The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad holds one hundred and thirty-two thousand people. Its size draws the surrounding city into its orbit.
On Saturday afternoon, 14 October 2023, the stadium was full. The tiers were painted in unbroken Indian blue. The noise pressed against the chests of everyone inside and rattled the glass of the corporate boxes.
Match 12 of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup. India versus Pakistan.
Inside the BCCI VIP box, Bollywood actors, politicians and former players sat in the leather seats. At the front of the glass, pressing her hands against the pane, was Aadhya.
She wore her oversized blue "DEVA 6" jersey and watched the crowd. Every time a section erupted into a chant she jumped and pointed.
"Look, Amma! Look at all the blue!" she called.
Krithika smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. "I see it. They are all here to watch Nana play."
Beside them Rishi stood with his hands in his pockets. His eyes were fixed on the ground staff as they pulled the white covers off the twenty-two yards of dry Gujarat clay.
"The pitch looks very dry, Amma," he said. "It is a light brown colour. The ball will slow down if it hits the cracks."
"We'll see, Rishi," Krithika replied. "Let's see what Nana decides to do."
Down in the middle the two captains walked out. Siddanth Deva, in the dark blue and orange BCCI kit, stood opposite Babar Azam. The Pakistani captain looked composed, though the set of his jaw showed the pressure.
Match referee Andy Pycroft held the commemorative coin. Ravi Shastri stood with the broadcast microphone.
"A very warm welcome to the Narendra Modi Stadium!" Shastri said. "The atmosphere is electric. The world has stopped to watch. Babar, Siddanth, it is time for the toss."
Siddanth flipped the coin.
"Heads," Babar Azam called.
The coin settled on the dusty surface.
"It is tails," Pycroft confirmed.
Shastri turned to the Indian captain as Deva's face appeared on the big screens.
"Siddanth, you have won the toss. What is your decision?"
"We are going to field first, Ravi Bhai," Deva said.
"Fielding first. What's the thought process on this surface?"
"The pitch looks a good batting track, but there is a little moisture underneath from the covers. We want our fast bowlers to use the early conditions. We are backing ourselves to restrict them and chase under the lights."
"And the playing eleven? There have been reports that Shubman Gill has recovered from illness."
"We are unchanged from Delhi," Deva replied.
The captains shook hands. The broadcast cut to the commentary box.
"A fascinating decision and a piece of team news," Harsha Bhogle said. "Siddanth Deva has elected to field. Shubman Gill is fit but does not play today."
"And it is the correct decision," Nasser Hussain agreed. "Sanju Samson scored a half-century against Australia and followed it up in Delhi. You do not drop a batsman in form, even for a returning player like Gill. Deva is rewarding performance."
Umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth walked out. The Indian team broke their huddle and took their fielding positions to the roar of the crowd.
Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq walked out to open. Jasprit Bumrah took the new white Kookaburra.
**Over 1**
0.1 Bumrah marked his run-up. He hit a probing length just outside off. The ball skidded off the dry surface. Shafique defended with a dead bat.
0.2 Bumrah to Shafique: same length, slight seam movement away. Left alone.
0.3 Bumrah to Shafique: fuller, angling in. Worked carefully to mid-wicket for a single.
0.4 Bumrah to Imam: length on off stump. Solid forward defence.
0.5 Bumrah to Imam: short of a length, rising. Fended down into the off side.
0.6 Bumrah to Imam: probing length outside off. Left alone.
End of over: 1 run. Pakistan 1 for 0.
"Metronomic precision from Bumrah to start," Ian Bishop said on the broadcast. "He gives you nothing to hit. That is high-class new-ball bowling."
Deva clapped from mid-off. "Good start, Boom. Keep that channel."
**Over 2**
Siraj ran in hard from the other end.
1.1 Siraj to Shafique: angles across. Watched closely.
1.2 Siraj to Shafique: 142 kph, angles across then nips back sharply. Shafique pushes with hard hands. Inside edge onto pad, loops to short leg. Caught.
Pakistan 1 for 1.
