The Wankhede was still buzzing from Aarav's debut wicket. But Steve Smith knew the job wasn't done—Mumbai still had Rohit Sharma at the crease, the captain who had rescued them countless times. He turned to his most trusted weapon in the middle overs.
"Imran, continue," Smith said, tossing the ball back to the South African leg-spinner.
Tahir, ever animated, spun the ball between his palms, eyes glinting. He had conceded just 7 runs in his first over and looked sharp. Now the pressure was on Mumbai to rebuild.
At the crease stood Rohit Sharma and Nitish Rana. Aarav watched from fine leg, still coming down from the high of his first wicket, but now fully invested as a teammate.
Ball 1
Tahir floated one up, dipping on a length outside off. Rohit leaned forward, dead-batting it with soft hands.
Dot ball. The crowd clapped nervously.
Ball 2
Tahir adjusted, this time a little quicker, fuller, attacking the stumps. Rohit misjudged the length, playing across the line. The ball sneaked under his bat and crashed into middle.
WICKET! Rohit Sharma – bowled for 6.
The Wankhede gasped, then roared in disbelief. Rohit, visibly annoyed, shook his head and walked off. Tahir took off in his trademark celebration—arms outstretched, sprinting towards the boundary with a roar of his own. His teammates chased after him, laughing and celebrating.
Aarav felt goosebumps. In the space of Three overs, Pune had removed both openers and the Mumbai skipper.
Ball 3
Ambati Rayudu walked out, steady and experienced. Tahir pulled back his pace, tossing one outside off. Rayudu defended cautiously, tapping it square for a single.
1 run.
Ball 4
Rana faced Tahir for the first time this over. The leggie bowled a quicker one on off-stump. Rana nudged it to midwicket and ran through for another single.
1 run.
Ball 5
Tahir flighted it again, daring Rayudu to attack. Rayudu obliged, stretching forward, but could only chip it wide of cover. They ran two.
2 runs.
The crowd relaxed slightly—Rayudu looked like he was settling in.
Ball 6
Tahir had other plans.
He ripped a googly, pitching it full and straight. Rayudu misread it, playing down the wrong line. The ball struck him flush on the pad. A huge shout went up from Tahir and the close-in fielders.
The umpire's finger shot up.
WICKET! Rayudu – LBW for 3.
The stadium erupted again—half in disbelief, half in joy for the contest. Mumbai Indians had crumbled from 41/0 to 54/4 in just Three overs.
Tahir pumped his fists, letting out another primal roar. His teammates surrounded him, the yellow-and-blue jerseys buzzing with energy. Smith's face broke into a grin—his bowling changes had worked like a charm.
From fine leg, Aarav clapped so hard his palms stung. This was exactly why he had dreamed of IPL—to be in moments like this, shoulder to shoulder with world-class players who could turn games in a blink.
On the scoreboard, the numbers told the story:
Mumbai Indians – 54/4 after 7 overs.
The powerplay had ended not with dominance, but with Pune clawing back control.
And somewhere in that charged Wankhede air, Aarav realized—this wasn't just a match. It was a battle of nerve, patience, and belief.