For More Future Chapters: -
My Patreon: -
https://www.patreon.com/c/Kynstra
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Donate Power Stones and Join My Patreon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Indian team huddled near the boundary rope. Rishabh Pant did the talking, animated and loud. Aarav Pathak, the Vice-Captain, stood calmly next to him, adjusting his bowling tape.
A surprise awaited the crowd. Usually, Aarav Pathak took the new ball. But Pant tossed the white Kookaburra to the young left-armer, Arshdeep Singh.
Ravi Shastri: "Welcome back. 163 to get. Not a massive total, but tricky. And look at this! A surprise straight away! Aarav Pathak is NOT taking the new ball. It is Arshdeep Singh. New Captain, new philosophy? Or is he saving Aarav for a specific matchup?"
Graeme Smith: "It's interesting. Maybe they want the left-arm angle against Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks from both side and gave the young pacer some confidence. But when you have a bowler who clicks 150+, you usually unleash him first."
Over 1: Arshdeep Singh to Temba Bavuma
Ball 1: Arshdeep started with a gentle outswinger. Bavuma defended it back to the bowler. Dot.
Ball 2: Arshdeep drifted onto the pads. Bavuma didn't miss out. He flicked it elegantly through square leg. The outfield was quick. FOUR.
Ball 3: Arshdeep pitched it up, looking for swing. Bavuma stepped out and lofted it over mid-on. He didn't hit it hard, but the timing carried it all the way over the ropes. SIX!
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is a confident start from the South African captain! Ten runs off two balls. Arshdeep is under pressure immediately. Pant might be rethinking his decision already."
Ball 4: Arshdeep pulled his length back. Bavuma guided it to point. Dot.
Ball 5: Inswinger. Bavuma defended. Dot.
Ball 6: Arshdeep finished well with a yorker. Bavuma dug it out. Dot.
Score: SA 10/0.
Rishabh Pant waved to fine leg. Aarav Pathak walked to the top of his mark. The decibel level in Cuttack went up a notch. Reeza Hendricks was on strike.
Graeme Smith: "Here he is. The man of the moment. Aarav Pathak. He batted beautifully for his 47, now let's see the pace. Two slips in place. Attacking field."
Ball 1: The Sighter Aarav stood at the top of his run-up. He did a quick shadow bowling action, loosening the shoulder. Then he ran. Smooth. Rhythmic. Explosive release. 151.2 kmph. The ball held its line outside off. Hendricks decided to leave it. It thudded into Rishabh Pant's gloves with a violent smack. Pant shook his left hand, grimacing.
Ravi Shastri: "That carried! The keeper collected it above his head! That is serious heat first up. The pitch might be slow, but Aarav takes the pitch out of the equation."
Ball 2: Aarav went wider of the crease. He angled it in and got it to shape away late. 153.4 kmph. Hendricks poked at it tentatively. The ball swung past the outside edge, missing it by a whisker. It kept swinging after passing the bat, flying towards the first slip.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Ohhhhh! Close! Very close! Look at the movement! At that pace, if you get a nick, it stays hit. Hendricks is lucky to still be there."
Ball 3: Aarav changed the angle. He went closer to the stumps. He bowled the big inswinger. Full, attacking the pads. Hendricks fell over. He tried to flick it but his head position was all wrong. He was beaten for pace and swing. THUD. The ball smashed into the front pad. Aarav turned around, screaming. "HOWZAT!" The Umpire didn't hesitate. Up went the finger.
Ravi Shastri (Booming): "GONE! Plumb in front! Pace and swing! Reeza Hendricks was late, and Aarav Pathak strikes in his first over! The Vice-Captain delivers the breakthrough!"
Reeza Hendricks lbw b Aarav 0 (2)Score: SA 10/1
New Batsman:Dwaine Pretorius.
Ball 4: Pretorius took guard. Aarav was steaming in now. He bowled the inswinger again. A heavy ball. It jagged back sharply. Pretorius was completely beaten. The ball sailed just over the stumps, millimetres above the bails. Pant leaped, gathering it, and immediately put his hands on his head in disbelief. "Ohhhhhh! Aarav bhai!" Pant yelled.