"EDGED AND TAKEN!" Ravi Shastri boomed. "Mohammed Siraj strikes in his first over! The nip-backer does the job. Short leg is in the perfect place and Shafique is gone. The stadium erupts!"
Siraj punched the air. Deva ran over and put an arm around his shoulder.
"That's the one, Siraj. Perfect length. Keep hitting that hard length. Babar will come hard now."
1.3 Siraj to Babar: heavy length on middle. Defended carefully.
1.4 Siraj to Babar: short of a length outside off. Left alone.
1.5 Siraj to Babar: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-on for a single.
1.6 Siraj to Imam: length, seaming away. Beaten on the outside edge.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket. Pakistan 2 for 1.
Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq settled against the Indian seamers, rotating the strike but finding few boundaries.
**Over 8**
Hardik Pandya came on to extract extra bounce. Deva walked over before the over.
"Hardik, use the bounce. Short of a length, make them hop. If Babar pulls, keep it outside off so he has to fetch it."
7.1 Pandya to Babar: length outside off. Left alone.
7.2 Pandya to Babar: short of a length. Defended to cover.
7.3 Pandya to Babar: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
7.4 Pandya to Babar: back-of-a-length. Babar rocks back, rolls the wrists and pulls to the square-leg boundary for four.
"Beautiful shot," Harsha Bhogle said. "Babar Azam is settling. He picks the length early, rolls the wrists, and keeps it along the ground. That is class."
7.5 Pandya to Babar: length outside off. Left alone.
7.6 Pandya to Babar: full, driven to mid-off.
End of over: 5 runs.
By the 12th over Pakistan had reached 58 for 1. The pitch had flattened under the sun. Deva brought on spin.
He handed the ball to Kuldeep and spoke quietly.
"Kuldeep, flight it. Use the dry surface. Get it to grip. Imam is the one we want early."
**Over 12**
11.1 Kuldeep to Imam: tossed up on middle. Defended.
11.2 Kuldeep to Imam: flighted outside off. Gripped and turned past the outside edge. Appeal turned down.
"Close!" Nasser Hussain said. "That gripped and turned past the edge. Kuldeep is getting purchase already."
11.3 Kuldeep to Imam: flatter, on the pads. Worked to square leg for one.
11.4 Kuldeep to Babar: tossed up. Forward defence.
11.5 Kuldeep to Babar: short of a length, spinning away. Cut to point for a single.
11.6 Kuldeep to Imam: flighted again. Defended solidly.
End of over: 2 runs. Pakistan 60 for 1.
**Over 16**
Kuldeep continued. Deva stayed at mid-off, watching every ball.
15.1 Kuldeep to Imam: tossed up on off. Defended.
15.2 Kuldeep to Imam: flatter trajectory. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
15.3 Kuldeep to Babar: flighted outside off. Driven to cover.
15.4 Kuldeep to Imam: tossed up generously outside off, drifts away, grips and spins back through the gate. Middle stump knocked back.
Pakistan 70 for 2.
"BOWLED HIM! WHAT A DELIVERY!" Ian Bishop roared. "Kuldeep Yadav with a beauty! Drifted it away, spun it back through the gate. Imam is beaten all ends up. That is high-class wrist-spin."
The Indian players celebrated. Deva walked over to Kuldeep.
"That's the one. Keep flighting it. Same plan to the new man."
15.5 Kuldeep to Rizwan: length on middle. Defended carefully.
15.6 Kuldeep to Rizwan: tossed up. Forward block.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket. Pakistan 71 for 2.
Mohammad Rizwan joined Babar. They worked the ball with sweeps and quick singles. Jadeja and Kohli kept the inner ring tight.
**Over 21**
20.1 Jadeja to Rizwan: flat on middle. Defended.
20.2 Jadeja to Rizwan: darted in. Worked to leg for one.
20.3 Jadeja to Babar: fired into the pads. Sweep attempted, misses. Loud LBW appeal turned down — pitched outside leg.
"Good appeal but the umpire is right," Harsha Bhogle said. "Pitched outside leg. Jadeja is tight as ever."
