Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Day 2 – India vs West Indies, 1st Test
July 7, 2017
🕗 9:45 AM — The Hum of Day Two
There was no buzz in the hotel lobby. No press vans waiting. No flashbulbs.
Just the quiet tap of Ishaan's rubber soles across the marble floor as he made his way to the team bus.
The wind was softer today. The Antigua sky was cotton-white, the air muggy but manageable. Ishaan sat in his seat, earbuds in, eyes shut—but not asleep.
"Forty-three not out. Not a single boundary people will remember. Good."
"Let this be the innings they forget to broadcast. And the one I never forget."
🕘 10:00 AM — Back in the Bubble
Warmups were minimal. Just enough to loosen joints. Enough to not think.
He shadow-batted alone near the boundary, mimicking soft hands, back foot checks, exaggerated forward strides. A boy in the stands waved a small Indian flag—barely fluttering in the still air.
Only 312 spectators, by official count.
But Ishaan didn't want the thousands today.
He wanted the pitch. The ball. His bat.
And the silence between heartbeats.
🟦 Score: 179/2 | Day 2 Begins
Pujara and Ishaan returned to the crease. The scoreboard barely looked touched from the night before.
The pitch had aged—not badly, but enough for the cracks to wink at Gabriel's pace and Bishoo's drift.
Ishaan tapped his bat twice. Took guard again.
"One run at a time. One breath at a time."
🎙️ Commentary – Harsha Bhogle
"It's not often in modern cricket that you get a throwback to 90s Test match tempo. Ishaan Verma has left more balls in this innings than most top orders face in a T20 game."
🔁 Morning Session – The Waiting Game
Over 91.2 – Holder to Verma
Ball: Angling in, good length.
Shot: Tucked to square leg for a single.
Score: Verma 44*(125)
Stump Mic (Holder):
"Five an hour, huh?"
Ishaan (quietly):
"All day if I have to."
Over 95.5 – Gabriel to Verma
Ball: Short and rising.
Shot: Swayed. Let go. Ball thuds into the keeper's gloves.
Inner Monologue:
"He wants the pull. I won't even blink."
Over 101.4 – Bishoo to Verma
Ball: Flighted on off.
Shot: Forward, soft hands. Dead bat.
Dot. Another one. Another hour.
🕚 11:30 AM – Score: 203/2 | Verma: 48*(153)
Then it came.
Over 104.2 – Bishoo to Verma
Ball: Drifting, full on middle.
Shot: Step forward—elegant push past mid-on.
FOUR.
Applause: A small clap, two conch shells blown from the local stand.
🟩 Ishaan Verma — 50 off 156 balls
Helmet off. Head down. Just a quiet nod.
🗨️ Commentary – Ian Bishop
"Fifty from 156. But the pitch looks less threatening than it did. That's what time does. And discipline."
🕛 Lunch – Score: India 221/2 | Verma 53*(164), Pujara 86*(240)
Kohli walked over as they entered the dressing room.
Kohli: "You've been sharpening your axe. Keep swinging when it's time."
Ishaan (softly): "Won't miss the tree."
Afternoon Session – The Gear Shift
As the sun leaned westward, the ball grew softer, the pitch slower.
And the monk with the bat turned into a surgeon.
Over 115.3 – Holder to Verma
Ball: Full and straight.
Shot: On-drive. Crisp. Past mid-on.
FOUR.
Over 118.2 – Gabriel to Verma
Ball: Short outside off.
Shot: Uppercut behind point.
FOUR.
Commentary – Harsha:
"Now he's starting to write poetry. First patience, now punctuation."
🏏 Score: India 264/2 | Verma 74*(193)
Over 122.5 – Bishoo to Verma
Ball: Flighted on leg.
Shot: Swept fine, deliberate and late.
FOUR.
Over 126.1 – Chase to Verma
Ball: Shortish.
Shot: Rocked back, punched through covers.
FOUR.
🟨 Ishaan Verma: 91*(216)
Pujara walked over mid-pitch.
Pujara (smiling): "You looked asleep for 40 overs. Now you look hungry."
Ishaan: "I always was. Just needed the storm to calm."
Over 130.3 – Chase to Verma
Ball: Floated on off.
Shot: Advance, head still—driven over extra cover.
SIX.
Crowd: More than just clapping now. A few rise to their feet.
🟩 Ishaan Verma — 100 (224 balls)*
Helmet off. Bat raised. Pujara claps at the non-striker's end.
A wave. But no roar.
No brass bands. No firecrackers.
Just the soft rustle of palm trees in the wind, and a crowd of 300 applauding one of the finest silent centuries Test cricket could offer.
🎙️ Commentary – Harsha Bhogle
"This isn't flash. This is foundation. This isn't a firecracker. This is a lighthouse in fog."
Tea – Score: India 289/2
Verma: 111(238)*
Pujara: 112(287)*
Final Moments – Day 2
India batted till stumps, closing the day at 354/3, with Pujara finally dismissed, but Ishaan unbeaten.
As he walked back to the pavilion, no chest thumps. No muscle-flexing.
Just a look toward the setting sun and a nod to the heavens.
Locker Room
Kohli patted him on the back as he took off his gloves.
Kohli: "That's how you silence ghosts."
Ishaan didn't say anything.
But later, in his journal, beneath the neatly written "111 (224)"*, he wrote:
"This was not for headlines. This was for breathing again."
Day 3 - India vs West Indies, 1st test July 8, 2017
Ishaan and jadeja were batting beautifully and by the end of 1st session india declared at 344/5. Ishaan remained unbeaten at 136(275)*.
West Indies tried their best but they got all out on 124.
India had a lead of 220 runs.
India used follow-on and West Indies started their second innings.
West Indies players tried to find their timming but the Indian bowlers made quick work of them.
West Indies all out at 174.
India wins by an innings and 46 runs.