For More Future Chapters: -
My Patreon: -
https://www.patreon.com/c/Kynstra
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Donate Power Stones and Join My Patreon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What You guys thinks about the world cup guys? The Indian Squad? Gill not being there and even removal of Jitesh Sharma, even though Jitesh did nothing wrong, but if I tell about myself, I feel happy for Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh inclusion in the team but felt bad for Jaiswal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FLASHBACK]November 30, 2021. 7:00 PM IST.Star Sports Studio, Mumbai.
The T20 World Cup confetti had barely been swept away, the victory parade echoes were still ringing in the ears of Mumbai, but the ruthless wheel of franchise cricket was already turning.
It was IPL Retention Day.
Across India, millions of fans were glued to their televisions and smartphones. The Mega Auction was looming in 2022. Two new teams one based in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and one in Lucknow—were joining the fray. The existing eight franchises had a strict deadline: 9:00 PM tonight. They could retain a maximum of four players. Everyone else would go into the auction pool or be drafted by the new teams.
Inside the Star Sports studio, the atmosphere was electric. The set was bathed in neon lights, with giant screens displaying the logos of the teams.
The Host: Jatin Sapru, looking sharp and slightly anxious, holding a tablet that was buzzing with updates.
The Panel:
Aakash Chopra
Irfan Pathan
Ravi Shastri: The guest of honor. The former Head Coach of India, fresh off the World Cup win, looking relaxed in a blazer, his sunglasses perched on the desk.
Jatin Sapru: "Good evening, Namaste, and welcome to IPL Selection Day! The deadline is just two hours away. The fax machines at the BCCI headquarters are burning up. Tonight, we find out which families stay together and which ones break up."
Aakash Chopra: "Absolutely, Jatin. The Mega Auction resets everything. You can have love, you can have loyalty, but the purse... the purse is the villain tonight. 90 Crores is the limit. Who do you keep? Who do you let go? It is heartbreaking."
Irfan Pathan: "Also we have two new teams entering the arena. Gujarat and Lucknow. We don't know their official names yet, but we know they are hungry. They are watching this list like hawks. Anyone released tonight is a potential captain for them."
Jatin Sapru: "Speaking of hungry, we have the man who just fed India a World Cup. Ravi Bhai, welcome back to the comm box! You know these players better than anyone. You were in the dressing room ten days ago. What is the mood?"
Ravi Shastri: (Leaning back, voice booming) "Great to be back, Jatin. The mood? It's professional. These boys are friends, they are brothers in the Indian team, but tonight they are assets. They know their value. If a franchise can't pay them what they are worth, they walk. That's the modern game. Make no mistake, some big names are going to be released tonight."
Jatin Sapru: "Let's play a game. I give you a team, you tell me your 'Lock' retentions. The players who simply cannot be released."
Team 1: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Irfan Pathan: "Simple. MS Dhoni. He is CSK. You don't imagine Chennai without Thala. Then Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The fourth spot... maybe Moeen Ali or Faf du Plessis. But Dhoni is the first name."
Team 2: Mumbai Indians (MI)
Aakash Chopra: "The problem of plenty! Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are locks. You cannot release the best captain and the best bowler. But then? Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard. You can only keep two more."
Jatin Sapru: "Hardik Pandya? He has been the face of MI for years."
Jatin Sapru: "Okay, let's get to the big one. Royal Challengers Bangalore. They have arguably one of the biggest fanbase. And they have the two biggest superstars in Indian cricket right now."
The screen flashed the RCB logo.
Jatin Sapru: "Virat Kohli. And the Player of the World Cup, Aarav Pathak. Plus Glenn Maxwell, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel."
Aakash Chopra: "This is the easiest list on the planet, Jatin. You don't need to be a genius.
Virat Kohli. The King. Aarav Pathak. The Prince. The man who just scored 494 runs in the World Cup. He is the hottest property in world cricket.
Glenn Maxwell.
Mohammed Siraj. Done. Dusted. Print it."
