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The calendar flipped to August. For the Indian cricket team, it was business as usual—a relentless schedule of flights, hotels, and matches. But for Aarav Pathak, the month began with a strange sensation: stillness.
After the historic tour of England and the ODI conquest in the Caribbean, the BCCI medical team had put their foot down. Workload Management. It was a phrase players usually hated, but Aarav, deep down, knew he needed it. The T20I series against the West Indies (5 matches played in the Caribbean and Florida, USA) was scheduled immediately after the ODIs.
The selectors announced the squad. Rested Player : Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Aarav Pathak. Captain for T20Is: Hardik Pandya.
While Hardik led the team to a thumping 4-1 series victory in the T20Is—showcasing the terrifying depth of Indian cricket—Aarav was in Mumbai.
He spent two weeks living a "normal" life. He went on late-night drives with Shradha. They watched movies. He spent hours in the nets at the MIG Club with Arjun Tendulkar, just tweaking his wrist position without the pressure of a match. He had dinner with Virat and Anushka, discussing everything except cricket.
It was a recharge. A reboot. But as mid-August approached, the itch returned. The 'Seth' missed his office.
The next assignment was a 3-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. Usually, this would be a low-profile tour. But with the T20 World Cup on the horizon, every game mattered for the fringe players. The selectors decided to stick with the winning formula. The "Young India" squad that decimated the West Indies in ODIs was retained.
The Squad:
Captain: Aarav Pathak
Vice-Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Batters: Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk).
All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur.
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav (Replacing Yuzvendra Chahal, who was rested), Washington Sundar.
Pacers: Deepak Chahar (Returning from injury), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan.
"Same energy, boys," Aarav texted the group chat. "New continent, same goal. 3-0."
Match 1: The Harare DemolitionDate: 18th August 2022 Venue: Harare Sports Club Toss: India won and elected to Bowl.
The morning in Harare was crisp and cool. The pitch had a tinge of grass, promising movement for the seamers. Aarav Pathak walked out for the toss with Regis Chakabva, the Zimbabwe captain. "We'll bowl," Aarav said. "There's moisture. We want to exploit it."
Aarav took the new ball himself alongside the returning Deepak Chahar. What followed was a clinic in swing bowling.
Over 1 (Chahar): Moved it both ways. Beat the bat.
Over 2 (Aarav): The Vice-Captain (now Captain) was fresh. He wasn't bowling 145kmph today; he was bowling 152kmph.
Ball 1: T Kaia trapped LBW. A searing inswinger. 0/1.
Ball 4: Tadiwanashe Marumani clean bowled. The off-stump cartwheeled. 2/2.
Zimbabwe never recovered. Aarav bowled a spell of 7 overs on the trot. He was unplayable. He swung the ball late, he hit the deck hard, and he varied his pace. He picked up Sikandar Raza—Zimbabwe's best batter—with a bouncer that Raza gloved to Samson. He cleaned up the tail with yorkers.
Innings Break: Zimbabwe 189 All Out (40.3 Overs). A five-wicket haul on his return to international cricket.
Aarav sat in the dugout with his pads off, sipping coffee.
Aarav didn't bat... both openers scored to winning. So, Gill (82)* and Ishan Kishan (90)* chased down 190 in 30.5 overs. Aarav didn't even have to put his helmet on.
Result: India won by 10 wickets. MoM: Ishan Kishan (5/24).
Match 2: 20th August 2022 Venue: Harare Sports Club Toss: India won and elected to Bat.
"We want to challenge ourselves," Aarav said at the toss. "We chased easily last time. Today, we set a target."
The start wasn't ideal. Ishan Kishan (6) and Shubman Gill (33) fell inside the first 15 overs. India was 45/2. This brought Aarav Pathak and Sanju Samson to the crease.
The pitch was slightly two-paced. The ball was gripping. Aarav played the anchor role. He realized it wasn't a 150 strike-rate pitch. He rotated the strike, nudging singles, finding gaps. He reached his 50 off 68 balls—a gritty, responsible knock. He fell for 56, trying to accelerate against Sean Williams.
