The definition of noise is a sound that is loud, unpleasant, or disruptive.
But inside the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on the evening of May 29, 2022, it was more than that. The voices of 132,000 people filled the stadium.
The largest cricket stadium on the planet—had become a wall of sound. Thousands of LED lights illuminated the roof and stands, keeping the entire arena bright.
This was the IPL Final.
Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Gujarat Titans.
Up in the main broadcast studio, the glass trembled slightly from the noise below.
"I have traveled the world for thirty years," Harsha Bhogle's voice carried through the broadcast. "I have been to the MCG. I have been to Eden Gardens. I have stood at Lord's. But I promise you, I have never experienced anything quite like this. A hundred and thirty-two thousand people. A sea of orange and dark blue. The scale of this arena is staggering, and the stakes tonight are enormous."
[A/N: I prefer not to speak, If I speak I am in trouble]
"It is gladiatorial, Harsha," Ian Bishop agreed. "The Gujarat Titans, the debutants playing in their own backyard, against the most consistent team in franchise cricket this season. The Sunrisers Hyderabad have been a machine. But tonight, past records mean nothing. The slate is wiped clean. It is about who can hold their nerve."
Down in the center of the pitch, Siddanth Deva looked around the stadium.
He wore the orange and black Sunrisers jersey. The humid Gujarat air clung to his skin, but his posture was relaxed. The size of the crowd did not seem to affect him.
Opposite him stood Hardik Pandya. The Gujarat Titans captain was chewing gum, his eyes moving across the pitch.
The match referee, Javagal Srinath, stood between them with the commemorative coin.
"Siddanth, you are the visiting captain. The call is yours," Srinath said, his voice almost lost beneath the crowd.
The coin spun into the air, reflecting the floodlights before falling toward the pitch.
"Tails," Deva called.
The coin struck the dry earth and settled.
"It is tails," Srinath confirmed.
Ian Bishop turned toward Deva.
"Siddanth, you have won the toss in front of a hundred and thirty-two thousand people in the biggest match of the year. What are you going to do?"
"We are going to bowl first, Ian," Deva announced.
"A brave call in a final. Traditional wisdom says to put runs on the board and use scoreboard pressure. What is the reasoning behind chasing tonight?"
"The traditional wisdom doesn't account for the dew factor in Ahmedabad," Deva replied. "It is humid tonight. By the second innings, the outfield will be wet, the ball will skid onto the bat, and gripping it will be difficult for the spinners. We trust our bowling unit to execute while the ball is dry and the pitch is fresh. We want to know exactly what equation we are chasing, and we back our top order to get it."
"A confident assessment," Bishop said, turning to Hardik. "Hardik, what would you have done?"
"I would have bowled first as well," Hardik admitted. "But setting a total in a final has its advantages. If we put up a big score, the pressure of the occasion can affect a chasing side. We are ready."
The captains shook hands and returned to their dugouts.
"The news from the center is that Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the toss and elected to bowl," Harsha told the audience. "Siddanth Deva is backing his pace attack and his batting lineup. The stage is set."
The crowd grew louder as the players walked onto the field.
Deva gathered his team near the edge of the thirty-yard circle.
"They are going to come hard," Deva told them. "The crowd will push them toward risks. Do not chase the game. Stick to the lengths we discussed. Make them hit the good balls. Bhuvi, you set the tone."
Bhuvneshwar Kumar nodded and took the white Kookaburra ball.
Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill walked out to open for Gujarat. The home crowd chanted their names.
Bhuvi began his run-up and delivered at 134 kmph.
The first over was controlled. He pitched the ball up, found late away-swing, and repeatedly beat Saha's outside edge.
Only two runs came from the over.
T. Natarajan took the ball from the other end, using his left-arm angle against Gill.
In the third over, Saha tried to step out and hit Bhuvi over mid-wicket.
Bhuvi had anticipated the movement. He pulled his length back and rolled his fingers over the seam.
Saha committed to the shot and missed.
The ball struck his front pad.
The umpire raised his finger.
GT were 11 for 1.
The Sunrisers had struck first.
But Gujarat had not reached the final by collapsing under pressure.
Matthew Wade joined Gill. They began rebuilding.
Gill, whose technique had been refined during his years at SRH, remained patient. He waited for loose deliveries, driving through cover and rotating the strike.
At the end of the powerplay, GT were 44 for 1.
Deva studied the pitch and batsmen.
He signaled toward the boundary.
Umran Malik removed his cap and handed it to the umpire.
The screens showed the young fast bowler as the crowd waited.
Umran ran in, his action now more controlled than earlier in the season. His wrist stayed locked through release.