20.4 Jadeja to Babar: flat outside off. Cut to point for a single.
20.5 Jadeja to Rizwan: length on middle. Defended.
20.6 Jadeja to Rizwan: quicker one. Pushed to cover.
End of over: 2 runs.
Babar later fell to a low, skidding delivery from Siraj. Pakistan reached 115 for 3. Iftikhar Ahmed joined Saud Shakeel.
Deva took the ball himself. He spoke to the fielders as he marked his run-up.
"Jadeja, backward point. Stay sharp. I'm going to hit a hard length. Extra bounce is there."
**Over 28**
27.1 Deva to Iftikhar: length outside off, 148 kph. Left alone.
27.2 Deva to Iftikhar: hard length outside off, extra bounce. Iftikhar forces a cut, thick outside edge. Jadeja dives to his left at backward point and takes the catch.
Pakistan 130 for 4.
"CAUGHT! THE CAPTAIN STRIKES!" Harsha Bhogle shouted. "Siddanth Deva produces the extra bounce, and Jadeja takes a sharp catch. Pakistan lose their big hitter. Brilliant from the captain."
Deva pointed at Jadeja and nodded. "Good catch. Keep that intensity."
27.3 Deva to Shadab: length on off. Defended.
27.4 Deva to Shadab: short of a length. Fended down.
27.5 Deva to Shadab: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
27.6 Deva to Shakeel: length outside off. Left alone.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket. Pakistan 131 for 4.
**Over 30**
29.1 Deva to Shadab: length outside off. Defended.
29.2 Deva to Shadab: short of a length. Left alone.
29.3 Deva to Shadab: fuller, driven to mid-off.
29.4 Deva to Shadab: length on middle. Worked to leg for one.
29.5 Deva to Shadab: same action, but rolls the fingers down the seam. Off-cutter dips and grips. Shadab swings across the line and misses. Off stump hit.
"BOWLED HIM! DECEIVED HIM COMPLETELY!" Ravi Shastri boomed. "Siddanth Deva strikes again! The off-cutter does the job. Shadab is beaten for pace and the stump is flattened. The middle order is broken."
Deva simply raised a fist. The crowd roared.
29.6 Deva to Nawaz: length outside off. Defended carefully.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket.
Deva finished with 6-0-28-2. He handed the ball back to Bumrah.
"Finish it clean. Full and straight to the tail."
**Over 38**
37.1 Bumrah to Nawaz: full, straight, blockhole. Nawaz cannot get the bat down in time. Middle stump uprooted.
"YORKER! MIDDLE STUMP GONE!" Ian Bishop called. "Bumrah is clinical. Nawaz has no answer to that."
37.2 Bumrah to Rauf: length outside off. Left alone.
37.3 Bumrah to Rauf: short of a length. Fended down.
37.4 Bumrah to Rauf: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-on for a single.
37.5 Bumrah to next batsman: length on off. Defended.
37.6 Bumrah to next batsman: yorker length, dug out.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket.
**Over 42**
41.1 Siraj to Rauf: length outside off. Left alone.
41.2 Siraj to Rauf: short of a length. Defended.
41.3 Siraj to Rauf: fuller, driven to mid-off.
41.4 Siraj to Rauf: length on middle. Worked to leg.
41.5 Siraj to Rauf: sharp bouncer. Rauf fends awkwardly. Ball loops to short leg. Caught.
"CAUGHT AT SHORT LEG!" Harsha Bhogle said. "Siraj finishes it with a sharp bouncer. Pakistan are all out for 167."
Pakistan all out for 167.
Restricting Pakistan to 167 on a flat pitch was a strong bowling performance. India walked off with the momentum.
As they left the field, Babar Azam gathered his bowlers near the boundary.
"Shaheen, Naseem, start with the new ball. Full lengths. Make them play. We need early wickets or this will get away from us quickly."
**THE 142-RUN PARTNERSHIP**
Target: 168. Under lights the pitch looked ideal for batting.