Irfan Pathan: "I agree completely. "
Jatin Sapru: "Ravi Bhai? You are smiling. Do you know something we don't?"
Ravi Shastri picked up his pen and tapped it on the desk. His expression was cryptic.
Ravi Shastri: "Look, logically, Aakash is right. You keep your best players. Aarav is the best T20 player in the world right now. Statistically, physically, mentally. He is the complete package."
He paused and just and said to wait for few time, you would know soon.
9:00 PM.
Jatin Sapru: "Okay, the clock has struck nine! The lists are in. The BCCI has received the emails. We are going to reveal them one by one."
The screen flickered.
CSK: Ravindra Jadeja (16 Cr), MS Dhoni (12 Cr), Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Shock: Dhoni takes a pay cut to let Jadeja be the #1 retention.
MI: Rohit Sharma (16 Cr), Jasprit Bumrah (12 Cr), Suryakumar Yadav (8 Cr), Kieron Pollard (6 Cr). Shock: Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan RELEASED.
Jatin Sapru: "Delhi Capitals... Rishabh Pant retained. Axar, Prithvi, Nortje retained. Shreyas Iyer released!"
Aakash Chopra: "Shreyas wants captaincy. That confirms it. He's heading to the auction or a new team."
Jatin Sapru: "Now... the big one. Royal Challengers Bangalore."
The music intensified. The graphic loaded on the screen.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Retentions:
Virat Kohli (15 Crores)
Glenn Maxwell (11 Crores)
Mohammed Siraj (7 Crores)
The list stopped.
There was no fourth name.
Jatin Sapru: "Wait. Wait a minute. That's it? Three players?"
Aakash Chopra: "Where is Aarav?"
Irfan Pathan: "Check the list again. Did the graphic glitch? Where is Aarav Pathak?"
Jatin Sapru: (Hand on earpiece) "I am getting confirmation from the producer. That is the full list. RCB has retained only three players."
AARAV PATHAK HAS BEEN RELEASED.
The studio erupted in chaos.
Aakash Chopra: "Oh my goodness! Stop the press! The MVP of the World Cup! The future of Indian cricket! RCB has let him go?! Are they out of their minds? Mike Hesson, what are you doing?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The RCB Fans (The Heartbroken):
@ViratFanClub:I am crying. Literally shaking. How can you release the Prince? He won us the IPL 2020. He won us World Cup! He IS Bangalore! Hesson, you have blood on your hands! 💔💔💔
@RCBlover18:No Aarav, No Support. Unfollowing RCB right now. This is the worst decision in the history of the franchise. Worse than 2017. 😡
@ChinnaswamyBoy:I burned my jersey. Okay, not really, but I folded it very aggressively. Aarav was supposed to be the next captain! Why?!
@CSKWhistlePodu:Thala knew. Thala always knows. Come home, Aarav. The Yellow jersey is waiting. Imagine Dhoni guiding Aarav. 🦁💛
@MIPaltan_Official:Rohit + Bumrah + Aarav? Make it happen, Ambani ji! Open the cheque book! We will be invincible! 💙
The Meme Army:
@CricMemes:RCB Management releasing Aarav Pathak be like: 'Why win more trophies when we can win depression?'
@TrollCricket:Aarav to RCB: 'Main chala, mera kaam ho gaya', ek trophy bahut hai tum logo ke liye. (I'm leaving, my work is done).
The broadcast cut to a live feed of fans outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. A small group had already gathered, chanting "We want Aarav!" and holding up posters questioning the management. It was pandemonium.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 3, 2022. The Wanderers, Johannesburg.2nd Test: India vs South Africa.Day 1. Morning.
The "Bullring." That is what they call the Wanderers Stadium. It is an intimidating coliseum of sport, known for its steep stands, hostile crowds, and a pitch that offers steep, terrifying bounce. India had never lost a Test match here, a quirky statistic that gave us hope despite the fortress-like reputation of South African cricket.
We arrived at the ground with high spirits, leading the series 1-0. The bus ride was filled with the usual pre-match music and banter. But as we entered the dressing room, the mood shifted instantly.
