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November 14, 2021. Dubai International Stadium.The Final. First Innings.
The crowd noise faded into a dull roar as I marked my run-up. The Dubai pitch was hard, rolling out like a carpet of concrete.
Up in the VIP box, the camera panned to Sachin Tendulkar. He sat stoically, arms crossed, analyzing the field placement. Beside him, Shradha was leaning forward, her hands clasped so tightly together that her knuckles were white. She wasn't watching as a cricket fan; she was watching with her heart in her throat.
"Breathe, Shradha," Sachin whispered without looking away from the pitch.
"I can't," she murmured, eyes locked on my figure at the top of the mark. "He looks... scary today."
I did feel scary. The 'King's Aura' was fully deployed. I adjusted the collar of my jersey, popped a bubble, and stared down the track at Martin Guptill.
Guptill, one of the most dangerous white-ball openers in history, tapped his bat. He looked ready.
Over 1. Ball 1.
[System Alert][Mode: Shock and Awe.][Target Velocity: MAX.]
I began the run-up. My legs pumped like pistons. The crowd rhythm started—thud, thud, thud. I hit the crease. I didn't look for swing. I looked for violence. I released the ball.
156.4 kmph.
It was the fastest ball of the tournament. The fastest ball of my career. It wasn't a length ball. It was a bouncer, aimed right at the badge.
Guptill saw it late. He tried to hook, but the ball arrived before his hands could even rise. CRACK. It slammed into the side of his helmet. The impact was sickeningly loud. Guptill's head snapped back. He lost his balance and fell next to the stumps, collapsing into a heap on the ground. The ball, having lost almost no momentum, flew over Rishabh Pant's leaping attempt and raced to the boundary for Four Byes.
Shradha's Reaction: Up in the box, Shradha gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. She grabbed her father's arm. "Dad! Is he okay?" Sachin winced slightly. "That was serious pace. 156 clicks."
On the field, the aggression vanished for a second. I walked up to Guptill as the New Zealand physio sprinted out. Pant ran over. "You okay, mate?" I asked, looking down. Guptill sat up, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs. He grinned—a brave, slightly dazed grin. "Rapid," Guptill muttered. "Wake up call, that was needed."
The Indian slip cordon chuckled nervously. It was a brutal start.
Ball 2: Guptill was shaken, but he was a professional. I ran in again. 150 kmph. Outswinger. I overpitched slightly, looking for the stumps. Guptill didn't move his feet, but his hands were quick. He threw the bat at it. It flew over the cover region. Not perfectly timed, but effective. One bounce over the rope. FOUR.
Ian Smith (Comms): "Good response! He's been hit on the head, but he stands tall and punches back. Guptill is not going to back down from the challenge."
Ball 3: I rolled my fingers. Slower ball. 128 kmph. Guptill was waiting for the thunderbolt. He swung way too early. Miss. The ball dipped and thudded into Pant's gloves.
Ball 4: I went back to the mark. I looked at the stumps. No more games. I ran in. 154.2 kmph. The perfect yorker. Tail-ing in towards the middle stump. Guptill was late. His feet were stuck in cement from the earlier bouncer. He brought his bat down, but the ball was already past him.
CRASH.
The middle stump cartwheeled. The bails lit up the Dubai sky.
Martin Guptill b Aarav 4 (4)New Zealand: 8/1
I roared, punching the air. The stadium erupted. In the VIP box, Shradha jumped out of her seat, clapping furiously, screaming my name. Sachin smiled, clapping a dignified rhythm.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "BOWLED HIM! Absolute fire! He set him up with the bouncer, confused him with the slower ball, and destroyed him with the yorker! Aarav Pathak has drawn first blood in the Final!"
Kane Williamson walked out. The calm amidst the storm. He defended the last two balls of the over with soft hands, killing the pace dead.
End of Over 1.New Zealand: 8/1.
Virat took me off. "Save the overs," Virat said. "We need you for the middle and death. Bhuvi and Jassi will handle the Powerplay."
I fielded at third man, watching the masters at work. Jasprit Bumrah bowled two overs of absolute miserliness, conceding just 8 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar swung the ball both ways, keeping Daryl Mitchell and Kane quiet.
By the end of the Powerplay (6 Overs), New Zealand was 32/1. It was a brilliant start for India. We had them in a chokehold.
But Kane Williamson is a genius for a reason. He doesn't panic. He waits. As soon as the field spread, the gears shifted.
Over 7:Ravindra Jadeja came on. Kane used the crease. He backed away and cut him for four. Then he worked the angles. 8 runs.
