't look at the umpire. He looked at Rinku. Aarav slammed his bat into the turf. BANG. He stood there, chest heaving, staring at Rinku Singh with a look that could freeze magma. It wasn't just anger; it was pure, unadulterated fury. The "Death Stare" was projected on the giant screen for 66,000 people to see.
Rinku Singh run out (Parag) 8 (11)Score: 132/5
Ravi Shastri: "DISASTER! Absolute disaster for Gujarat! There was a two there, but Rinku watched the fielder! He panicked! And look at the Captain! He is fuming! That bat slam said it all. He knows the value of that wicket. Riyan Parag with a bullet throw!"
Kevin Pietersen: "That is schoolboy cricket from Rinku. You never look at the fielder , you should look at the ball and in gaps you run! And now, Aarav is furious. This can go two ways—he either loses his head, or he destroys the bowling."
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"NO! NO! NO!" Jignesh screamed, tearing at his hair. "Why run? Why?! Rinku was set! Parag has a rocket arm!"
"It was Aarav's call," Vikram muttered, his face pale. "But Rinku froze. He watched Parag instead of running."
"Look at Aarav," Raju whispered, pointing at the screen. "I have never seen him this angry. He looks like he wants to kill someone."
"We are finished," Jignesh slumped into his seat. "5 wickets down. Tewatia is good, but 72 off 34? With the captain losing his mind?"
"Watch," Vikram said, eyes narrowing. "That's not losing his mind. That's the Red Mist. He's about to channel it."
Perspective: The Match (Third Person)
The New Man:Rahul Tewatia. The Iceman. He walked past a dejected Rinku Singh, giving him a pat, and reached the crease. Aarav didn't even acknowledge Tewatia. He walked back to his mark, aggressively marking his guard, his eyes still burning.
Ball 3: The Retribution Aarav Pathak on strike. 63 off 28 balls. Chahal sensed the anger. He tried to bowl wide and slow, tempting Aarav to mishit. Aarav didn't care about the line. He stepped out, reached the ball, and unleashed a swing that came from the depths of his frustration. He hit it straight. Dead straight. The ball flew over the sight screen, over the media box, and landed somewhere near the Hooghly River. SIX!
Ian Bishop: "ANGER! That is hit with pure rage! He has taken the frustration of the run-out and transferred it into the cricket ball! That has gone miles!"
Ball 4: Chahal, rattled by the violence of the previous shot, fired it in flatter and quicker outside off. Aarav expected it. He waited on the back foot and played a delicate, yet powerful late cut. The outfield was lightning fast. The fielder at short third man dove, but the ball beat him. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "Fire and Ice! One ball he smashes it to the moon, the next he threads the needle with a surgeon's touch. He is making Chahal pay for that run-out!"
Ball 5: Aarav stepped out again, forcing Chahal to drag the length back. Aarav adjusted and flicked it to deep mid-wicket. 1 run.
Ball 6: Rahul Tewatia on strike. He looked calm. He pushed the final ball of the over to long-on. 1 run.
End of Over 15.Score: 144/5. Analysis: 13 runs and a wicket. The equation had shifted again. Equation: 60 runs needed from 30 balls. Required Rate: 12.00.
Perspective: The Commentary Box
Harsha Bhogle: "What an over. The tragedy of the run-out, the fury of the Captain, and then the counter-attack. 60 off 30 is exactly 2 runs a ball. It is T20 standard equation. But with only 5 wickets left, and Rashid Khan the only recognized batsman to come, Aarav cannot afford to get out."
Kevin Pietersen: "He won't get out, Harsha. Look at his eyes. He is in the zone. That run-out might have been the spark he needed. He was batting beautifully before, but now? Now he is batting with a vendetta."
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Over 16: Ravichandran Ashwin to Rahul Tewatia
Sanju Samson turned to his most experienced campaigner for the final time. Ravichandran Ashwin had bowled beautifully so far, choking the runs and taking the wicket of Klaasen. With 60 needed off 30, a tight over here—say, 5 or 6 runs—would push the required rate to 18, virtually killing the game.
Ashwin adjusted his field. He pushed long-on back. He brought mid-wicket in, tempting the slog. He looked confident.
Rahul Tewatia, the man they call 'The Iceman', adjusted his gloves. He looked at the field, then looked at the scoreboard. He didn't look stressed. He looked like he was deciding what to order for dinner.
Ball 1: Ashwin started with a carrom ball, drifting into the pads. It was a good delivery, aimed to cramp the left-hander. But Tewatia was waiting. He went down on one knee, not to sweep, but to slog-sweep against the turn. He picked the length instantly. THWACK. The sound was guttural. The ball soared high over the deep mid-wicket boundary, landing twenty rows back into the jubilant crowd. SIX!