Virat Kohli was not moving right.
He was walking gingerly, holding his upper back. The team physio, Nitin Patel, was hovering over him with a worried expression.
"Spasm," Virat gritted out, grimacing as he tried to tie his shoelaces. "Upper back. Locked up."
Panic is a strong word, but a ripple of unease went through the squad. Virat Kohli doesn't miss matches. He plays through pain, illness, and exhaustion. For him to sit out, it had to be bad.
Ten minutes before the toss, the decision was made. Virat Kohli was ruled out.
KL Rahul was handed the blazer. He would captain India for the first time in Test cricket.
"Okay, listen up," Rahul Dravid gathered the team. "Virat is out. We need to shuffle. KL takes the armband. We need batting depth on this bouncy track."
The whiteboard was wiped clean. The new XI was written up.
IN:Hanuma Vihari (replacing Shardul Thakur to bolster the middle order). IN:Shubman Gill (replacing Virat Kohli in the squad list).
But the batting order was the talking point.
"Aarav," Dravid turned to me. "Usually you bat at 3. But today, we need experience at 4. That is Virat's slot. It is the engine room. Can you handle it?"
I looked at the empty spot where Virat usually bat. Number 4. The position of Tendulkar. The position of Kohli. The sacred slot.
"I can," I said.
"Good," Dravid nodded. "Gill, you take Number 3. It's your chance. Prove you belong in the Test side."
Shubman nodded, his face pale with nervous energy. This was it. The door had opened.
KL Rahul walked out for the toss. He looked calm, though the weight of captaincy is heavy. "We'll bat first," KL said after the coin landed in his favor. "Runs on the board. Always."
Dean Elgar, the South African captain, looked hungry. He had Duanne Olivier back in the side a bowler known for hitting the deck hard. Along with Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen, it was a four-pronged pace attack designed to break bones.
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal walked out. The first hour was a war of attrition. The ball flew off the surface. It jagged off the seam. Mayank was aggressive. He punched Olivier through point. He drove Rabada. KL was the anchor. He left everything.
They survived the first hour. Drinks.India: 36/0.
Over 14.1: Marco Jansen. The tall left-armer came around the wicket to Mayank. Mayank was batting on 26. He looked comfortable. Jansen bowled it fuller, angling across. Mayank saw the drive. He went for it. But the Bullring pitch played a trick. It held up slightly. It wasn't as full as Mayank thought. Edge. It flew fast to the keeper. Kyle Verreynne, replacing the retired De Kock, took it right in front of his face.
Mayank Agarwal c Verreynne b Jansen 26India: 36/1.
The wicket fell. The door to the arena opened. Shubman Gill walked out at Number 3.
This was the subplot everyone was watching. Shubman Gill. One of young sensations. One had cemented his place as a superstar; the other was fighting to stay relevant in the red-ball format. With Pujara dropped, Gill had to score.
I sat in the dugout, pads on, watching my best friend take guard. "Come on, Gill," I whispered. "Play straight."
But Gill looked jittery. He faced Duanne Olivier. Olivier banged it in short. 140 kmph. Gill hopped. He fended. He didn't look comfortable against the steep bounce.
He spent 30 minutes at the crease. He faced 33 balls. He scored 3 runs. It was painful to watch. He was surviving, not batting. He was letting the bowlers dictate terms.
Over 23.3: Duanne Olivier. Olivier ran in. He hit the deck hard, back of a length, wide of off stump. Gill was stuck on the crease. He didn't go forward; he didn't go back. He poked at it, trying to defend with hard hands. The extra bounce surprised him. The ball hit the shoulder of the bat. It ballooned. A simple, gentle loop towards point. Temba Bavuma didn't even have to dive. He accepted the dolly.
Shubman Gill c Bavuma b Olivier 3 (33)India: 49/2.
Gill stood there, devastated. He knew he had blown a golden opportunity. He dragged himself off the field, the silence of the crowd echoing his own internal screaming.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That is a soft dismissal. A nothing shot. He got bogged down, the pressure built up, and he poked at a ball he should have left. India in a spot of bother here at 49 for 2. And now... big shoes to fill. Aarav Pathak walks out at Number 4."