Over 8:Varun Chakravarthy. The Mystery Spinner. This was the matchup Kane wanted. Daryl Mitchell decided to attack. He stepped out to the first ball and launched Varun over long-on for SIX. Then Kane played a delicate reverse sweep for FOUR. 14 runs off the over.
Over 9:Hardik Pandya. Hardik, bowling as the sixth bowler, struggled with his line. Mitchell pulled a short ball for FOUR. Kane guided another to third man for a couple. 10 runs.
Over 10: Varun Chakravarthy again. This was the turning point of the innings. Kane Williamson danced down the track. He didn't slog; he lofted it inside-out over extra cover. The most beautiful shot in cricket. SIX! Next ball, he swept hard for FOUR. Daryl Mitchell finished the over with a straight drive for FOUR.
15 runs off the over.
The momentum had swung violently. New Zealand had smashed 47 runs in the last 4 overs.
Score after 10 Overs:New Zealand: 79/1. (Kane Williamson 38*, Daryl Mitchell 31*)
The umpire called for Drinks.
I walked in from the boundary. The Indian team huddled. The faces were a little more serious now. The chokehold had been broken.
"They are targeting Varun," Rohit said, wiping sweat. "Kane is reading him from the hand."
"We need a wicket," Virat said, looking at the scoreboard. "They are set for 170-180."
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Over 12. The Dubai International Stadium.
The Drinks Break was over. The strategy huddle dispersed.
Virat Kohli threw the ball to Varun Chakravarthy. It was a gamble. The mystery spinner had been expensive in his previous over, taken for 15 runs. But Virat needed his X-factor to break the partnership.
Daryl Mitchell was on strike. He looked like a giant, his eyes focused, his bat tapping the crease with ominous intent. He had tasted blood in the previous over and he wanted more.
Ball 12.1: Varun drifted onto the pads slightly. A mistake. Mitchell didn't hesitate. He cleared his front leg and swung through the line. It was hit dead straight. It soared over the sightscreen, crashing into the black cloth. SIX!
Ian Smith (Comms): "He's picked up where he left off! That is a monster! Daryl Mitchell is taking the game away from India. 91 for 1. The pressure is mounting on the young spinner."
Virat kicked the turf. He moved a fielder. He waved at me. I was fielding at Long-Off. The boundary rider. The last line of defense.
Ball 12.2: Varun adjusted. He bowled it wider, fuller, trying to keep it away from the hitting arc. But Mitchell was in a trance. He reached out. He sliced under it, looking to go over Long-Off this time. He connected well. Perfect. The ball flew high into the night sky. It was traveling. It was definitely going for six.
I stood on the rope. I looked up. The lights were blinding. I tracked the trajectory. It was going over my head.
System Calculation: Jump Height Required: 1.9 meters. Probability: 12%.Override: Brett Lee Athleticism.
I didn't step back. I didn't wait for it to land in the crowd. I timed my run. I stepped near the boundary cushion with my right foot to launch myself, then realized I couldn't touch the ground outside. I stutter-stepped just inside the rope. I leaped.
I jumped backward, arching my spine like a bow. My body hung in the air, defying gravity for a split second longer than physics should allow. My right hand shot up.
Thwack.
The ball hit my palm. But my momentum was carrying me over the rope. I was falling backward into the stands.
In mid-air, while horizontal to the ground, I realized I was going to land outside. With a violent twist of my core, I threw the ball up. I landed in the gap between the rope and the advertising boards. I scrambled to my feet. I jumped back into the field of play. The ball was coming down. I dove forward and caught it inches from the grass.
The stadium went silent. Even the Indian fans didn't cheer immediately because they couldn't process what had happened. Then, the umpire signaled Soft Signal: OUT. He drew a square box. Third Umpire check.
The replay played on the giant screen. The leap. The one-handed grab. The throw-back while airborne. The recovery. It was superhuman. It was the "King's Aura" manifesting as pure athleticism.
Harsha Bhogle (Comms): "Oh my... I don't believe it! I simply don't believe it! That was six runs! That was six runs every day of the week! Aarav Pathak has plucked it out of the stratosphere! He has defied gravity! Look at the athleticism! That is the catch of the tournament!"
Ian Bishop (Comms): "Forget the tournament, Harsha. That is one of the greatest catches in World Cup history! He turned a six into a wicket! Daryl Mitchell cannot believe it. He is standing there laughing in disbelief!"
The big screen flashed OUT.
Daryl Mitchell c Aarav b Varun 37 (26)New Zealand: 91/2.
I stood up, dusting off my knees. I didn't celebrate wildly. I just tipped my cap to the crowd. Virat ran all the way from cover to hug me. "You are a cheat code! You are actually a cheat code!"