Rohit Sharma and Sanju Samson walked out. Shaheen Shah Afridi took the new ball.
**Over 1**
0.1 Afridi to Samson: length outside off, late swing. Left alone.
0.2 Afridi to Samson: fuller, angling in. Defended to mid-on.
0.3 Afridi to Samson: pitched up, hint of inswing at 144 kph. Samson leans into it and drives straight past the bowler for four.
"What a shot to get off the mark!" Sunil Gavaskar said. "Sanju Samson is showing why his captain backed him. Full face of the bat, straight down the ground."
0.4 Afridi to Samson: length outside off. Left alone.
0.5 Afridi to Samson: short of a length. Defended down.
0.6 Afridi to Samson: fuller again. Driven to mid-off.
End of over: 4 runs. India 4 for 0.
**Over 4**
Haris Rauf came on. Babar spoke to him at the start of the over.
"Hit a hard length. Don't give him width."
3.1 Rauf to Rohit: length outside off. Left alone.
3.2 Rauf to Rohit: short of a length. Defended.
3.3 Rauf to Rohit: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
3.4 Rauf to Rohit: back-of-a-length. Rohit picks the length early, transfers weight and pulls into the deep mid-wicket stands for six.
"SIX!" Ravi Shastri roared. "Rohit Sharma has arrived. He picks the length in a flash and deposits it into the stands. That is pure power."
3.5 Rauf to Rohit: length outside off. Left alone.
3.6 Rauf to Rohit: fuller, driven to cover.
End of over: 7 runs.
**Over 7**
6.1 Naseem to Samson: length outside off. Left alone.
6.2 Naseem to Samson: attempted yorker. Samson opens the face late and guides it past short third for four.
"Delicate touch," Harsha Bhogle said. "Sanju just opens the face at the last moment and finds the gap. Excellent batting."
6.3 Naseem to Samson: length on middle. Defended.
6.4 Naseem to Samson: short of a length. Fended down.
6.5 Naseem to Samson: fuller, driven to mid-off.
6.6 Naseem to Samson: length outside off. Left alone.
End of over: 4 runs.
When the spinners came on, the openers used their feet. Babar spoke to Shadab.
"Toss it up. Invite the drive. We need a mistake."
**Over 11**
10.1 Shadab to Rohit: tossed up on middle. Defended.
10.2 Shadab to Rohit: flatter. Worked to leg for one.
10.3 Shadab to Samson: flighted outside off. Driven to cover.
10.4 Shadab to Samson: short of a length. Cut to point for a single.
10.5 Shadab to Rohit: tossed up on middle. Rohit steps out, gets to the pitch and launches over long-on for six. Fifty for Rohit.
"SIX MORE!" Ian Bishop called. "Rohit Sharma reaches fifty in style. Steps down and clears the boundary with ease. India are racing."
10.6 Shadab to Rohit: length outside off. Left alone.
End of over: 8 runs.
Sanju reached his fifty soon after with a cut past point.
**Over 14**
13.1 Nawaz to Samson: flat on middle. Defended.
13.2 Nawaz to Samson: tossed up. Worked to leg for one.
13.3 Nawaz to Rohit: length outside off. Cut to point.
13.4 Nawaz to Rohit: flighted. Driven to long-off for one.
13.5 Nawaz to Samson: steps down, smothers the spin and lofts inside-out over extra cover for four.
"Glorious shot," Sunil Gavaskar said. "Inside-out over extra cover. Sanju is seeing it like a football."
13.6 Nawaz to Samson: length on middle. Defended.
End of over: 6 runs.
**Over 18**
17.1 Afridi to Rohit: length outside off. Rohit leans into a cover drive that pierces the infield for four.
"Four more," Harsha Bhogle said. "Rohit Sharma is in complete control. That cover drive is textbook."
17.2 Afridi to Rohit: short of a length. Defended.
17.3 Afridi to Rohit: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
17.4 Afridi to Samson: length outside off. Left alone.
17.5 Afridi to Samson: short ball. Ducked under.
17.6 Afridi to Samson: length on off. Defended.
End of over: 5 runs.