I walked out. The atmosphere was different from Centurion. The Wanderers crowd was closer, louder. The 'Bullring' felt claustrophobic.
I crossed Gill on the boundary rope. He didn't look up. I tapped his shoulder, but I couldn't stop. The team needed me.
I reached the middle. KL Rahul was there, looking solid but concerned. "Bounce is tricky," KL said. "Olivier is getting it to kick. Don't play on the rise."
I nodded. I looked at the pitch. I looked at the sun. Then, I looked at the scorecard. 49/2. This was Virat's situation. This was where the King usually stood tall.
[System Alert][Position: Number 4.][Role: Anchor & Aggressor.][Captain's Mind Strategy: Pitch Analysis - Uneven bounce on good length. Play late.]
I took my guard. Duanne Olivier was breathing fire. He had just taken a wicket.
Ball 1: Olivier banged it in short. A welcome card. I saw it early. I didn't fend like Gill. I swayed. I watched the ball pass my nose, smelling the leather. Left alone.
Ball 2: Fuller. I leaned forward. Soft hands. Dead bat. The ball dropped at my feet.
Ball 3: Olivier went wide. I rose on my toes. I punched it through the covers. I didn't try to hit it hard; I just timed it. 3 Runs. I was off the mark.
For the next four hours, KL Rahul and I put on a clinic. It wasn't the explosive T20 batting of Dubai. It was the gritty, determined batting of Test cricket.
The Afternoon Session. We didn't let them settle. When Marco Jansen tried to angle it across, I left it. When Kagiso Rabada bowled too straight, KL Rahul whipped him through mid-wicket.
I found my rhythm against Lungi Ngidi. He tried to bowl the heavy ball that got Rahul in the first Test. I waited for it. When it came, I rolled my wrists and pulled it along the ground for FOUR.
50 Partnership.100 Partnership.
The South African bowlers started to tire. The sun was beating down. Dean Elgar rotated his bowlers, but we were immovable.
Aarav's Adaptation: I was playing like a statesman. I shelved the cover drive because of the variable bounce. I focused on the cut and the pull. I used the Captain's Mind ability to predict the bowler's plan.
Rabada is moving mid-on wider. He's going to bowl the inswinger.
I anticipated it. I planted my front foot. Rabada bowled the inswinger. I drove it straight back past him. FOUR.
Hashim Amla (Comms): "This is maturity beyond his years. He is filling Virat Kohli's shoes today, and they fit perfectly. He has absorbed the pressure, he has respected the conditions, and now he is dictating terms."
Tea Break.India: 146/2.KL Rahul: 45.* Aarav Pathak: 68.*
We walked back to the dressing room. Rahul Dravid was waiting. "Brilliant," Dravid said. "Don't throw it away. Day 1 centuries win matches."
The final session. The shadows covered the pitch. Usually, this is when wickets fall. But today, we accelerated.
KL Rahul reached his 50 with a patient nudge. He was playing a captain's knock, ugly at times, beating the bat often, but surviving.
I moved into the 80s. Keshav Maharaj came on to bowl spin. I stepped out. In Johannesburg, against the turn. I lofted him over long-off. SIX.
Shaun Pollock (Comms): "He has been patient for three hours, and suddenly, he reminds us that he is the T20 World Champion. That is a release shot. He moves to 86."
The partnership crossed 150. India was dominating. 49/2 had become 200/2.
Over 80: The Second New Ball. This was the final test of the day. Rabada and Olivier with the hard, shining Kookaburra.
KL Rahul was on 92. Aarav Pathak was on 94.
Both of us approaching centuries. Rabada steamed in at Rahul. Rahul defended. He left. He got hit on the thigh pad. He survived.
Over 84: Aarav on strike. Marco Jansen. He came around the wicket. Bodyline. Ball 3: Short. I pulled. Controlled. FOUR.Score: 98.
