The Wankhede Stadium was packed and loud.
As Siddanth Deva and Kane Williamson walked down the pavilion steps toward the centre of the pitch, the noise from the stands was constant and heavy. Thirty-three thousand fans in blue filled the ground.
This was the World Cup Semi-Final.
Deva walked with his usual calm stride. He wore the dark blue BCCI training kit, face set and focused. Beside him, Kane Williamson looked composed, though the occasion of playing India at home was clear.
Ravi Shastri stood in the middle with the microphone.
"A very warm welcome to the Wankhede Stadium," Shastri said. "The ground is full and the stakes are high. Kane, Siddanth, time for the toss."
Match referee Andy Pycroft flipped the coin.
"Tails," Williamson called.
The coin landed.
"It is heads," Pycroft confirmed.
Shastri turned to the Indian captain as the crowd roared.
"Siddanth, you have won the toss in a World Cup Semi-Final. What is your decision?"
"We are going to bat first, Ravi Bhai," Deva said.
"Batting first. We spoke earlier about the sea breeze and the chance of swing for Trent Boult. What is the thinking?"
"It is a knockout match," Deva replied. "It is a good batting pitch, but chasing in a semi-final brings its own pressure. We want to respect the new ball, put a strong total on the board, and use scoreboard pressure in the second innings."
"And the playing eleven?"
Deva looked at the camera. "We are going with Rohit, Sanju, Virat, myself, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul taking the gloves, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami."
Williamson confirmed his side. He said he would probably have batted first as well, but trusted his new-ball bowlers to use any early movement.
The captains shook hands.
Ten minutes later both teams lined up for the national anthems.
The New Zealand anthem played. Then the first notes of Jana Gana Mana came through the speakers.
Thirty-three thousand people sang together. The sound filled the stands.
The cameras moved along the Indian line. Jasprit Bumrah's eyes were closed. Virat Kohli sang clearly. Siddanth Deva stood still, hands behind his back, looking at the Indian flag.
Up in the VIP box, Krithika stood with her hand over her heart. Rishi stood straight. Aadhya sang along in her oversized blue jersey.
The anthem ended. The umpires walked out. The New Zealand fielders took their places.
The doors of the Indian dressing room opened. Rohit Sharma and Sanju Samson walked down the steps. The match was under way.
Trent Boult took the new white Kookaburra. He stood at the top of his mark, the sea breeze moving across the ground.
Rohit Sharma took guard.
Boult ran in and looked for the late inswinger, pitching full outside off.
Rohit stepped forward, met the ball on the half-volley and drove it cleanly through the covers for four.
The crowd responded at once.
Rohit decided to attack the new ball. When Tim Southee came on and bowled back of a length, Rohit rocked back and pulled him over mid-wicket for six.
Sanju Samson played the supporting role. He left the swinging balls alone and, when Lockie Ferguson dropped short, punched him past point for four.
The opening pair gave India a strong start and took the early movement out of the equation. They passed fifty in the eighth over.
In the tenth over Rohit tried one more aggressive shot. Facing Ferguson he went for the pull. The ball skidded on a little more than expected. He top-edged it. Kane Williamson at mid-on settled under the catch.
"Caught," Harsha Bhogle said on the broadcast. "Rohit Sharma was looking dangerous but he falls trying to keep the momentum going. He has given his side a good start."
Rohit walked off to a standing ovation, having scored a brisk 46.
The partnership ended at 75. India 75 for 1.
In the VIP box Aadhya groaned. "Why did Rohit Uncle hit it in the air?"
Krithika smiled. "He did his job. He gave us a fast start. Now the others have to build."