But the day belonged to Sanju. Once he got his eye in, he made batting look ridiculously easy. He hit the spinners inside-out over covers. He pulled the pacers into the grass banks. In the death overs, he exploded. Over 44: Three sixes off Luke Jongwe. Over 48: He reached his Century with a six over long-on! His maiden ODI ton (in this timeline/context). 100 off 82 balls.*
India posted 295/6.
Zimbabwe fought hard in the chase. Sean Williams scored a century, threatening to take the game deep. But Aarav, the captain, stepped up. He brought himself on in the 38th over when the partnership was flourishing. He broke the stand, removing Williams (Caught at deep mid-wicket). He then removed Ryan Burl with a yorker. Figures: 2/35.
Result: India won by 35 runs. Series: India leads 2-0.
Match 3: Date: 22nd August 2022 Venue: Harare Sports Club Toss: India won and elected to Bat.
"We want to finish with a bang," Aarav said. "3-0 is the only acceptable result."
The Gill Class Shubman Gill finally converted his start. He batted like a dream, scoring a sublime 130 runs, his highest ODI score. The way he pulled the short ball was reminiscent of Rohit Sharma.
But if Gill was the melody, Aarav was the heavy metal. He walked in at Number 3. He started fast. 50 off 40 balls. Then, he went berserk. He targeted Sikandar Raza and Brad Evans. Six over long-off.Six over deep square leg.Reverse sweep for four.
He reached his Century off 78 balls. But he didn't stop. He wanted a "Daddy Hundred". In the last 10 overs, he scored 53 runs alone. He finished with 153 off 102 balls*. (14 Fours, 8 Sixes).
India posted a mammoth 368/4.
Zimbabwe Chasing 369 was never on the cards. Deepak Chahar picked up 3 wickets. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first game of the series (rotation), spun a web and took 4 wickets. Aarav bowled just 4 overs, taking 1 wicket (Opening bat), before resting himself to let the others bowl.
Zimbabwe bowled out for 180. Result: India won by 188 runs. Series: India wins 3-0.
The sun was setting on a perfect tour. The Indian team, young, vibrant, and ruthless, gathered on the podium. Pommie Mbangwa (Host): "Domination. That is the word. 3-0. A whitewash."
Player of the Match & Series:Aarav Pathak (153 runs).
Aarav walked up. The applause was genuine.
Pommie: "Aarav, you seem to like this Player of the Series trophy. You keep winning it."
Aarav: "I like winning games, Pommie. The trophies are just a bonus. The boys were fantastic. Sanju's hundred in the last game, Gill's hundred today, Chahar's swing... it's a complete team performance. We asked for ruthlessness, and we got it."
Pommie: "Next stop?"
Aarav: "Home. Asia Cup. And then the big one in Australia. This streak... it gives us momentum. We aren't just participating anymore; we are expecting to win every game."
Aarav took the trophy. He looked for Arshdeep Singh (who was rested for the last game) and Shahbaz Ahmed (debutant in squad). He handed the trophy to them.
"CHAMPIONS!"
The champagne sprayed. Ishan Kishan was dancing on the podium. Shubman Gill and Aarav posed with the trophy—the duo who had ruled the summer.
As the team bus drove out of Harare Sports Club, Aarav looked out the window. West Indies: 3-0. Zimbabwe: 3-0. Captaincy Record: 6 Matches, 6 Wins.
The break was over. The warmup was done. The Seth was ready for the World Cup.
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The conference hall at the Cricket Centre was packed. The Asia Cup was returning to the T20 format, serving as the ultimate dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year. But more importantly, the schedule had thrown up the mother of all battles: India vs. Pakistan on August 28th.
The cameras flashed as the three men responsible for Indian cricket walked in. Chetan Sharma (Chief Selector). Rahul Dravid (Head Coach). Rohit Sharma (Captain).
They took their seats. The mood was serious but confident. The "Young India" experiments in Ireland, Zimbabwe, and West Indies were over. Now, it was time to pick the gladiators for the arena.
Chetan Sharma adjusted his microphone. "Good afternoon. After extensive deliberations and looking at the workload management of our players over the last three months, we have finalized the 15-member squad for the Asia Cup in the UAE."
He began reading the names, his voice steady.