Ball 4: Full, outside off. I didn't drive. I steered it through the gully gap. 2 Runs.
HUNDRED FOR AARAV PATHAK!
I took off my helmet. I raised my bat to the dressing room. 12th Test Century. In Virat Kohli's position. On the Wanderers pitch where India had never lost.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "He makes it a habit! Another Test, another hundred. He walked in at 49 for 2, with the ball flying around, and he has tamed the Bullring. What a player. What a temperament."
Two overs later, KL Rahul flicked Rabada for four to bring up his own century. Captain's Hundred.
We hugged in the middle. "We own this day," KL said, exhausted but elated.
Stumps Day 1
The umpire checked the light. Stumps.
India: 275/2 (90 Overs).KL Rahul: 104 (248 balls).* Aarav Pathak: 112 (198 balls).*
We walked off the field. The South African players looked demoralized. They had toiled for an entire day for just two wickets—one of which was a gift from Gill.
I looked up at the balcony. Virat Kohli was standing there, wearing a neck brace, clapping slowly. He looked proud. I had kept his seat warm. I had kept his legacy safe.
I walked into the dressing room. Shubman Gill was sitting in the corner, looking at the floor. I walked over to him. I didn't say anything about the match. I just put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Long series, brother," I said. "We go again."
Gill looked up, a ghost of a smile on his face. "You played well, King."
"We played well," I corrected.
Day 1 belonged to India. The Fortress of the Wanderers was under siege.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I walked out to the crease with KL Rahul who was on 104* and Aarav was on 112*. We had dominated.
The sun was out. The pitch looked good. I marked my guard, visualizing a double century. I wanted to bury South Africa under a mountain of runs so deep they would need a ladder to see the sunlight.
Kagiso Rabada stood at the top of his mark. He had the second new ball in his hand, only a few overs old. He looked furious.
Ball 90.1: Rabada to Aarav. I tapped the bat. I was ready. Rabada ran in. He didn't warm up. He hit peak velocity immediately. 146 kmph. It was a jagged, nasty delivery. It pitched on a good length on off-stump. I went forward to defend, just as I had done a hundred times the previous day. But this ball... it did something wicked. It hit a crack and seamed back in violently, while staying low. The "Highveld Shooter."
I couldn't adjust. My bat came down, but the ball passed the inside edge before I could close the gate.
CLACK.
The death rattle. The off-stump was uprooted.
Aarav Pathak b Rabada 112 (199)
I stood there, stunned. First ball of the day. Gone. The South African team roared. Rabada screamed, veins popping in his neck. It was the start they desperately needed.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "Oh, what a start for the Proteas! The Prince is gone first ball! It's the shooter! It stayed low, came back in, and went right through the gate. You can't do much about that early in the morning. A magnificent innings ends on a sour note."
Shaun Pollock (Comms): "That is the Wanderers for you. You are never 'in'. One ball hits a crack, and it's curtains. Rabada is pumped. He knows the value of that wicket."
I walked back, disappointed but satisfied with the 112. But the job wasn't done. The middle order, led by Rahane, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin, decided to frustrate the hosts.
Rahane played a gritty 20. Ashwin hit a breezy 46, frustrating the tired bowlers. Even Hanuma Vihari swung his bat for a quick 24. The runs kept leaking. South Africa's shoulders dropped.
By the time Mohammed Siraj was dismissed late in the second session, India had piled up a massive total.
India 1st Innings: 450 All Out.
With 450 on the board, we expected to roll them over. But the Wanderers pitch decided to change its character again. As the sun baked it, the cracks didn't widen dangerously; instead, the pitch slowed down. It started to turn.
Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen dug in. I bowled with fire. I bowled with the 'Steyn Template'. I hit 150kmph. But Elgar... Elgar is made of granite. He took blows to the chest, the arm, the helmet. He didn't flinch.
Day 3 was a day of toil. I tried everything. Yorkers, bouncers, cutters. I finally got one breakthrough a slower ball that deceived Aiden Markram, trapping him LBW.
Aarav Pathak: 1 Wicket.