Ravi Shastri: "He's picked the bones out of that one! Rahul Tewatia doesn't need sighters! He knows the equation, and he has just taken a massive bite out of it!"
Ball 2: Ashwin, slightly rattled, decided to go wider outside off, hoping Tewatia would slice it. Tewatia anticipated the width. He shuffled across his stumps and played an inside-out lofted drive over extra cover. It wasn't brute force; it was pure timing and placement. The ball bounced once just inside the rope and smashed into the cushions. FOUR.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Ten runs off the first two balls! The pressure has flipped instantly! Ashwin is shaking his head. He bowled that to plan, but Tewatia is one step ahead."
Ball 3: Ashwin went round the wicket, firing it in at the pads. Tewatia flicked it calmly to deep square leg. 1 run.
Ball 4: Aarav Pathak on strike. The Captain was still seething. The gum in his mouth was being chewed with a rhythmic, aggressive cadence. He looked at Ashwin. Ashwin bowled a flat off-break. Aarav punched it off the back foot to long-off. He jogged the single, not looking at anyone. 1 run.
Ball 5: Tewatia back on strike. 12 runs off the over already. Ashwin tried the carrom ball again, but he dragged the length back, fearing the drive. Short ball. Tewatia rocked back. He pulled it—not blindly, but placing it perfectly between deep mid-wicket and long-on. The fielders converged, but the ball won the race. FOUR.
Harsha Bhogle: "He is finding the gaps with a compass! Rahul Tewatia is playing a gem of a cameo here! The Gujarat dugout is on its feet!"
Ball 6: The crowd was deafening. Ashwin wanted to finish well. He bowled a yorker length on the leg stump. Tewatia cleared his front leg and whipped it. A helicopter-ish flick. It raced past the short fine leg fielder who dived in vain. FOUR!
End of Over 16.Runs: 20. Score: 164/5. Equation: 40 runs needed from 24 balls.
As the umpires called "Over", Aarav Pathak walked past Rahul Tewatia. The Captain didn't smile. He didn't high-five. He simply looked at Tewatia, gave a sharp, firm thumbs up, and walked back to his crease. Aarav was still in the zone. His eyes were focused on the middle distance. He was chewing his gum furiously.
To the commentators and the fans, it looked like intense focus. But inside Aarav's mind, something else was happening. The System—that hidden interface that had guided him through this second life—was pulsing.
Perspective: The Fans (Stand D)
"TWENTY RUNS!" Raju screamed, hugging Jignesh so hard he nearly choked him. "DID YOU SEE THAT? TEWATIA YOU BEAUTY!"
Jignesh was hyperventilating, but this time with hope. "40 off 24. That is doable. That is very doable. 10 runs an over."
Vikram, usually the calm analyst, was staring at Aarav on the screen. "Look at him," Vikram whispered, pointing. "Look at Aarav."
"He looks angry," Raju said.
"No," Vikram shook his head, awe in his voice. "He looks... dangerous. He looks like he owns the stadium. He's chewing that gum like Viv Richards used to. He knows he's going to win. Look at his body language. He's not panicked about the 40 runs. He's just waiting to crush them."
"Ashwin is finished," Jignesh checked his phone. "That was his last over. Who is left? Prasidh has two. Boult has two."
"They have to bowl pace now," Vikram grinned. "And Aarav eats pace."
Perspective: The Commentary Box
Kevin Pietersen: "The momentum has swung completely! 20 runs off the 16th over! That is the game-changer! Ashwin, the Professor, has been taken to school by the Iceman!"
Ravi Shastri: "And look at the equation now. 40 off 24 balls. This is a cakewalk for two set batsmen in T20 cricket. But what stands out to me is the Captain. Look at Aarav Pathak."
The camera zoomed in on Aarav's face. The intense stare. The rhythmic chewing. The unbuttoned top collar. The stillness.
Sunil Gavaskar: "There is an aura about him tonight, Ravi. You mentioned Viv Richards earlier. There is a bit of that swagger, isn't there? That 'Chewing Gum' swagger. He is not celebrating the boundaries. He is saving the celebration for the win. He is in a trance."
Ian Bishop: "The Royals look shell-shocked. Sanju Samson is having a long chat with Prasidh Krishna and Trent Boult. They know if they don't break this partnership in the next 6 balls, they are heading to the Qualifiers 2. Eden Gardens is vibrating! What a finish we have on our hands!"
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NO CHAPTER TOMORROW AS SUNDAY IS A HOLIDAY 🥳🥳
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