By the 20th over India were 135 for no loss. Thirty-three needed.
Babar gathered his bowlers again.
"We need a wicket. Shadab, keep tossing it up. Force the error."
**Over 22**
21.1 Shadab to Samson: tossed up on middle. Defended.
21.2 Shadab to Samson: flatter. Worked to leg for one.
21.3 Shadab to Rohit: length outside off. Cut to point.
21.4 Shadab to Rohit: flighted. Driven to long-off for one.
21.5 Shadab to Samson: steps down looking to clear long-on. Does not quite reach the pitch. Ball spins, hits the lower half of the bat and loops to long-on. Caught.
Samson out for 74. Partnership broken at 142.
"CAUGHT IN THE DEEP!" Harsha Bhogle called. "Sanju Samson departs trying to finish the game. But what an innings. Seventy-four and he fully justifies his selection."
21.6 Shadab to Kohli: length on middle. Defended carefully.
End of over: 2 runs, 1 wicket. India 142 for 1.
Virat Kohli walked out to a huge roar.
**Over 23**
Babar spoke to Rauf.
"Hit a heavy length. Make him play away from the body."
22.1 Rauf to Rohit: length outside off. Left alone.
22.2 Rauf to Rohit: short of a length. Defended.
22.3 Rauf to Rohit: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
22.4 Rauf to Rohit: heavy length just outside off at 148 kph. Rohit throws the hands at a ball too close to the body. Thick outside edge. Rizwan takes the catch.
Rohit out for 64. India 145 for 2. Twenty-three still needed.
"EDGED AND TAKEN!" Ian Bishop boomed. "Haris Rauf strikes! Two quick wickets. Rohit Sharma falls for 64. Is there a late twist?"
22.5 Rauf to Kohli: length outside off. Left alone.
22.6 Rauf to Kohli: short of a length. Defended.
End of over: 1 run, 1 wicket.
The stadium announcer called the next batsman: the captain, Siddanth Deva.
Deva walked down the steps at a measured pace. He reached the middle and tapped gloves with Kohli.
"They just got two quick ones," Kohli said. "Rauf is steaming in."
"Twenty-three needed, Virat," Deva replied. "No need for anything special. Full face of the bat and find the gaps. Let's finish this."
Kohli nodded. "Let's finish it."
**Over 24**
23.1 Nawaz to Deva: flat on middle. Defended.
23.2 Nawaz to Deva: fired into the pads. Deva steps across, rolls the wrists and clips behind square for two.
"Good running," Harsha Bhogle said. "Deva is calm as ever."
23.3 Nawaz to Deva: length outside off. Left alone.
23.4 Nawaz to Deva: tossed up. Driven to long-off for one.
23.5 Nawaz to Kohli: short of a length. Kohli rocks back and punches past the diving cover fielder for four.
"Four!" Nasser Hussain said. "Kohli finds the gap. Pressure gone in one shot."
23.6 Nawaz to Kohli: length on middle. Defended.
End of over: 7 runs. India 152 for 2.
**Over 25**
24.1 Rauf to Deva: short ball at 145 kph. Deva transfers weight, rides the bounce and pulls into the gap in front of square for four.
"Four more," Ravi Shastri called. "Deva pulls it with authority. India are almost home."
24.2 Rauf to Deva: length outside off. Left alone.
24.3 Rauf to Deva: fuller, angling in. Worked to mid-wicket for one.
24.4 Rauf to Kohli: length outside off. Defended.
24.5 Rauf to Kohli: short of a length. Fended down.
24.6 Rauf to Kohli: fuller outside off. Kohli strides forward and drives through the covers for four.
"THAT IS THE WINNING BOUNDARY!" Harsha Bhogle shouted. "Kohli drives it through the covers. India win by eight wickets."
Match over. India 168 for 2 in 25.0 overs.
Kohli finished unbeaten on 12. Deva finished unbeaten on 11.
The Indian players came onto the field. Deva shared a brief embrace with Babar Azam.
India had chased 168 with control, winning by eight wickets.