The speed gun flashed:
153.6 kmph.
The ball hit a hard length.
Matthew Wade attempted the pull, but the pace hurried him. The ball took the top half of the bat and looped toward mid-wicket.
Kane Williamson took the catch.
GT were 52 for 2.
Hardik Pandya walked out.
The crowd responded as their captain took guard.
The middle overs became a battle.
Deva introduced Chahal and Kuldeep together.
The two wrist-spinners bowled with different trajectories, trying to restrict the scoring.
Hardik and Gill refused to be contained.
Hardik used his strength to hit Chahal over long-on. Gill used his hands to rotate the strike against Kuldeep.
"This is a good fightback from the Titans," Ricky Ponting observed. "They are playing Deva's side intelligently. Hardik is taking calculated risks and Gill is holding the innings together."
The partnership moved the score beyond 100 and then 130.
Gill reached his half-century and raised his bat to the crowd.
In the 16th over, Natarajan dismissed him in the deep.
With four overs remaining, GT were 142 for 3.
The death overs became a contest between the batsmen and the SRH bowlers.
Aiden Markram hit two sixes before Bhuvneshwar dismissed him with a wide yorker.
Rahul Tewatia came in, but Umran returned and removed him with a 154 kmph delivery.
Hardik remained until the final ball, finishing unbeaten on 62.
The scoreboard updated:
GUJARAT TITANS: 184/7
OVERS: 20.0
The home crowd celebrated.
"And that is a strong total in the final," Harsha concluded. "One hundred and eighty-four runs. Siddanth Deva wanted an equation, and Hardik Pandya has given him one. Sunrisers now need nine an over."
The mid-innings break passed quickly.
The humid Ahmedabad air remained over the stadium as David Warner and Kane Williamson walked out.
The plan was simple. Warner would attack and Williamson would anchor.
Mohammed Shami took the new ball.
Warner took guard.
The crowd was loud.
Shami ran in and bowled at 140 kmph on the fourth-stump line.
The ball moved away after pitching.
Warner reached for the drive without moving his feet far enough.
The outside edge flew toward the wicketkeeper.
Wriddhiman Saha dived and took the catch.
The Narendra Modi Stadium erupted.
"CAUGHT BEHIND! SHAMI STRIKES ON BALL ONE!" Ian Smith roared. "David Warner is gone on the first delivery! Gujarat have the start they wanted!"
The SRH dugout went quiet.
Deva watched Warner walk back.
Abhishek Sharma came out.
Kane Williamson spoke to him at the middle.
The pair survived the rest of the over.
Hardik then turned to Lockie Ferguson.
Ferguson ran in and bowled at 152 kmph to Williamson.
Williamson tried to guide it behind the slips.
The ball moved through the bat and stumps.
The bails flew.
"BOWLED HIM!" Ricky Ponting shouted. "Lockie Ferguson has produced the delivery! Kane Williamson is gone! SRH are 22 for two!"
The scoreboard showed:
SRH 22/2
The required rate was already close to ten an over.
Heinrich Klaasen joined Abhishek.
As Klaasen reached the middle, Abhishek walked toward him.
"They are bowling with pace," Abhishek said. "The ball is skidding."
"Good," Klaasen replied. "Pace means it comes faster to the bat. We don't defend. We counter-attack."
The two batsmen began rebuilding.
When Shami pitched up, Abhishek stepped forward and drove through cover for four.
When Ferguson bowled a slower bouncer, Klaasen picked the change and pulled it over mid-wicket for six.
"This is a good counter-punch from the Sunrisers," Harsha said. "Two wickets down early, but Abhishek and Klaasen are taking the game back to Gujarat."
The partnership grew.
Hardik introduced Rashid Khan.
Rashid knew the SRH batsmen well.
He bowled a rapid googly to Klaasen.
Klaasen got down and swept it over deep square leg for six.
Abhishek then used his feet and struck Rashid down the ground.
The score moved beyond 80, then 100.
The crowd grew quieter.
But the partnership ended in the 14th over.
Hardik brought Shami back.
Shami bowled a short delivery at Abhishek's ribs.
Abhishek attempted the hook.
The ball climbed off the bat.
Markram ran in from deep square leg and took the catch.
"CAUGHT! Markram TAKES IT!" Ian Smith shouted. "Abhishek Sharma has played a vital innings, but Shami breaks the partnership!"
Abhishek walked away after scoring 48.
The scoreboard showed:
SRH: 108/3
OVERS: 13.4
The stadium announcer called the next batsman.
"Captain, Siddanth Deva!"