---
@CricketNerd_IND: Unselfish from Rohit Sharma. He knew Boult and Southee were dangerous so he attacked them to break their rhythm. Good knock even if it stopped short of fifty. ๐๐ฅ
@Hitman_Army_Mumbai: Disappointed he didn't get a bigger score on his home ground, but 46 off 30 in a World Cup Semi-Final is valuable. He set the platform. ๐โจ
@EnglishCricketView: Clear difference from earlier years. Today Rohit attacked the new ball and reduced the swing. Good tactical approach. ๐๐ง
@DesiCricketMemes:ย
Trent Boult trying to settle into a spell.ย
Rohit Sharma: "Anyway, I started hitting." ๐
@FanGirl_Sid: Rohit walking off to a standing ovation at the Wankhede. He did his job. Now the middle order needs to build. ๐๏ธ
@UncleCricTalks: Aggressive start. Sometimes you have to risk your wicket for the team's run rate. Good intent. Now Virat needs to play proper cricket. ๐๐ฎ๐ณ
@TeamIndiaFans: 75 for 1 at the end of the powerplay in a knockout match is a strong start. ๐ป๐ซ
@PaceBowlingFan: Watching Rohit step out and hit Boult over cover in the first over takes the pressure off the rest of the batting. Hard to set a field for that. ๐โโ๏ธ๐จ
@SanjuSamsonFans: Sanju looking solid at the other end. Watching Rohit attack must have eased the pressure on him. Let's go Sanju. ๐๐ฅ
@CricStatsLive: Rohit Sharma's strike rate in the powerplay this tournament has been excellent. He sets the tone. The foundation is solid. ๐
---
The crowd rose as Virat Kohli walked out. He tapped gloves with Sanju Samson.
"The pitch is playing well," Sanju said. "Ferguson is bowling a heavy length but the swing is gone."ย
"We rotate the strike. No unnecessary risks."
"Understood, Virat bhai," Sanju replied.
Over the next twenty-two overs they built a steady, high-quality partnership.
Kohli and Sanju did not force the pace with risky shots. They used classic technique and good running.
When Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra came on, the pair used their feet to the spin, meeting the ball early and working it into the gaps. They turned ones into twos and kept the New Zealand fielders under pressure in the heat.
"This is excellent batting," Ian Bishop said from the commentary box. "Look at Kohli finding the gaps. And Sanju is playing with a high elbow and under the eyes. They are making the bowlers work hard."
Sanju reached fifty with a late cut past point and raised his bat. Kohli followed soon after with a quiet nod toward the dressing room.
The partnership passed 100, then 120. The score moved steadily.
As the innings reached the 32nd over, India were 200 for 1.
Sanju stepped out to Rachin Ravindra, looking to loft inside-out over extra cover. He hit it cleanly but not high enough. Glenn Phillips at the edge of the circle dived to his right and took a sharp one-handed catch.
"Caught! What a catch from Glenn Phillips," Harsha Bhogle said. "Sanju Samson is out for 78. He has played a fine innings and built a strong platform with Kohli."
Sanju walked off to a full standing ovation.
The partnership had been worth 125 runs. India 200 for 2.
In the VIP box Krithika and the other wives stood and clapped.
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@SanjuSamsonFans: Disappointed he didn't reach the hundred, but 78 in a World Cup Semi-Final is a strong innings. He answered a lot of questions. Proud of him. ๐โค๏ธ
@CricketNerd_IND: That cover drive from Sanju was pure timing. He built the perfect platform with Virat. Outstanding knock. ๐
@MemeKing_Hyd: Glenn Phillips had no right to catch that. Great fielding, but full respect to Sanju for the innings. ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ๐
@ViratKohliFans: Virat and Sanju's running between the wickets was excellent. They tired the Kiwi fielders. Strong partnership. ๐โโ๏ธ๐จ
@FanGirl_Sid: Sanju walking off to a standing ovation at the Wankhede. He deserves the applause. He held the innings together. ๐๏ธ
@EnglishCricketView: This is why Siddanth Deva backed Sanju Samson. He doesn't panic against spin in the middle overs. He rotates the strike and plays proper cricket. ๐ง
@UncleCricTalks: Very good from Sanju. He played ground shots and built the innings. Now the middle order can finish the job. ๐๐ฎ๐ณ
@SarcasticDesi:ย
New Zealand spinners trying to build pressure.ย
Virat and Sanju: "We'll just keep running twos." ๐๐โโ๏ธ
@CricketHistoryIN: 200 for 2 in the 32nd over of a Semi-Final. The base is strong. Looking at a big total if the middle order capitalises. ๐
@TeamIndiaFans: Thank you, Sanju. You did your job. Now for the acceleration. Let's go India. ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณ
---
The stadium announcer prepared to name the next batsman.