Graeme Smith: "How did that miss? That was unplayable! Pretorius had no clue."
Ball 5: Aarav overpitched slightly, searching for the yorker. Pretorius leaned into it. A classic cover drive. He timed it perfectly, piercing the gap between cover and mid-off. FOUR.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Good shot. He needed that to settle the nerves. You can't let a bowler like Aarav dictate terms completely."
Ball 6: Aarav walked back to his mark, staring at the batsman. He ran in hard. He bowled the perfect outswinger. Good length, inviting the drive again. Pretorius fell for the trap. He went for the expansive drive away from his body. The ball moved away late. Snick. Thick outside edge. It flew fast and low to the second slip. Shreyas Iyer dived to his right and held onto a sharp catch.
Ravi Shastri: "CAUGHT! He's got him! Revenge instantly! He invited the drive, got the edge, and Iyer makes no mistake! Two wickets in the over! Aarav Pathak is ripping through the top order! Cuttack is going crazy!"
Dwaine Pretorius c Iyer b Aarav 4 (3)Score: SA 14/2
End of Over 2.Figures: Aarav Pathak 1-0-4-2.
The crowd was deafening as Aarav walked to his fielding position. Rassie van der Dussen walked out to join his captain.
Bavuma walked up to Rassie, looking concerned. "Watch the swing," Bavuma was overheard on the stump mic. "He's bowling 150+. Don't commit early. We need to rebuild."
South Africa was 14 for 2. The target of 163 suddenly looked a lot further away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Barabati Stadium was rocking. Two quick wickets from the Vice-Captain had put India firmly in the driver's seat. But South Africa, known for their resilience, wasn't going to roll over. Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen met mid-pitch. The conversation was brief but intense. They needed to disturb the lengths. They needed to attack.
Over 3: Arshdeep Singh Continues
Rishabh Pant kept Arshdeep on. He wanted to capitalize on the swing while the ball was still new.
Ball 1: Temba Bavuma on strike. Arshdeep bowled full, searching for the inswinger. Bavuma stepped out, negating the swing entirely. He lofted it over the infield on the off-side. It wasn't perfectly timed, but it cleared mid-off safely. The ball raced away on the quick outfield. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "That is the intent! Bavuma says 'I am not going to sit here and let you bowl at me'. He charges the bowler and gets the result. Excellent counter-attack."
Ball 2: Arshdeep pulled his length back. Bavuma worked it into the gap at deep mid-wicket. They pushed hard. "Two! Two!" Good running. 2 Runs.
Ball 3: Bavuma tapped a length ball to cover and stole a quick single. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Rassie van der Dussen on strike. He had watched the carnage from the dugout. Now, he faced Arshdeep. Arshdeep strayed onto the pads and that to too high. A rare error in line. Rassie whipped it. His wrists were wiry but powerful. The ball rocketed through square leg. No chance for the fielder in the deep. FOUR.
Graeme Smith: "Pressure transfer. That is what this over is about. India had them on the ropes, but two boundaries in the over release the valve. Rassie is such a key player for us."
Ball 5: Rassie pushed to mid-on. 1 Run.
Ball 6: Bavuma defended the last ball solidly. Dot.
Score: SA 26/2. Runs from Over: 12. Analysis: A much-needed big over for South Africa. The run rate climbed back to 8.6.
Over 4:
Rishabh Pant didn't panic. He tossed the ball back to Aarav Pathak. "One more," Pant signaled. "Break this partnership and wrap the game early."
Aarav walked to his mark. He adjusted his collar. He looked at Rassie van der Dussen. The intensity in his eyes was palpable.
Ball 1: Aarav started with a heavy ball. Back of a length, hitting the splice of the bat. Rassie defended awkwardly. The ball died on the pitch. Dot.
Ball 2: 148 kmph. Good length, shaping away slightly. Rassie played inside the line. A good leave... or a beaten stroke? Hard to tell. Dot.
Ball 3: Aarav went full and straight. 150 kmph. Rassie dug it out back to the bowler. Aarav fielded it and feigned a throw at the stumps. Rassie didn't flinch. Dot.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Three dots. The pressure is building again. Aarav is not giving an inch. Rassie wants to feel bat on ball, but the Vice-Captain is asking tough questions."