A roar moved through the stadium.
Even the Gujarat crowd acknowledged the player walking toward the pitch.
Deva reached the middle and tapped gloves with Klaasen.
"Great platform, Klaasy," Deva said. "You keep playing your game. I'll handle the pace."
Klaasen nodded.
"The ball is getting wet with the dew."
"Perfect," Deva replied.
He took guard.
Shami bowled the fifth ball of the over.
A full delivery aimed at off-stump.
Deva stepped across his stumps and played a lap-sweep over short fine leg.
Four runs.
"That is outrageous!" Ponting shouted. "First ball in the final and he plays that!"
Deva took a single from the final ball.
SRH: 113/3 after 14 overs.
Hardik handed Rashid the 15th over.
Rashid bowled a googly.
Deva read it and waited deep before playing a slog-sweep over mid-wicket.
Six.
The next delivery was faster and flatter.
Deva stepped out and lofted it over the sight-screen.
Another six.
He took a single.
Klaasen hit a boundary off the fifth.
The over produced 18 runs.
SRH: 131/3 after 15 overs.
The required rate dropped.
Hardik turned to Ferguson.
Ferguson bowled a 150 kmph yorker.
Klaasen dug it out for a single.
Deva came on strike.
Ferguson bowled short.
Deva rolled his wrists and pulled the ball over deep square leg for six.
The stadium fell quiet except for the SRH supporters.
Ferguson then bowled a slower delivery to Klaasen.
Klaasen swung early.
The ball took the leading edge.
Hardik settled underneath it and took the catch.
"And the Titans strike!" Harsha announced. "Klaasen falls for 42. SRH are 145 for four!"
SRH needed 40 runs from 26 balls.
David Miller came out.
Deva walked toward him.
"Ferguson is mixing his pace," Deva said. "Shami and Hardik will look for yorkers. Take a couple of balls to settle. If it's in your arc, go."
"Understood," Miller replied.
Miller took a single off Ferguson.
Deva took a single.
16 overs: SRH 147/4. Target: 38 from 24.
Shami returned.
He bowled three wide yorkers, allowing only singles.
On the fourth delivery, he drifted onto the pads.
Deva flicked it over deep square leg.
Six.
He took a single.
Miller faced the final ball.
Shami bowled outside off.
Miller sliced it backward of point.
Four.
17 overs: SRH 161/4. Target: 24 from 18.
Rashid bowled the 18th over.
He did not allow a boundary, conceding six runs.
18 overs: SRH 167/4. Target: 18 from 12.
Ferguson returned for the 19th.
He bowled a 152 kmph yorker to Deva.
Deva dug it out for one.
Miller faced the next ball.
Ferguson bowled a slower bouncer.
Miller read it and pulled it over mid-wicket.
Six.
Ferguson then bowled a wide full toss.
Miller pushed it to deep point for one.
Deva came on strike.
Ferguson bowled a wide yorker.
Deva squeezed it out for two.
He took another single from the final ball.
19 overs: SRH 178/4. Target: 7 from 6 balls.
Hardik Pandya took the ball.
He had six runs to defend against Deva and Miller.
The crowd fell quiet.
Hardik set the field, placing boundary riders on the leg side and bringing off-side fielders into the circle.
He began his run-up.
Ball 1
Hardik bowled a back-of-a-length off-cutter.
Deva read the variation and punched it through extra cover.
The boundary rider stopped it.
They ran two.
Target: 5 from 5 balls.
Ball 2
Hardik aimed for a wide yorker.
Deva moved deep in his crease and squeezed it toward deep point.
They ran two before the throw came in.
Target: 3 from 4 balls.
Ball 3
Hardik bowled a 140 kmph bouncer at the body.
Deva rolled his wrists and dropped the ball into the leg side.
They ran one.
Target: 2 from 3 balls.
David Miller came on strike.
Deva walked toward him.
"The field is up on the off-side," Deva said. "If he pitches it up, finish it."
Miller nodded.
Hardik walked back.
He knew a single would tie the game. He needed the wicket.
He ran in and tried to bowl a yorker at middle stump.
But the ball slipped slightly from his hand.
It became a 138 kmph half-volley.
Miller saw the length.
He cleared his front leg and swung.
The bat met the ball cleanly.
CRACK.
"HE'S GOT IT!" Harsha Bhogle screamed. "DAVID MILLER HAS NAILED IT!"
The ball climbed high toward long-on.
The fielder jumped.
He could not reach it.
The ball cleared the boundary and landed in the lower-tier seats.
The Gujarat crowd went silent.
The SRH dugout exploded.