Shradha was shouting in excitement and cheering.
Glenn Phillips walked out. Muscular, aggressive, dangerous. But the catch had shifted the energy. Varun finished the over quietly.
However, New Zealand didn't panic. Kane Williamson was still there. And Kane decided it was time to accelerate.
Overs 13-15: The middle overs became a masterclass in batting. Kane targeted the Pacers. He waited for Ravindra Jadeja and played the most delicate, infuriating dabs to third man for boundaries. Glenn Phillips ran like a hare. They converted ones into twos.
The partnership grew. 20 runs. 40 runs.50 runs. New Zealand wasn't losing wickets. They were setting a platform for a massive explosion at the death.
By the end of the 15th Over: New Zealand: 149/2. (Kane Williamson 72*, Glenn Phillips 28*)
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "New Zealand is in the driver's seat. 149 with 5 overs to go? They are looking at 200. India needs a miracle. They need wickets in clusters. Aarav Pathak has 3 overs left. Bumrah has 2. It's all down to the death bowling now."
I stood at the top of my mark for the 16th over. My second spell. Last of this world cup. The scoreboard pressure was immense. 200 in a final is almost un-chasable. I looked at Kane. He looked set. He looked invincible.
Three overs left for me. I need to break this.
[System Alert: Death Overs Mode Activated.]
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Over 16. The Dubai International Stadium.
The scoreboard read 149/2. The projection was 190. Maybe even 200. New Zealand had dismantled our spinners. Varun Chakravarthy had gone for 46. Jadeja had been milked. The momentum was entirely with the Black Caps. Kane Williamson was batting on 72, looking like a surgeon who had just put on his gloves. Glenn Phillips was the sledgehammer waiting to strike.
Virat Kohli threw the ball to me. "Aarav," he said, his voice cutting through the noise. "Stop them. Just stop them."
I stood at the top of my mark. I had 3 overs left. Bumrah had 2. Five overs to define the World Cup.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "This is the game right here. 149 on the board with 30 balls left. New Zealand will be targeting 200. But here comes the counter-punch. Aarav Pathak returns. He hasn't bowled since the first over. He has been held back specifically for this moment."
I looked at Kane. He shuffled across, ready to paddle, ready to guide, ready to frustrate.
[System Alert][Mode: Death Bowling.][Execution: 100% Accuracy Required.]
Ball 16.1: I ran in. The crowd roared with my steps. 151.2 kmph. I didn't bowl length. I didn't bowl short. I aimed for the white line. A laser-guided yorker on off-stump. Kane jammed his bat down. He squeezed it to long-on. One run.
Ball 16.2: Phillips on strike. He wanted to hit. He cleared his front leg. I saw the movement. 153 kmph. Wide yorker. Phillips threw his bat at it. He couldn't reach it. The ball hissed past the tramline. "Wide!" The umpire signaled. Discipline.
Ball 16.2 (Reload): Same line. Fuller. Phillips dug it out to deep point. One run.
The over continued in a blur of velocity and precision. Every ball was over 147kmph. Every ball was full. I didn't give them an inch of room to free their arms.
Over Summary: 1, 1wd, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0. Total: 6 Runs.
Sunil Gavaskar (Comms): "That is gold dust! Absolute gold dust! After the spinners went for 15-20 runs an over, Aarav comes in and concedes just 6 in the 16th! He has completely arrested the momentum. That pace is making it impossible for Williamson to play his deft touches."
New Zealand: 155/2.
Over 17.Jasprit Bumrah took the ball. He bowled his heavy ball, hitting the splice of the bat. Kane managed a boundary with a streaky edge past short third man, but Bumrah kept it tight. 7 Runs.
New Zealand: 162/2.
The projected score dropped from 200 to 185. We were clawing back.
Over 18. I was back. Kane Williamson was on strike. He was on 79. He knew he had to attack now.
I stood at the mark. I looked at the stats screen. Wickets in Tournament: 16. (Equal with Hasaranga). One more.
Ball 18.1: I ran in. Williamson shuffled across his stumps. He wanted to scoop me over fine leg. A shot he plays so well against medium pacers. But I am not a medium pacer. I saw the shuffle. I didn't follow him. I bowled it fast and straight at the leg stump. 149 kmph.
Kane missed the scoop. The pace defeated him. The ball crashed into the leg stump, uprooting it.
Kane Williamson b Aarav 79 (48)
I didn't roar. I didn't run. I just raised my index finger to the sky. Number 17.