Ball 4: Aarav tried to bounce Rassie. He banged it in short. But on this Cuttack pitch, the ball didn't rise as much as he expected. It sat up at waist height. Rassie was waiting on the back foot. He swiveled and pulled it ferociously. It beat the diving square leg fielder and raced to the fence. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "He picked the length early! You cannot bowl short on this surface unless you get it really high. Rassie was waiting for it. A release shot!"
Ball 5: Aarav, annoyed, overcorrected. He went for the yorker but served a half-volley outside off. Rassie leaned into it. A glorious cover drive. The timing was exquisite. It pierced the gap between cover and extra cover. FOUR.
Graeme Smith: "Back-to-back boundaries! That is class batting. He absorbed the pressure of three dot balls and then capitalized on two loose deliveries. This partnership is starting to look dangerous."
Ball 6: Aarav came back with a perfect outswinger. Rassie was beaten all ends up. Dot.
Score: SA 34/2. Runs from Over: 8.
Over 5: Hardik Pandya Introduced
Pant made a change. Hardik Pandya replaced Arshdeep Singh. The South African duo, settled now, rotated the strike well. Bavuma played a cheeky lap shot for four, utilizing the pace. Rassie ran hard. The over went for 9 runs. Score: SA 43/2.
Over 6: Harshal Patel (End of Powerplay)
Harshal Patel came in to bowl the final over of the restrictions. Known for his variations, he started with slower balls immediately. But Bavuma picked the change of pace. He stepped out and lofted Harshal over mid-off for a boundary. Rassie picked a gap through point for a couple. Singles followed.
Despite losing two early wickets to Aarav's brilliance, South Africa had recovered admirably. The counter-attack in the 3rd and 4th overs had shifted the momentum back to neutral.
End of Powerplay.Score: SA 53/2. Rassie van der Dussen: 18* (13) Temba Bavuma: 22* (18)
Ravi Shastri: "53 for 2. Honors even? Maybe slightly in South Africa's favor given the start they had. 14 for 2 could have easily become 30 for 3. But Bavuma and Rassie have applied themselves."
Sunil Gavaskar: "India needs a wicket. This partnership is 39 runs off just 26 balls. They are scoring at a healthy rate. The spinners will play a massive role now. Yuzi Chahal and Axar Patel need to control the middle overs like the South Africans did."
Graeme Smith: "This chase is set up beautifully. 110 needed from 84 balls. Wickets in hand will be key. If these two bat for another 4-5 overs, India will be in trouble."
Rishabh Pant gathered his team. He looked at Aarav. "Spin from both ends?" Pant asked. Aarav nodded. "Chahal and Axar. Let's squeeze them."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Powerplay had ended with South Africa at 53/2, steady but needing acceleration.
Yuzvendra Chahal was the chess grandmaster. He flighted the ball bravely, inviting the drive on a pitch that was now turning.
Temba Bavuma (35) was the first to fall, deceived by a dipping leg-break, chipping it straight to Hardik Pandya at mid-off.
Rassie van der Dussen (5) followed soon after, attempting a slog-sweep against a googly and losing his stumps.
Axar Patel joined the party, firing in arm-balls. He trapped the dangerous David Miller LBW for just 5 runs. Miller reviewed, but it was umpire's call.
South Africa was reeling at 90/5 in 13 overs.
Heinrich Klaasen
But one man stood firm. Heinrich Klaasen. Despite the earlier reports of a niggle, Klaasen had walked out with intent. He knew the Indian bowlers. He knew their vice captain. And he definitely knew his GT skipper, Aarav.
Klaasen decided that defense was suicide. He launched a brutal counter-attack.
He smashed Harshal Patel for two massive sixes over deep mid-wicket.
He took on Arshdeep Singh, hitting him down the ground for consecutive boundaries.
He was a "Certified Spin Basher", using the depth of the crease to pull Chahal and Axar into the stands.
The equation melted down. From looking impossible, South Africa suddenly needed 30 runs off 18 balls.