The Squad:
Rohit Sharma (Captain)
Aarav Pathak (Vice-Captain)
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Deepak Hooda
Dinesh Karthik (WK)
Hardik Pandya
Axar Patel
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravi Bishnoi
Yuzvendra Chahal
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Arshdeep Singh
The floor was opened for questions.
Journalist (Sports Tak): "Rohit, first of all, congratulations on the squad. But the big question where is Jasprit Bumrah? He is not in the 15."
Rohit Sharma: "Yeah, it's unfortunate. Jassi has reported some back spasms at the NCA. The medical team advised that pushing him for the Asia Cup might risk his participation in the World Cup. So, we have taken a precautionary call to rest him and let him rehab. He is a massive miss, obviously, but we have to look at the bigger picture."
Journalist (Cricbuzz): "Rahul bhai, Virat Kohli returns after a break. There has been a lot of talk about his form and the break. How is he shaping up?"
Rahul Dravid: "Virat is a professional. He needed that break. He has played non-stop cricket for a decade. He spoke to us, he wanted to refresh mentally. He is back in training, and honestly, he looks hungry. A hungry Virat Kohli is dangerous for any opposition. We are not worried."
Journalist (Times of India): "Chetan ji, just to follow up on the Vice-Captaincy. KL Rahul was the VC before his injury. Is this shift to Aarav Pathak a permanent strategy?"
Chetan Sharma: "Yes. The Board and the Selectors are completely aligned. Aarav has led the ODI side to two whitewashes in the West Indies and Zimbabwe. He was instrumental in the Test wins. We are grooming him as the future leader. KL is a vital senior player, but Aarav is the Vice-Captain."
Journalist: "Spin heavy squad? Ashwin, Chahal, Bishnoi, Axar, Hooda?"
Rohit Sharma: "UAE conditions. The heat, the dry pitches later in the tournament. Spin will play a huge part. We wanted options."
Chetan Sharma closed the file. "Thank you, everyone. The team flies to Dubai on the 20th."
As the cameras turned off, Rohit turned to Dravid. "No Bumrah against Pakistan," Rohit muttered, the smile fading. "That puts a lot on Bhuvi, Aarav and the young guys."
Dravid nodded. "Arshdeep. He have to step up. It's going to be a trial by fire for him in Dubai."
Strength: Massive batting depth, spin variety.
Weakness: Absence of Bumrah (Pace spearhead).
X-Factor: Aarav Pathak (The all-round dynamo).
The stage was set. The desert heat awaited. And the date—August 28—was circled in red on every calendar in India.
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The Emirates Boeing 777 sat on the tarmac of Mumbai airport, its massive engines humming. Inside the business class cabin, the Indian squad was settling in. The mood was a mix of relaxed banter and focused anticipation.
Rohit Sharma was already reclined, headphones on, scrolling through movies. Virat Kohli, sitting across the aisle, was reading a book, looking zen-like after his break. Aarav Pathak, the Vice-Captain, was seated next to Hardik Pandya.
"Dubai is going to be an oven," Hardik remarked, adjusting his diamond chain. "40 degrees in the shade."
"Good for the spinners," Aarav replied, looking out the window as the plane began its taxi. "The pitches will be dry. But the humidity... that's the killer. We need to keep the fluids up."
"You sound like Dravid sir," Hardik laughed. "Relax, VC. Enjoy the luxury while it lasts."
The flight was short. As they descended into Dubai, the sprawling metropolis of glass and sand rose to meet them. The Burj Khalifa pierced the hazy sky, a reminder of the grandeur of the stage they were entering.
Stepping out of the airport was like walking into a hair dryer. The blast of hot air hit them instantly. Even for players used to the Indian summer, the UAE in August was a different beast.
"Welcome to the sauna," Yuzvendra Chahal quipped, putting on his sunglasses.
A fleet of luxury buses waited to whisk them to the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on The Palm. The drive was smooth, the city gleaming under the harsh sun. Billboards for the Asia Cup were everywhere, most featuring the face-off: India vs Pakistan - August 28.
The hotel was an oasis. Cool marble floors, welcome drinks, and a view of the Arabian Gulf. Rahul Dravid gathered everyone in the lobby for a quick briefing.
"Keys are here. Single rooms for everyone," Dravid announced. "Rest for a few hours. Lunch at 1:30. We leave for the ICC Academy at 5:00 PM. I want everyone hydrated. No excuses for cramps."