But Keegan Petersen played the innings of his life, scoring a sublime 62. Temba Bavuma added a gritty 51.
South Africa batted... and batted. They batted through Day 3. They batted into the morning of Day 4. They frustrated us. They bored us. Finally, Md. Shami broke the resistance with a 7-wicket haul.
South Africa All Out: 350.Overs Batting: 110.
India Lead: 100 Runs.
It was a healthy lead, but not a match-winning one yet. We had lost time. The game was moving fast towards a draw unless we forced a result.
Day 4. Afternoon Session.
We walked out to bat with a lead of 100. We needed quick runs to set a target and declare.
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal opened. Rahul looked good for a brief period, but a lapse in concentration against Marco Jansen cost him. He fished at a wide one. KL Rahul c Verreynne b Jansen 19.
Then came the moment for Shubman Gill. He walked out at Number 3. He had failed in the first innings. The critics were circling. But today, Gill looked different. He looked determined.
He partnered with Mayank. They didn't just survive; they dominated. Mayank Agarwal was in sublime touch, driving on the up, pulling with authority. He raced to 90 before falling to a tired shot against Olivier.
Gill, on the other hand, played with elegance. He drove Rabada through covers. He cut Ngidi. He reached his 50 with a pull shot that silenced the doubters. He eventually fell for a well-made 62, trying to accelerate.
India: 180/3.Lead: 280.
I walked out at Number 4. The situation was perfect for me. Quick runs.
I tried to impose myself immediately. I hit Rabada for a four first ball. But in my eagerness to score quickly, I lost my shape. Kagiso Rabada bowled a smart slower ball—a cutter. I was through the shot too early. I chipped it straight to mid-off.
Aarav Pathak c Bavuma b Rabada 11 (8)
I walked off, shaking my head. A rare failure. 11 runs. The crowd groaned. They wanted the Aarav show.
Mike Haysman (Comms): "That is a gift! Aarav Pathak tries to blast it out of the park and only finds the fielder. India is looking for quick runs, but that was unnecessary. Rabada wins the battle this time."
After my wicket, Ajinkya Rahane (58) and Hanuma Vihari (40*) played sensibly. They batted out the rest of Day 4 and continued into the morning of Day 5.
Day 5. Morning.
Target for South Africa: 360 Runs.Overs Remaining: 75. (Approx).
360 runs to win. 75 overs. In modern cricket, teams chase this. But on a Day 5 Wanderers pitch? It was survival or death.
Dean Elgar made it clear from ball one. They were not chasing. They were blocking.
Session 1: The Wall. Bumrah steamed in. Shami steamed in. I steamed in. We bowled 145kmph thunderbolts. Elgar left them. Markram blocked them. Lunch Day 5: South Africa 40/1. (Shami removed Markram).
Session 2: The Frustration. I came on to bowl after lunch. My figures in the first innings were 1/65. I wanted to make an impact. I bowled bouncers. Keegan Petersen ducked. I bowled yorkers. Rassie van der Dussen dug them out. I tried the slow ball. They watched it.
The pitch had gone dead. The cracks hadn't opened up enough to be dangerous. The heavy roller had killed the demons.
Pommie Mbangwa (Comms): "This is old-school Test cricket. South Africa has shut up shop. They have pulled down the shutters, locked the doors, and turned off the lights. They are not interested in the 360 runs. They are interested in the clock."
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "It is frustrating for India. They are trying everything. Aarav is bending his back, hitting 150, but on this dead surface, if the batsman doesn't want to play a shot, it's hard to get him out. Elgar is playing a captain's knock of defiance."
I bowled a spell of 6 overs. 0 wickets. I kicked the turf in frustration.
Session 3: The Stalemate.
We took the second new ball. Jasprit Bumrah produced a moment of magic to remove Keegan Petersen (LBW). Mohammed Siraj got Rassie van der Dussen caught behind.
South Africa: 140/3. 20 Overs left. We needed 7 wickets.
But Temba Bavuma joined Dean Elgar. And they built a wall. A wall of leaves, blocks, and dead bats.