Over 18: Hardik Pandya (The Setup)
Hardik came in for the 18th over. He had bowled a tight 14th over earlier (conceding just 4 runs). He kept it full and wide to Klaasen, denying him the arc. Klaasen managed a boundary, but Hardik closed out the over well. Score: SA 144/5. 19 runs needed off 12 balls.
Over 19: Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel bowled the penultimate over. It was chaotic. Klaasen hit a six. Parnell took a single. 10 runs came off it.
Equation:9 runs needed off 6 balls.
The Barabati Stadium was on its feet. 45,000 people chanting "IN-DI-A! IN-DI-A!" Rishabh Pant handed the ball to his Vice-Captain. Aarav Pathak. India's best pacer. The man who had defended totals previously too. This was the Proteas vs Aarav. And the man on strike was his own IPL teammate, Heinrich Klaasen, batting on 62 off 35 balls.
Ravi Shastri: "This is it. The game boils down to this. 9 runs. 6 balls. Both Play for same IPL teams, Vice-Captain vs Teammate. Pace vs Power. Aarav Pathak has the ball. He needs to be precise. One slip up, and Klaasen finishes it."
Ball 1: Aarav marked his run-up. He took a deep breath. He ran in. He didn't look for the slower ball. He backed his strength. Yorker. It was laser-guided. 152 kmph. Tailing into the stumps. Klaasen jammed his bat down just in time. He dug it out back to the bowler. Aarav fielded it and stared at Klaasen. Dot Ball.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Gold! Absolute gold dust! A dot ball to start the 20th over is worth its weight in diamonds. 9 off 5 now. The pressure shifts to the batter."
Ball 2: Aarav tried the yorker again. He missed by an inch. It ended up being a very full delivery, low toss. Klaasen didn't try to elevate it. He punched it straight back past the bowler. Mid-off was up. Long-off was wide. The ball raced along the carpet. FOUR.
Graeme Smith: "He missed his length slightly, and Klaasen punished him! That is a massive boundary! 5 runs needed off 4 balls. South Africa is favorites now!"
Ball 3: The crowd groaned. Pant looked nervous. Aarav walked back. He wiped the ball on his towel. He looked at the stumps. He knew Klaasen would expect another yorker or a wide line. Aarav decided to bowl the hard length—top of off stump, at pace. He ran in. 153.5 kmph. Klaasen, expecting the yorker, stayed low. The ball skidded through faster than he anticipated. He tried to run it down to third man. He was cramped for room. The ball beat the bat and crashed into the off-stump. The LED lights flashed red.
Ravi Shastri (SCREAMING): "BOWLED HIM! HE'S KNOCKED HIM OVER! The danger man is gone! Aarav Pathak wins the battle of the Titans! Heinrich Klaasen has to go! 5 needed off 3 balls! What a comeback!"
Heinrich Klaasen b Aarav 66 (38)Score: SA 158/6
New Batsman:Kagiso Rabada. The tension was palpable. Rabada can hit a long ball.
Ball 4: Rabada on strike. 5 off 3. Aarav bowled a wide yorker. Rabada threw his bat at it. Thick outside edge to third man. They ran hard. Just a single. 1 Run.
Equation: 4 runs needed off 2 balls.
Ball 5:Wayne Parnell on strike. A boundary wins it. A two ties it. Aarav bowled a slower bouncer. Parnell was early on the pull. He mistimed it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder collected it. They ran one. They looked for two, but the throw was good. 1 Run.
Equation: 3 runs needed off 1 ball. (Super Over on 2).
Ball 6: Kagiso Rabada on strike. 3 to win. 2 to tie. Aarav Pathak stood at the top of his mark. The stadium was deafeningly loud. He ran in for the final time. He bowled a length ball, angling across. Rabada cleared his front leg. He swung with full power, trying to launch it over long-on for the win. He got height, but not distance. The ball went straight up into the night sky. It swirled in the Cuttack humidity.
It was in the vacuum between the bowler, mid-off, and mid-on. Aarav called it. "MINE! MINE! MINE!" He sprinted down the pitch. He waved his hands to clear Pant and Hardik who were running in. He kept his eyes on the white ball dropping from the darkness. He judged it. He steadied himself. He cupped his hands. The ball landed safely in his palms.
