Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
2nd Test – India tour of West Indies, 2017
Day 1 to Day 5 | July 14–18
🟦 Prologue — Grey Above, Fire Below
Jamaica greeted the teams with clouds and crosswinds.
The outfield was soft. The sky was iron. Sabina Park was humming—not loud, but steady.
A light drizzle delayed the toss by thirty-five minutes.
Ishaan sat beside the window in the dressing room, watching raindrops trace paths on the glass.
"First Antigua. Now Kingston. Same silence. Different challenge."
🕘 Day 1 — The Trapdoor Opens
India won the toss and chose to ball under looming clouds.
West Indies – 263 all out
❌ Ishaan's First Innings — Fall at the Edge
Score: 22/1 | Over 8.3 – Kemar Roach to Verma
Ball: Good length, just outside off, angling in with a whisper of seam.
Shot: Ishaan pressed forward to defend—slight edge, faint nick.
Caught behind. Gone for 17 (38).
Stump Mic (Roach):
"That's what happens when you blink too early, kid."
🎙️ Commentary – Ian Bishop
"That's a proper Test dismissal. Ishaan Verma's technique is tight, but Roach found the thread between bat and pad."
Ishaan stared at his bat on the way back.
Not anger. Just acknowledgment.
"You miss by inches in Test cricket. But it feels like miles."
🧮 End of Day 2:
India – 218 all out
West Indies Lead: 45 runs
Day 3 - West Indies tried to make a big target for India but got all out at 174.
🟨 Day 4 — The Fourth Innings Begins
Target: 210 runs
The pitch had changed. It had cracks like split concrete. The odd ball rose like smoke from a bonfire. Gabriel's eyes sparkled.
🚨 Score: 38/2
Vijay gone. Dhawan gone.
Ishaan Verma walked in.
The crowd was sparse, but voices rang out from the Kingston stands.
"Let's go Windies!"
"Send 'im back, Kemar!"
"One more nick, boss!"
🟥 Over 13.2 – Roach to Verma
Ball: Nipping in viciously from length.
Shot: Inside edge onto pad. Almost carried to short leg.
Stump Mic (Roach):
"You won't get lucky all day."
Ishaan tapped his bat. Took a breath.
"Then I'll get stubborn."
🟩 Partnership: Verma & Pujara
For the next 25 overs, they built a wall no one noticed forming.
Not flashy. Not fast. But iron-forged.
🎙️ Commentary – Harsha Bhogle
"Two men. Two timezones. One goal. This is Test cricket's rhythm section—Pujara and Verma."
Over 22.4 – Holder to Verma
Ball: Full and wide.
Shot: Square drive. Lean and precise.
FOUR.
His first boundary after 45 balls.
Over 37.5 – Chase to Verma
Ball: Off-break, middle stump.
Shot: Forward block. Dot.
🕒 Tea – Score: India 126/2
Verma 33(98), Pujara 45(133)**
Kohli clapped from the dressing room.
Kohli (to Rahane): "This boy is starting to look like granite."
🟥 Over 51.1 – Gabriel to Verma
Ball: Short, aimed at ribs.
Shot: Swivel pull—just past short fine.
FOUR.
Stump Mic (Gabriel):
"Where'd that come from?"
Ishaan (gritting):
"Been saving it."
🟦 Score: 172/3 | Over 62.4 – Chase to Verma
He tucked it behind square for a couple.
Umpire's signal: 50 for Verma (off 131 balls)
No celebration. Just a nod.
But in the stands, a little Indian boy waved a tricolour scarf, yelling, "Come on, Ishaan bhaiya!"
🟥 Final Phase – Target in Sight
Pujara fell on 61. Rahane followed. Ishaan was suddenly 59*(146), with 8 runs needed.
Kohli joined him and finished things off in style.
🏁 India win by 5 wickets
Ishaan Verma: 59(146)*
Match total: 76 runs across both innings
🎙️ Post-Match Interview
Caribbean Reporter:
"Ishaan, people are starting to call you India's next Wall. What do you say?"
Ishaan (smiling):
"No walls. Just bricks. One at a time."
✍️ Final Scene
Back at the hotel balcony, Ishaan scribbled in his journal.
"One innings to forget. One to remember. That's how redemption is built—brick by brick."
He closed the book.
Outside, the rain began to fall softly. But he wasn't hiding from it this time.