Harsha Bhogle (Comms): "BOWLED HIM! The Captain goes! And history is made! Aarav Pathak takes his 17th wicket of the tournament! He now holds the record for the most runs AND the most wickets in a single edition of the T20 World Cup! We are watching a god among men!"
Ian Smith (Comms): "That is the wicket India needed! Kane tried to get cute against extreme pace, and he paid the price. Aarav Pathak is writing his own script tonight!"
New Zealand: 162/3.
James Neesham walked out. The hitter. He took a single first ball.
Glenn Phillips was on strike. I looked at Rohit Sharma at mid-off. I waved my hand, signaling him to come straighter. Virat at cover moved squarer. The Trap: Force him to hit over extra cover against the angle.
Ball 18.4: I bowled a wide yorker length, but slower. 105 kmph. Phillips saw the width. He saw the space over cover. He reached out. He sliced it. But the lack of pace meant he couldn't generate the power. The ball ballooned in the air. Suryakumar Yadav at deep extra cover ran in and took a safe catch.
Glenn Phillips c Yadav b Aarav 34
Aarav Pathak: 18 Wickets.
New Zealand: 164/4.
Tim Seifert came in. He couldn't get bat on ball against the reversing yorkers. Over Summary: W, 1, 0, W, 1, 1. Total: 3 Runs. 2 Wickets.
Isa Guha (Comms): "This is a masterclass in death bowling! Three runs and two wickets in the 18th over of a World Cup Final! He has ripped the heart out of the New Zealand finish!"
Over 19: Jasprit Bumrah.
James Neesham wasn't done. He is a fighter. Bumrah missed his yorker by an inch. Low full toss on leg stump. Neesham didn't hit it; he flicked it. A wrists-only shot that somehow generated enough power to carry over deep backward square leg. SIX. It was an impossible flick shot. Even Bumrah applauded.
But Bumrah bounced back. Four brilliant yorkers followed. 10 runs off the over.
New Zealand: 175/4.
Over 20. I had the ball for the final over of the innings. Tim Seifert on strike. James Neesham at the non-striker's end.
I looked at the scoreboard. 175. If we kept them under 185, we had a huge chance.
Ball 20.1: I ran in. 152 kmph. Perfect yorker on middle. Seifert dug it out. It rolled back to me. I fielded it, staring him down. Dot Ball.
Ball 20.2: Seifert moved around the crease. I followed him. Bodyline yorker. It hit his boot. They scrambled a leg bye. 1 Run.
Ball 20.3: Neesham on strike. The danger man. He was standing deep in the crease. I bowled a wide yorker. He reached for it, slicing it to deep point. Jadeja fielded. Just a single. 1 Run.
Ball 20.4: Seifert back on strike. I tried the slower bouncer. Seifert read it. He waited. He pulled it. It wasn't timed perfectly, but it found the gap at mid-wicket. One bounce over the rope. FOUR.
New Zealand: 181/4.
Ball 20.5: I went back to pace. 148 kmph. Full toss (missed yorker). Seifert hit it hard to long-off. I thought it was a boundary, but Virat Kohli sprinted from long-on, dove, and cut it off. Just a single. 1 Run.
Ball 20.6: Final ball of the innings. Neesham on strike. I wanted to finish well. I ran in. 154.5 kmph. A thunderbolt at the base of the stumps. Neesham swung and missed. The ball thudded into Pant's gloves. Dot Ball.
Ian Bishop (Comms): "And that is a magnificent finish! Aarav Pathak closes out the innings with a dot ball! New Zealand finish on 182 for 4. It is a competitive score, a final score, but considering they were 149 with 5 overs to go... India will be the happier side!"
I walked off the field, wiping my face with a towel. My Figures: 4 Overs. 23 Runs. 3 Wickets. (Economy: 5.75).
New Zealand: 182/4 (20 Overs).Target for India: 183.
I looked at the target. 183. The same score India defended in the 1983 World Cup Final against West Indies. The number was etched in Indian cricket history.
Virat walked up to me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. "183," Virat said, looking at the scoreboard. "Destiny?"
"History," I corrected. "We chase this."
"Go rest," Virat said. "You bat at 4."
I looked up at the VIP box. Shradha gave me a double thumbs up. Half the job was done. Now for the chase.
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The Innings Break. "Extra Innings" Studio.Dubai International Stadium.
The floodlights outside were blazing, illuminating the dew that was slowly beginning to settle on the outfield like a blanket of diamonds. Inside the glass-walled studio, the atmosphere was just as slippery.
Target for India: 183 runs.
The host, Tannay Tiwari, adjusted his tie, looking at the panel of legends. The tension in the room was palpable. It wasn't just analysis; it was a clash of national prides.