Aarav took his key card. He walked to the elevator with Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant. "So," Pant whispered. "Pakistan in 8 days. Are we excited?"
"It's just another game," SKY said, winking. "But yes, very excited. I want to sweep Shaheen Afridi."
Aarav smiled. "Let's focus on the nets first. I heard the practice pitches are lively."
Location: ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City Time: 5:30 PM
The sun was beginning to dip, but the temperature was still hovering around 36 degrees Celsius. The ICC Academy nets were world-class, but the air was still and heavy.
The team jogged a couple of laps to warm up. The sweat was instantaneous. Rohit Sharma led the stretching drills. He looked relaxed, joking with Ravichandran Ashwin.
All eyes—including the media cameras perched on the fences—were on one man. Virat Kohli. He padded up first. He walked into the net where Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh were bowling.
Virat marked his guard. He tapped the bat. Bhuvi ran in and swung it away. Virat left it. Arshdeep bowled full. Virat leaned into a cover drive. Crack. The sound was ominous. He looked sharp. His footwork was precise. The break seemed to have refreshed his mind. He batted for 45 minutes without playing a false shot.
Aarav wasn't batting immediately. He was fulfilling his role as Vice-Captain. He stood with Paras Mhambrey (Bowling Coach), watching the spinners. Ravi Bishnoi was bowling googlies to Deepak Hooda.
"Faster through the air, Bish," Aarav advised. "The pitch is slow. If you float it too much, they'll wait for it. Skid it on."
Bishnoi nodded and fired one in flatter. Hooda was rushed and beaten. "Better," Aarav clapped.
Later, under the floodlights, Aarav padded up. He faced Avesh Khan (net bowler/standby) and Hardik Pandya. He practiced the 'long handle'. In the UAE, clearing the large boundaries required pure power, not just timing. He launched Hardik over long-on twice.
Rohit Sharma walked over to Aarav's net. "Saving some for the match?" Rohit teased.
"Just calibrating the range, Skipper," Aarav grinned, wiping sweat from his eyes. "The ball travels well here at night."
"Dew is coming in," Rohit noted, checking the grass. "We'll need to practice with the wet ball tomorrow. The toss will be crucial."
By 8:30 PM, the session ended. The players were drenched, exhausted, but satisfied. They sat on the grass, drinking recovery shakes. Dinesh Karthik was sharing a laugh with Ashwin about the humidity in Chennai vs Dubai.
Rahul Dravid clapped his hands. "Good start, boys. The intensity was right. Tomorrow, we go harder. Recover well tonight."
As they walked back to the bus, Aarav looked at the Dubai skyline. The lights of the stadium in the distance were turned off, but in a week, they would be burning bright for the biggest rivalry in sport. The preparation had begun.
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The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is often called the 'Ring of Fire' because of the unique arrangement of floodlights along the rim of the roof. But tonight, the heat wasn't coming from the lights; it was radiating from the stands.
It was India vs. Pakistan. The Mother of All Battles. The rivalry that stopped clocks, emptied streets, and spiked heart rates across two nations.
The air in Dubai was thick, heavy with humidity and the roar of 25,000 fans. The stadium was a sea of Blue and Green, split down the middle, waving flags and chanting slogans. The noise was a physical force, vibrating through the glass windows of the commentary box.
The Toss: 5:30 PM
Ravi Shastri, the voice of thunder, stood in the center. Beside him was the Match Referee Andy Pycroft. Rohit Sharma walked out, looking typically relaxed, chewing gum. Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain, looked focused.
"Heads," Rohit called. The coin landed. "Heads it is," Pycroft confirmed.
Ravi Shastri: "Rohit Sharma wins the toss in the big one. What's the plan?"
Rohit Sharma: "We are going to field first, Ravi. There is always a bit of grass on the wicket here initially, and the ball might do a bit under lights. Later on, dew comes in, makes chasing easier. We know the drill here."
Ravi Shastri: "Big game. Pressure?"
Rohit Sharma (Smiling): "It's just a game of cricket, Ravi. We try to keep it normal. The boys are prepared. We just want to execute our plans."
Ravi Shastri: "What is the combination? Bumrah is missing."