Ravi Shastri: "CAUGHT! AARAV PATHAK TAKES IT! INDIA WINS! A thriller in Cuttack! They defend 162! The Vice-Captain holds his nerve and holds the catch! South Africa falls short by 2 runs! The series is leveled 1-1!"
Sunil Gavaskar: "What a match! What a finish! Aarav Pathak defended 9 runs in the last over against Klaasen! That is composure of the highest order!"
Aarav threw the ball into the air and punched the sky. Rishabh Pant tackled him. Hardik Pandya jumped on them. The team huddle formed in the middle of the pitch. They had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Match Summary
India: 162/6 (20) South Africa: 160/7 (20)
Result: India won by 2 runs.
Player of the Match: Aarav Pathak (47 runs & 3/28)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Match 3: The Vizag DominationVenue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Status: Series tied 1-1.
After the nail-biting thriller in Cuttack, the caravan moved to the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. The humidity was stifling, but the pitch was a batter's paradise—a stark contrast to the gripping surface of the previous game. Rishabh Pant finally lost the toss, but in a twist of fate, Temba Bavuma asked India to bat first, giving the Indian openers exactly what they wanted.
This night belonged entirely to the top order. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan walked out with a point to prove. They didn't just score; they dismantled the South African attack with a blend of silk and steel. Gaikwad, who had struggled for rhythm, finally found his touch, caressing the ball through the covers with effortless grace, while Kishan took the aerial route, punishing the spinners.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: 57 (35 balls) – SR: 162.8 (7 fours, 2 sixes)
Ishan Kishan: 54 (35 balls) – SR: 154.2 (5 fours, 2 sixes)
They put on a blistering 97 for the first wicket in just 10 overs, setting a massive platform. The crowd roared as Aarav Pathak walked in at Number 3, expecting the fireworks to continue. Aarav looked to accelerate immediately, slashing a boundary through point, but his stay was short-lived. Trying to loft Keshav Maharaj over extra cover, he was deceived by a touch of drift and sliced it to the fielder. Aarav: 14 (10). A quiet night with the bat, but the momentum was sustained by Hardik Pandya's cameo at the death.
India posted a commanding 179/5.
In reply, South Africa crumbled under the pressure of the scoreboard. Harshal Patel was the wrecker-in-chief, his dipping slower balls completely baffling the middle order as he claimed 4 wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal spun a web around the top order, taking 3 scalps. Aarav played the perfect supporting role with the ball today. Bowling in the Powerplay, he kept a tight line, cramping Bavuma and Hendricks. He was rewarded with the wicket of Dwaine Pretorius, who nicked a 145kmph outswinger to Pant. Figures: 4-0-23-1.
Result: India won by 48 runs. Series: India leads 2-1.
Match 4: The Rajkot
Venue: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
Status: India looking to seal the series.
This was the decisive battle. A win here would secure the series for the "Young India" brigade. The Rajkot pitch, usually a road, had a bit of tackiness to it early on, offering seam movement that the South African pacers exploited ruthlessly.
The Indian top order collapsed in a heap. Ishan Kishan (27) started well but fell to a short ball. Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) nicked off early. Shreyas Iyer (4) was trapped LBW. Aarav Pathak, trying to anchor the innings and arrest the slide, received an absolute peach from the tall left-armer Marco Jansen. The ball angled in and seamed away late, taking the feintest of edges through to de Kock. Aarav stood there for a moment in disbelief before walking back, frustrated. Aarav: 13 (11).
India was teetering dangerously at 81/4 in the 13th over. The series leveller seemed imminent for South Africa. But then came the finishers. Hardik Pandya (46 off 31) and Dinesh Karthik (55 off 27) played blinders. DK, in particular, was sensational, sweeping and scooping the pacers to all parts of the ground, dragging India from the depths of despair to a competitive 169/6.
Defending 169 was possible, but India needed early wickets. Rishabh Pant threw the new ball to his Vice-Captain and most experience bowler. Aarav was seething about his batting failure. He didn't say a word; he just marked his run-up with extra aggression. He channeled that frustration into pure, unadulterated pace.
