June 4, 2017 | Edgbaston, Birmingham
India vs Pakistan – Group Stage | Champions Trophy
The Day Begins
The sky above Birmingham was the colour of wet cement—heavy, hesitant, undecided. But the energy inside Edgbaston was anything but grey.
Fans painted in blue and green poured in from every corner. Tricolours waved. Green crescents fluttered. Security ringed the stadium like a steel halo. From the dressing room balcony, Ishaan Verma stood staring at the packed stands, the storm of noise swelling like monsoon clouds.
Inner Monologue:
I've played Pakistan in dreams. Now it's real. Now it counts.
Down in the middle, Kohli won the toss.
"We'll bat first."
The roar from the Indian crowd was thunderous.
The XI
India XI:
Rohit Sharma
Shikhar Dhawan
Virat Kohli (C)
Ishaan Verma
MS Dhoni (wk)
Yuvraj Singh
Hardik Pandya
Jadeja
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Umesh Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Pakistan XI:
Azhar Ali
Ahmed Shehzad
Babar Azam
Shoaib Malik
Sarfraz Ahmed (C & wk)
Imad Wasim
Mohammad Hafeez
Hasan Ali
Shadab Khan
Junaid Khan
Mohammad Amir
First Innings — India Bat
11:00 AM Local Time
Opening Overs
Rohit and Dhawan took strike under overcast skies. The pitch was two-paced. The outfield, slick. Amir steamed in, wrists whippy, eyes fierce.
But India began steadily—Rohit's silken timing and Dhawan's nudges setting a platform.
14th over – 108/1
Virat Kohli walked in to a chorus of cheers. Ishaan leaned forward in his seat.
16th over – Rohit dismissed, India 136/2
It was time.
Ishaan Takes Guard
16.3 – Amir to Verma
Full and straight. Ishaan lunged forward—blocked.
Stump Mic (Amir):
"First ICC game against us, boy? Let's see if you last."
16.4 – Amir to Verma
Back of a length, quick. Ishaan swayed.
No run.
He didn't look up. Just tapped his bat once and reset.
The Building Begins
Over 18 – Shadab to Verma
Flighted on off. Ishaan leaned into it — stroked it to deep cover.
Single.
Over 20.2 – Amir returns
Short ball. Sharp.
Ishaan rocked back. Hooked. Clean. Crisp. Cruel.
The ball soared into the crowd behind fine leg.
SIX!
🎙️ Commentary (Sanjay Manjrekar):
"What a statement! Against Amir. In an ICC tournament. This kid has fire."
🎧 Stump Mic (Amir, muttering):
"Hmm… okay. One shot."
👥 Crowd Reaction:
Roars. Indian flags rise. Kohli claps from the other end.
Ishaan Finds Rhythm
Over 23.4 – Junaid Khan to Verma
Good length on off. Punched through covers.
FOUR!
Over 25.1 – Hafeez to Verma
Flatter. Ishaan sweeps — hard, along the ground.
FOUR more.
At the other end, Kohli began rotating strike. Dhoni padded up inside the dressing room.
India 215/2 – 29 overs
📺 Press Box Reactions
"India's future is batting like he's seen this movie before."
"Verma looks born for the ICC spotlight."
"68 runs off 61. Calm. Calculated. Ice in veins."
Wicket Falls
30.3 – Shadab to Verma
Tossed up. Ishaan skips down — misreads the length.
He checks the shot, nudges it to mid-off.
Kohli (calling): "No, no!"
Too late. Throw comes in… Kohli is gone.
India 242/3
Kohli walks past Ishaan, no words. Just a quick glance. A nod.
Verma looked down. Swallowed the lump. Reset.
Scoreboard Ticks
Over 33.1 – Hasan Ali to Verma
Back of a length. Cut through point.
FOUR.
68*(61)
Next ball, slower bouncer. Ishaan lets it go.
Then… the skies open. Rain stops play.
Rain Delay — The Dressing Room
Inside, Ishaan sat near the window, his pads still on. Helmet resting beside him. He stared at the wet outfield. The crowd had their umbrellas up. The atmosphere was heavy.
Dhoni walked over.
Dhoni (smirking):
"Hooking Amir. Brave."
Ishaan (softly):
"Didn't plan it. Just… saw it."
Dhoni:
"Good. Now learn to unsee when needed too."
Match Resumes – 41-over Match
India finishes at 319/3. Dhoni and Yuvraj explode. Ishaan stays unbeaten on *68(61)**.
As he walks off, the crowd gives him a standing ovation.
📰 Headlines That Night:
"Verma's Arrival on ICC Stage"
"The ICC Now Has a New Prodigy"
"Verma Hooks, Then Hurts Pakistan"
Second Innings – India Bowl
Pakistan collapse for 164.
Bumrah, Bhuvi, and Umesh tear through.
🎙️ Post-Match Interview – Ishaan Verma
Reporter: "First ICC knock. Sixty-eight. Against Pakistan. Feel different now?"
Ishaan: (quiet smile)
"It's just a start. The real game is consistency."
Back at the Hotel – Nightfall
The city slept. Twitter didn't.
On one tab:
"Verma – class act."
"Next Kohli incoming."
"Cricket's next crown prince."
On another:
"Played for himself."
"Bats only when there's no pressure."
"Try that in the final."
But Ishaan didn't reply. Didn't scroll.
Instead, he opened the gallery on his phone.
Played an old video:
A dusty coaching ground. A boy with braces. A bowler with a wide grin.
Raghav, bowling with a tennis ball.
Ishaan, 12 years old, swatting it through midwicket.
Laughter in the background.
He smiled. A long, quiet smile.
Inner Monologue:
One game at a time. But the fire… it's burning now.
He clicked off the screen.
Outside, Edgbaston rested.
Inside, Ishaan Verma didn't.