Rohit Sharma: "Yeah, Jassi is missed, but it's an opportunity for others. We are playing with three seamers and two spinners, plus Hardik. The XI is: KL, Rohit, Kohli, Aarav, Surya, Hardik, Dinesh Karthik, Jadeja, Bhuvi, Yuzi, Arshdeep."
The Playing XI (India):
Rohit Sharma (C)
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Aarav Pathak (VC)
Suryakumar Yadav
Hardik Pandya
Dinesh Karthik (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Arshdeep Singh
Yuzvendra Chahal
India vs. Pakistan.
It wasn't just a game. It never was. It was a war without bullets, fought over twenty-two yards of turf.
In the Indian huddle near the boundary rope, the noise was so deafening that the players had to lean in, their shoulders locking to form a tight circle of blue.
Rohit Sharma, the Captain, looked around. He saw the nervous energy in Arshdeep's tapping foot. He saw the cold focus in Jadeja's eyes. He cleared his throat.
"Listen to me," Rohit said, his voice deceptively calm against the chaos around them. "Forget the crowd. Forget the cameras. Forget the past. It's just a ball. Keep it simple. Don't play the occasion, play the ball."
"No," a voice cut in. Sharp. Aggressive.
It was Virat Kohli. The former captain stepped into the center, his eyes blazing with that familiar, manic intensity. "We use the occasion!" Virat roared, slapping a fist into his palm. "Look at them! Look them in the eye! Intensity from ball one! If they take a step forward, we take two! We don't back down. Not today. Not ever!"
The team murmured, the energy spiking. But then, the youngest man in the leadership group spoke.
Aarav Pathak, the Vice-Captain, adjusted the collar of his jersey. He cracked his knuckles. He didn't look at his teammates; he was staring at the pitch, his eyes narrowing as if measuring a grave.
"Pace," Aarav said softly. The huddle went quiet to hear him. "I checked the track. It's hard. It's got carry." He looked up, a feral grin spreading across his face. "Let's not just beat them. Let's hurt them. Let's make them fear the ball."
Rohit smirked. "Alright. Let's go."
They broke the huddle. A roar erupted that threatened to tear the sky apart. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were walking out. The two pillars of Pakistan cricket.
Over 1 to 5: The Pressure Cooker
The first five overs were a masterclass in tension, but not the release India wanted.
Arshdeep Singh started with the new ball, swinging it like a boomerang. The white Kookaburra hoop-ed back into Babar Azam, threatening the pads, teasing the outside edge. But Babar was a rock. He defended with soft hands, killing the pace, stealing singles.
Then came Bhuvi. The veteran. The master of swing. He beat Rizwan's outside edge three times in the second over. The crowd gasped collectively—Ooooh!—every time the ball whistled past the varnish. But the edge didn't come.
By the fourth over, the anxiety in the stands was palpable. A distinct murmur of "We need a wicket" rippled through the Indian contingent.
"Height?" Rohit asked urgently as Bhuvi rapped Rizwan on the pads. "Going over, Skipper," Dinesh Karthik chirped from behind the stumps, shaking his head.
Hardik Pandya came in for the fifth. He banged it short. Rizwan pulled awkwardly, the ball falling agonizingly short of deep square leg.
Score after 5 Overs: Pakistan 19/0.
It was a strange start. India had choked the runs, suffocating the scoring rate to under four an over. But the wickets column was empty. Babar and Rizwan were still there. And everyone knew that if these two survived the Powerplay, they would explode in the middle overs.
The danger wasn't on the scoreboard yet; it was in the potential.
Rohit Sharma stood at mid-off, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at the scoreboard. 19 for 0. One over left in the Powerplay. He needed to break the door down.
He turned his head. He didn't need to call out. Aarav Pathak was already at the top of his run-up, tossing the ball from hand to hand.
Rohit nodded. "Go fast."
Aarav didn't smile. He marked his run-up. Long. menacing. The crowd sensed the shift. The chant began low, a rumble in the throat of the stadium, before rising to a crescendo.
AA-RAV! AA-RAV! AA-RAV!