Over 2: Aarav started with a bouncer that hit Temba Bavuma on the helmet. The next ball was a 151 kmph inswinger that Bavuma retired hurt on (later confirmed as an elbow injury).
Over 4: Quinton de Kock tried to take him on. Aarav saw him stepping out and fired in a yorker at the stumps. De Kock was late. The stumps were shattered. Clean Bowled.
Over 11: He returned to bounce out Dwaine Pretorius, who could only glove a searing short ball to Pant.
Over 14: With South Africa reeling, Aarav returned to wipe out the tail. He cleaned up Marco Jansen with a reverse-swinging yorker and had Keshav Maharaj caught at slip with a classic outswinger.
South Africa never recovered from the assault. They collapsed like a house of cards, unable to handle the pace and the pressure. South Africa All Out: 87. It was their lowest total against India in T20Is.
Aarav's Figures: 3.5-0-18-4. Result: India won by 82 runs. Series: India leads 3-1 (Series Won).
Commentary Snippet (Harsha Bhogle): "It is a demolition job in Rajkot! Aarav Pathak failed with the bat, so he decided to destroy them with the ball. 4 for 18! He ran in like a man possessed. He is the complete package—when one skill has an off day, the other wins you the match. India has sealed the series with a game to spare!"
Match 5:M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
The final match was set to be a celebration in front of the passionate Bangalore crowd. The stadium was packed to the rafters, a sea of blue waiting to see the series winners. But the weather gods had other plans. Rain delayed the start multiple times. The match was reduced to 19 overs per side. India started well, reaching 28/2 in 3.3 overs with Aarav Pathak hitting two massive sixes, but then the heavens opened up again. The rain was relentless, washing out any hope of play. The match was Abandoned.
It was an anti-climax to the night, but not to the series. The job had been done in Rajkot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murali Kartik: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Player of the Series. For his all-round impact, scoring a crucial 47 in Cuttack to set the tone and picking up 8 wickets in the series at an economy of just 6.5... Aarav Pathak!"
Aarav walked up to collect the cheque and the trophy. The Bangalore crowd, despite the rain and the lack of a match, roared for him, chanting "Seth Saheb!"
Murali Kartik: "Aarav, Vice-Captaincy debut, Series win, Player of the Series. A pretty good month for you?"
Aarav (Smiling): "Can't complain, Murali. The boys played amazing cricket. After the first loss in Delhi, a lot of people wrote us off. But the way we bounced back in Cuttack and Vizag showed the character of this team. Personally, I enjoyed the responsibility. My batting didn't click in the last two games, which was frustrating, but I'm glad I could contribute with the ball in Rajkot to help seal the series."
Murali Kartik: "You seemed to be bowling with some extra fire in Rajkot. Was that the frustration of getting out early?"
Aarav: "Maybe a little (laughs). I hate getting out when I'm set. But when you have the ball in hand, you can fix your mistakes. The rhythm felt good, and the reverse swing in Rajkot was a bonus."
Murali Kartik: "Next big stop: England. The Red Ball. Excited?"
Aarav: "Test cricket is the ultimate test. Can't wait to join Rohit bhai and Virat bhai there. We have unfinished business from last year, leading 2-1. We want to finish that job."
The Indian team gathered on the podium, laughing and joking. The camaraderie of the young squad was evident. Rishabh Pant collected the trophy, beaming. In a fine tradition, he handed it straight to the debutants and the young guns—Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel—who hoisted it high.
As the team posed for the photographs with the trophy, Aarav stood next to Pant, his arm around his captain. The "Young India" experiment was a massive success. They had defended the fortress at home without the seniors. The transition era had begun, and Aarav Pathak was right at the center of it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rain in Bangalore had washed out the final match, but it hadn't washed out the spirits of the "Young India" squad. In the spacious team lounge of the JW Marriott, Arshdeep Singh was busy with his second profession: Content Creation.
The tall left-arm pacer had set up his phone against a water bottle on the coffee table. He was setting up camera (indoors, of course).
"Ready? One, two, three... go!"
