The GOAT of Cricket

*April 5, 2017 | Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore*

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**Scene 1: Curtain Raiser – IPL 2017 Opener**

The lights atop the Chinnaswamy towers burst to life like a crown of electricity. Bangalore buzzed, not just with anticipation but electricity in the air. The IPL 2017 was here.

A packed house, draped in red and gold. Flags waving. Thundersticks cracking. Drums rolling. Spotlights swirling like searchlights.

The DJ dropped a bass-heavy remix of the IPL theme. The crowd roared.

Ishaan Verma stood just inside the tunnel, pads strapped, gloves worn, helmet tucked under his arm.

**Inner Monologue:**

> *Australia was Test cricket. Grit. This… this is a carnival. Controlled chaos. But it's still cricket. It's still bat versus ball.*

Virat stood beside him, tapping his bat on his thigh.

"They'll shout louder now," Kohli said, grinning. "You better give them something to shout for."

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**Scene 2: Toss and Build-Up**

RCB vs KKR.

The cameras zoomed in. Drones buzzed. LED walls displayed: *"RED STORM RETURNS."*

RCB won the toss. Kohli chose to bat.

The stadium erupted. Fireworks cracked mid-daylight.

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**Scene 3: The Walk Out**

Opening with Gayle, Ishaan stepped onto the pitch.

The crowd lifted into a synchronized chant:

**"VER-MA! VER-MA!"**

Chris Lynn from KKR adjusted his cap, muttering, "Let's see what the golden boy does in red."

Ishaan looked around—the entire boundary was lit with flashing lights. His IPL 2016 clips played on screen. But he wasn't here for nostalgia.

**He tapped his bat twice. Inhaled. Exhaled. Faced up.**

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**Over 1.1: Trent Boult to Ishaan**

Short of a length. Ishaan shoulders arms. No run.

**Over 1.2: Boult to Ishaan**

Fuller, swinging in. Ishaan flicks it wristily behind square.

**FOUR!**

Commentary (Sunil Gavaskar):

> "No nerves. Just class. That wristwork would make Laxman nod."

**Crowd:**

> "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

**Over 2.5: Umesh Yadav to Ishaan**

Back of a length, angling in.

**CRACK!**

Pulled wide of mid-wicket. One bounce. Four more.

ABD from the dugout: "That's how you announce yourself."

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**Scene 4: Rhythm and Risk**

By the end of Powerplay, Ishaan was 31 off 20.

Gayle had departed. Kohli was nudging singles.

Over 9.3: Kuldeep Yadav to Ishaan

Flighted, teasing him.

**Ishaan dances down – lifts it over extra cover. FOUR!**

Commentary (Sanjay Manjrekar):

> "He's playing like he's scripting his own ad film."

**Over 11.4: Narine to Ishaan**

Fast off-break, skidding on. Dot ball.

**Over 11.5: Narine to Ishaan**

Outside off, slower.

**Ishaan reverse-scoops. Misjudged. Top edge...**

**CAUGHT!**

Silence.

The crowd groaned.

Simon Doull (Commentary):

> "A brilliant knock, ends recklessly. Verma walks off for 47 off 34."

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**Scene 5: The Dugout Silence**

Ishaan tossed his gloves into the kitbag.

ABD leaned over, grinning.

"Did you forget it was Narine? Or just showing off?"

Ishaan smirked. "I saw the gap. Didn't see the dip."

Virat walked over after the innings.

"You don't win T20s with caution. You win with calculation. That one was 80% impulse. Reduce the risk percentage."

Ishaan nodded.

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**Scene 6: Match End – RCB Win by 5 Wickets**

Kohli and ABD chased down the rest.

Stadium lit up with fireworks.

Ishaan received Player to Watch award.

In the dressing room, as chants echoed from the stands, Ishaan walked out alone.

On the giant facade of the stadium, his matchday poster still glowed.

**Him, mid-flick. His name in neon.**

He stared at it for a moment.

**Inner Monologue:**

> *The lights are brighter. The price of failure sharper. But the bat… the bat doesn't lie. Next time, I finish it.*

He turned. The noise behind him. The fire still inside.

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