Ball 1: Aarav didn't do a loosener. He turned, and he sprinted. His run-up was rhythmic, a gathering of kinetic energy that exploded at the crease. WHAM. The ball left his hand like a projectile. It pitched short of a length and reared up violently at Babar's chest. 152.4 kmph. Babar, one of the world's best, was rushed. He jerked his head back, fending the ball awkwardly to leg gully. Dot ball.
Up in the commentary box, Sanjay Manjrekar leaned forward. "Serious pace! 152 first up! Aarav Pathak means business. Babar Azam looked hurried there. That is not a comfortable place to be."
Ball 2: Aarav went fuller. He attacked the stumps. 153.1 kmph. Babar tried to drive, his feet moving instinctively. But the ball jagged back in off the seam at that pace, the movement was almost unfair. Inside edge onto the pad. Dot ball.
Aarav walked back to his mark, glaring at Babar. He was into the batsman's head. He could see Babar checking his grip, tapping the pitch. Unsettled.
Ball 3: Aarav stopped at the top of his mark. He took a deep breath, inhaling the chaos, converting it into fuel. He ran in. Harder. Faster. The arm speed was a blur. 154.5 kmph. (Fastest ball of the match). It was a bouncer. But not just a bouncer—it was a throat ball. Directed with laser precision at the left shoulder. Babar Azam, usually so composed, panicked. The sheer velocity startled him. His instincts screamed Pull!, a shot he played so well against 140kph bowlers. But this was 154kph. He was late. The ball got big on him. It kissed the splice of the bat—CLUNK—and looped gently, agonizingly, into the air towards short fine leg.
Arshdeep Singh didn't even have to move. He cupped his hands and swallowed the catch.
The stadium erupted. It was a noise that broke the sound barrier.
Ravi Shastri's voice tore through the commentary feed, screaming. "GONE! THE BIG FISH! Babar Azam falls to the pace! He tried to take on the short ball, but Aarav Pathak was just too quick for him! The Indian crowd goes wild! What a start for the Vice-Captain!"
Babar Azam c Arshdeep b Aarav — Score: Pak 19/1
Aarav didn't celebrate wildly. He just punched the air once and stared at the departing Pakistani captain. The message was sent.
Ball 4: The new man was Fakhar Zaman. A dangerous left-hander. Aarav greeted him with a yorker. 151 kmph. Fakhar jammed his bat down just in time. The ball thudded into the toe of the bat. Dot ball.
Ball 5: Aarav went round the wicket. Creating the angle. 152.8 kmph. The ball angled across the left-hander, tempting him. Fakhar slashed at it, looking for the boundary. The ball whistled past the outside edge, missing by a millimeter. Dot ball.
Ball 6: Aarav walked back. He wanted one more. He could smell blood in the water. He ran in. Fakhar Zaman, feeling the pressure of four dot balls, decided to manufacture a shot. He stepped down the track, trying to heave the ball over mid-wicket. He wanted to break the shackles. Fatal mistake. You do not walk down the track to Aarav Pathak. 153.0 kmph. The ball was a length delivery on middle stump. Before Fakhar's bat could even come down from the backlift, the ball had bypassed him. CRACK. The sound of timber shattering was audible even over the screaming crowd. The middle stump cartwheeled out of the ground, somersaulting twice before landing near the wicketkeeper.
BOWLED HIM!
Wasim Akram, in the commentary box, sounded heartbroken but impressed. "Oh dear, oh dear. That is poor batting, but exceptional bowling. You cannot walk down the track to someone bowling 153! Fakhar Zaman has his furniture rearranged! Aarav Pathak has turned this Powerplay on its head! Two wickets in the over! A double-wicket maiden!"
Fakhar Zaman b Aarav 0 (3) — Score: Pak 19/2.
Aarav stood in the middle of the pitch, arms spread wide, soaking in the adoration of a billion people.
The game had shifted. The scoreboard read 19/2 after 6 overs. Aarav's figures: 1-1-0-2.
Mohammad Rizwan watched the carnage from the non-striker's end, looking shell-shocked. He was joined by Iftikhar Ahmed.
Rohit, sensing the kill, kept the pressure on. He brought on the spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja. With the top order blown away by sheer pace, Pakistan went into a shell. They couldn't afford to lose another wicket. Jadeja fired his overs in quickly, giving no room. Chahal tossed it up, teasing Iftikhar, daring him to hit against the turn.