Arshdeep started moving. It was a trending Punjabi track. He was doing the Bhangra step, transitioning into a slick hip-hop move. Joining him in the frame was Ishan Kishan, who was trying (and failing) to match Arshdeep's rhythm, and Yuzvendra Chahal, who was just doing his own random dance in the background.
Aarav Pathak sat on the couch nearby, watching the spectacle with amusement, sipping his black coffee. He shook his head as Arshdeep finished the take with a dab.
"Cut!" Arshdeep yelled, running to check the phone. "Oh, this is fire! This is going on the main feed. 1 Million views guaranteed."
He looked at Aarav. "Aarav, come on! One reel with the Player of the Series? Just a small cameo?"
Aarav laughed, raising his hand in refusal. "No chance, Arsh. My dancing skills are reserved for winning trophies only. You guys carry on."
Arshdeep uploaded the video, tagged everyone, and then flopped down on the sofa next to Aarav. The energy of the dance faded into a relaxed, comfortable silence between friends.
They had come a long way. From the U-19 camps to the Gujarat Titans dressing room, and now, sharing the Indian dressing room.
"So," Arshdeep said, opening a bottle of water. "England next for you?"
Aarav nodded. "Yeah. We fly out in two days. The Test squad is gathering in Leicester. Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are already there. It's going to be cold."
"Red ball," Arshdeep mused, a hint of admiration in his voice. "The big league."
"You'll get there, Arsh," Aarav said, patting his knee. "The way you bowled in Cuttack and Rajkot? The selectors are watching. Red ball isn't far."
Arshdeep smiled, leaning back. "I'm happy with the white ball for now, Paaji. Speaking of which... the squad for Ireland is being finalized tonight."
The BCCI was sending two separate squads. The Test team (including Aarav, Rohit, Virat, Bumrah, Shami) would be in England preparing for the 5th Test. A separate T20 squad would travel to Dublin for two matches against Ireland.
"I think I'm in," Arshdeep said, though there was a hint of nervous excitement in his voice. "I mean, I played 4 matches here. Took wickets. Both Powerplay & Death bowling was decent."
"Decent?" Aarav raised an eyebrow. "You defended totals on dew-soaked grounds, Arsh. You cleaned up Bavuma and Miller. You are not just 'in'; you are probably leading the attack if Bhuvi bhai rests."
Arshdeep grinned. "Hardik bhai is leading, right?"
"Most likely," Aarav confirmed. "He deserves it. He's fit, he's firing."
"It's crazy, na?" Arshdeep looked at the ceiling. "A few months ago, we were just discussing strategies in the GT hotel room in Ahmedabad. 'How to bowl to Buttler', 'How to stop Russell'. And now... I might be going to Ireland to play for India, and you are going to England to play a Test match. It feels fast."
"It is fast," Aarav agreed. "But we worked for it. Remember the nets in Patra City? When you were trying to perfect that yorker and kept bowling full tosses?"
Arshdeep groaned, covering his face. "Don't remind me. You hit those full tosses into the railway station."
"And now look at you," Aarav said softly. "You bowled that yorker to Klaasen in Cuttack. That was world-class."
It was a quiet moment of reflection. In the high-speed world of international cricket, these pauses were rare. Arshdeep wasn't just a teammate; he was a brother-in-arms. They had won the World Cup at U-19 level, they had lifted the IPL trophy together, and they had just defended a series win for India.
"If you go to Ireland," Aarav said, "don't take it lightly. It's cold there too. The ball swings. Use it."
"I will," Arshdeep nodded seriously. "I want to cement my spot for the World Cup in Australia. That's the goal. The big grounds... the bounce... it suits me."
"It suits us," Aarav corrected. "We are going to Australia together, Arsh. I'm not playing a World Cup without my death bowler."
Arshdeep beamed. "Done deal."
"But first," Aarav stood up, checking his phone. "We need to pack. And you need to teach Ishan how to actually dance because that reel was embarrassing."
Arshdeep laughed, jumping up. "Ishan! Come here! VC says your bhangra looks like PT exercise!"
As the chaos resumed in the lounge, Aarav smiled. The paths were splitting for a few weeks—England and Ireland—but the destination was the same. They were the future, and the future looked bright.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: - 5200+ 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!