I bowled my heart out. Over 65: I bowled a bouncer to Bavuma. He took it on the body. He didn't rub it. I stared at him. He stared back. Over 68: I found the edge of Elgar's bat. It flew... but it didn't carry to Rahul at first slip. It bounced inches in front. I fell to my knees. The luck wasn't there.
Mike Haysman (Comms): "Agony for Aarav Pathak! He did everything right! He found the edge, but the soft hands of Elgar saved him. The pitch has lost its bounce. It's dying."
The sun began to dip behind the stands. The shadows covered the pitch completely. The umpires checked the light meter.
Over 75. One over left. South Africa: 165/3. (Nowhere near the target). India needed 7 wickets in 6 balls. Impossible.
KL Rahul (Captain) tossed the ball to Ravichandran Ashwin for the last over, just to finish it quickly. Ashwin bowled. Elgar blocked.
Ball 6: Elgar blocked. He picked up the ball and handed it to Ashwin.
MATCH DRAWN.
The players shook hands. It was a weird feeling. We hadn't lost, but it felt like a defeat because we had dominated the game for 4 days. South Africa celebrated the draw like a win.
Final Scorecard:India: 450 & 260. South Africa: 350 & 165/3. Result: Match Drawn.
Aarav Pathak Match Figures:Batting: 112 & 11. Bowling: 1 Wicket & 0 Wickets.
The Post-Match Analysis
Presentation Ceremony.
KL Rahul (Stand-in Captain): "Proud of the boys. We put 450 on the board. We dictated terms. Credit to South Africa, they batted remarkably well to save the game today. The pitch got a bit slower than we expected. But we are still 1-0 up. We go to Cape Town to win the series."
Dean Elgar (Player of the Match for his grit): "We knew we couldn't chase 360 on this wicket. The plan was to fight. To show character. The Indian bowlers are relentless, especially that young man Aarav—he's rapid. But we stuck to our guns."
Sunil Gavaskar: "A fascinating Test match. India will be disappointed. They had the game by the scruff of the neck. But you have to give credit to the resilience of Dean Elgar. And looking at Aarav Pathak... a century in the first innings, but a tough time with the ball. 1 wicket in 30-odd overs in the match. It's a learning curve. Test cricket isn't always about taking 5-fors. Sometimes, it's about toil."
Shaun Pollock: "Absolutely, Sunny. The conditions flattened out. Aarav tried to blast them out, but on a slow Day 5 pitch, you need more than pace. You need patience. But make no mistake, India is still the better side. Cape Town is going to be a cracker."
Mike Haysman: "The series is alive! 1-0 to India, but South Africa has momentum from this draw. They survived the onslaught. Can they turn it around at Newlands? Join us in a few days!"
I sat in the dressing room, exhausted. My figures of 0/40 in the second innings stared at me from the stats sheet. I had scored a hundred, yes. But I couldn't bowl them out on Day 5. The 'Captain's Mind' strategy had told me where to bowl, but the pitch hadn't cooperated.
Rahul Dravid walked in. He saw me staring at the floor. "Frustrated?" Dravid asked. "The pitch was dead, Coach," I muttered. "Couldn't get anything out of it." "That's Test cricket," Dravid smiled. "Sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail, and sometimes... you are just hitting a wall. You bowled well. The wickets didn't come. It happens."
He looked at the team. "Heads up, everyone! We are leading the series in South Africa! We haven't lost! We go to Cape Town. Virat will be back. And we will finish the job."
I stood up. I packed my kit. The draw stung. But it also lit a fire. Cape Town. The most beautiful ground in the world. And the place where I would ensure we didn't just draw. We would conquer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: - 4900+ Words
For More Future Chapters: -
My Patreon: -
https://www.patreon.com/c/Kynstra
thank you very much for all the support and donate power stones!!
DO Comment, anything just comments and Donate Power stone!!
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Your feedback means so much. And feel free to comment on where you think the story should go next—I'd love to hear your thoughts on the future direction!