The ground went quieter than it had been all afternoon.
It was the 32nd over. The platform was set. The crowd and the television audience waited for the dressing-room door.
In the commentary box Ian Bishop leaned forward.
"The stage is set," he said. "India are 200 for 2. The question is who walks out next. In the last couple of matches Siddanth Deva dropped himself down the order to give Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul time. Will he do the same in a Semi-Final?"
"It's an interesting call," Harsha Bhogle agreed. "The middle order got their practice. This is a knockout. The crowd wants the captain."
On social media the same debate ran.
---
@CricketNerd_IND: Siddanth, please. The middle order got their time earlier. Come out and finish the job. ๐
@Virat_And_Deva_Army: We need the two of them together. Virat is on 70. If Deva walks out now the total can go big. ๐
@DesiCricketMemes:ย
Me staring at the dressing-room door:ย
"If Shreyas walks out I might need a minute." ๐บ
@Hitman_Army_Mumbai: The platform is 200 for 2. This is the situation Deva has been in all tournament. Time for him to come out. ๐๐
@SarcasticDesi: BCCI, just tell Siddanth Deva to walk down those stairs. The suspense is unnecessary. ๐ธ
@TeluguBidda_99: Anna, no experiments today. It is a Semi-Final. We need you on the pitch. ๐ฅ
@GamerCricFan: Heart rate is already high and the next batsman hasn't even been announced. The wait is worse than the cricket. ๐ฎ
@PriyaTalksCricket: The whole stadium has gone quiet waiting for that door to open. The presence this man carries is something else. โจ
@SarcasticDesi:ย
Shreyas Iyer putting his gloves on.ย
Most of the country: "Not today." ๐
@The_Master_Architect: The foundation is built. Time for the next phase. ๐๏ธ
---
On the pitch Virat Kohli leaned on his bat and looked toward the pavilion.
The heavy wooden doors of the Indian dressing room opened.
A figure stepped into the corridor.
Dark blue helmet. Nike bat in his right hand.
It was not Shreyas Iyer. It was not KL Rahul.
Siddanth Deva walked out into the sunlight of the Wankhede Stadium.
The crowd reaction was immediate and loud. The stands rose. Flags waved. The noise rolled across the outfield.
In the VIP box Krithika smiled with clear relief. Aadhya jumped up and down in her blue jersey, shouting, "Nana is here!"
Rishi gave a small, satisfied nod.
"There he is," Ian Bishop said on the broadcast. "No more rotation. Siddanth Deva is walking out to the crease."
"Listen to this crowd," Harsha Bhogle added. "They have been waiting for this moment. He walks out with the platform set at 200 for 2."
Deva did not rush. He walked down the steps at a steady pace, eyes on the middle.
---
@CricketNerd_IND: Deva is out there. New Zealand now face the hardest part of the innings. ๐ฅ
@MemeKing_Hyd:ย
Trent Boult sees Deva walking down the steps.ย
"Why do I hear boss music?" ๐ถ
@ViratKohliFans: Virat Kohli and Siddanth Deva batting together in a World Cup Semi-Final at 200 for 2. This is the partnership the crowd wanted. ๐
@FanGirl_Sid: The way he walks out. No looking around, just straight to the middle. The focus is clear. โจ
@EnglishCricketView: Siddanth Deva walking in at number four with a set platform is the toughest prospect for any bowling attack right now. ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
@TeamIndiaFans: The roar at the Wankhede just went up another level. Let's go, Skip. ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ณ
@PaceBowlingFan: As a fast bowler, watching Deva walk out when the score is already 200 is the moment you know the hard work is about to start. ๐โโ๏ธ๐จ
@CricketHistoryIN: Defending champions, strong platform, captain walking in. The standard is set. ๐
@TeluguBidda_99: Anna is here. The pride of Hyderabad is in the middle at the Wankhede. ๐ฅ๐ช
@The_Master_Architect: The platform is built. Time to finish the job. ๐๏ธ
Deva reached the edge of the outfield, swung the bat once to loosen his shoulders, and walked to the crease.
He tapped gloves with Virat Kohli.
The two stood together in the middle of the Wankhede as the crowd noise settled into a steady roar, ready for the next phase of the innings.