The run rate crawled. 10 Overs: 45/2. 12 Overs: 60/2.
Over 11: Rohit brought Aarav back for a one-over burst. A "shock" over to break the partnership. Aarav didn't disappoint in intensity, though the wickets didn't fall. He bowled a "heavy ball"—back of a length, hitting the splice. Iftikhar tried to cut but was beaten for pace. Rizwan took a single, looking relieved to get off strike. Aarav tested Rizwan with a vicious bouncer that forced the keeper to smell the leather. A quiet over of just 3 runs. The pressure cooker lid was screwed on tight.
Score: Pak 63/2.
Eventually, something had to give. The Required Run Rate for a decent total was climbing. Iftikhar Ahmed tried to target Hardik Pandya. He skied a catch to Dinesh Karthik. Then, Hardik—feeding off the momentum Aarav had created—removed Khushdil Shah and finally, the anchor, Rizwan, in the same over. The short ball strategy, initiated by Aarav, was paying dividends for everyone.
Pakistan was reeling at 97/5.
Asif Ali and Shadab Khan were at the crease. Pakistan had crawled to 130/5 by the start of the 18th over. These two were dangerous. If they connected, 160 was still possible.
Rohit threw the ball to Aarav. "Finish it."
Over 18: Aarav vs. Asif Ali. The Finisher vs. The Destroyer.
Ball 1: 148 kmph yorker. Asif dug it out. Dot.
Ball 2: A rare error—a low full toss. Asif smashed it to long-off. But the field was set. Just a single. Ball 3: Shadab Khan shuffled across to scoop. Aarav saw the movement early. He pulled the length back and pushed it wide. Shadab flailed and missed.
Ball 4: Shadab finally connected. A pull shot over mid-wicket for FOUR.
Ball 5: Aarav didn't panic. He rolled his fingers over the ball. The knuckleball. Slower bouncer. Shadab swung early, the bat cutting through empty air. Miss.
Ball 6: A perfect, toe-crushing yorker. Shadab could only squeeze it out for a single.
Six runs from the 18th over. In the context of T20 death overs, that was gold dust.
Over 19: Bhuvneshwar Kumar used his experience. Knuckleballs, cutters, wide yorkers. He picked up Shadab Khan (LBW) and Naseem Shah (LBW). Pakistan 145/9.
Over 20: One wicket left. One ball required to end the innings? Aarav Pathak took the ball for the final over. Shahnawaz Dahani was on strike. The number 11. Aarav didn't care who it was. He wanted the stumps.
Ball 1: He steamed in. The crowd was already cheering, anticipating the end. Aarav gathered every ounce of energy left in his body. He leaped. He fired. 155.0 kmph. It was a thunderbolt. A blur of white. Dahani swung blindly, more out of hope than intent. The ball hit the base of the leg stump before the bat had even completed its downswing. CLANG. The stump was uprooted. The bails flew towards the boundary.
BOWLED HIM!
Ravi Shastri's voice reached a fever pitch. "ALL OUT! Aarav Pathak finishes the innings with a thunderbolt! Pakistan has been bundled out for 145! A dominant, aggressive, hostile display by the Indian bowlers!"
Gautam Gambhir, analyzing instantly, added, "145 is below par. The pitch has bounce, yes, but India's batting lineup should chase this. The star was Aarav Pathak. That 6th over changed the game. Removing Babar and Fakhar with pure pace broke Pakistan's back."
Wasim Akram sighed, nodding in respect. "The pace was the difference. India has genuine fast bowlers now. Aarav, Hardik hitting the deck... Pakistan couldn't handle the heat. 150-plus consistently for Aarav. Impressive."
Aarav stood with the ball raised high, his teammates rushing to embrace him. He had bowled 3.1 overs, 9 runs, 3 wickets.
He looked up at the scoreboard. Pakistan: 145 All Out. Target: 146.
The job was half done. But as he walked off the field, the chant of AA-RAV echoing around the coliseum, he knew one thing: He had broken their spirit. Now, the batsmen just had to finish the job.
The Indian openers, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, walked out to the middle. 146 to win. The target was small, but it was India vs. Pakistan. Nothing was ever easy.
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