The Panel:
Sunil Gavaskar (Sunny): Wearing a blue tie, arms crossed, looking confident but wary.
Ian Smith (Smithy): The voice of New Zealand cricket, looking relieved that his team had posted a competitive total.
Isa Guha: Neutral, but appreciative of the contest.
Nasser Hussain: The contrarian, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that suggested he knew something the Indians didn't.
Tannay Tiwari: "Welcome back. 182 for 4. It's a final. It's a pressure cooker. India needs 183 to win the World Cup. Sunny G, at the 15-over mark, New Zealand was 149/2. They looked set for 200. Are you happy with 183?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "I am relieved, Tannay. Absolutely relieved. When Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips were batting, they were dismantling our spinners. 15 runs 20 runs an over. It looked like the game was drifting away. But the way we pulled it back... specifically the way Aarav Pathak and Jasprit Bumrah bowled at the death... conceding just 33 runs in the last 5 overs? That is championship cricket. 183 is chaseable. It's tough, but with the dew coming in, I'll take it."
Nasser Hussain: (Interjecting immediately) "Chaseable? Sunny, you're being very optimistic. In a final? 183 is a mountain. You have to score at 9 runs an over from ball one against Trent Boult and Tim Southee. And let's not forget, India's top order has been shaky in the big games this tournament. If they lose two early wickets, panic sets in. New Zealand has the runs on the board. Scoreboard pressure is the 12th man for the Kiwis tonight."
Ian Smith: "I have to agree with Nass here. 180 is the psychological barrier. We crossed it. Kane Williamson played a captain's knock for the ages. 79 off 48. He absorbed the pressure when Guptill fell early and then exploded. That partnership with Phillips took the game away from the Indian spinners. If our bowlers hit their lengths, India is in trouble."
Isa Guha: "It's balanced on a knife-edge. But we have to talk about the start. That first over from Aarav Pathak. Ian, as a Kiwi, how worrying was that?"
The screen behind them replayed the first over. The 156kmph bouncer. Guptill falling over. The stumps cartwheeling.
Ian Smith: "Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I've seen fast bowling, but that... that was violence. Guptill is one of the best pullers of the ball in the world, and he didn't even see it. Aarav Pathak set a tone there. He said, 'I am not here to play; I am here to hurt you.' It took New Zealand six overs to recover from that shock."
Sunil Gavaskar: "And that is why India has the advantage, Smithy. The fear factor. Even though New Zealand recovered, they know that Aarav is waiting to bat. He took 3 wickets for 23 runs. He broke the all-time wicket-taking record tonight. He is in 'God Mode'. Do you really think 183 is safe when you have a man averaging 199 in the team?"
Nasser Hussain: "Averages don't win finals, Sunny. Temperament does. Aarav is young. He batted beautifully in the group stages, yes. But chasing in a Final? When the required rate climbs? We saw him get frustrated in the IPL. New Zealand will target him. They won't give him pace. They will bowl slow bouncers, wide yorkers. Kane Williamson is the best tactician in the game. He will have a plan for the 'Prince'."
The debate was heating up. Nasser was digging his heels in, painting a picture of an Indian collapse. Gavaskar was defending the fort, but he was outnumbered by the caution of Smith and the skepticism of Hussain.
Tannay Tiwari: "Well, the debate is fierce. Nasser thinks 183 is too much. Sunny thinks it's within reach. We need a tie-breaker. We need a voice that doesn't just speak; it roars. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome a special guest joining us for the mid-innings show... The one, the only... Navjot Singh Sidhu!"
The studio doors slid open.
Walking in, wearing a sharp suit and a turban that matched the Indian jersey's blue perfectly, was the Guru himself. He strode in with his chest puffed out, arms wide open, bringing an energy that instantly sucked the skepticism out of the room.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: "Oye Guru! Chha gaye!" (Oh Guru! You've shined!)
He walked straight to Sunil Gavaskar and high-fived him, then sat in the empty chair next to Nasser Hussain, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Sidhu: "Nasser my friend, I heard you backstage! You are talking about mountains? You are talking about pressure? Let me tell you something!"
Sidhu leaned into the camera, his voice booming.
"If the mountain is high, the climber must be stubborn!If the night is dark, the star must burn!You say 183 is a mountain?I say for this Indian team, it is just a stepping stone to the throne!"
Tannay: "Sher-o-shayari straight away! Sidhu Paaji, welcome! What is your assessment? Nasser says India is under pressure."
Sidhu: "Pressure? Pressure is what you put in a tire, my friend! This is not pressure; this is opportunity! Look at the scorecard. New Zealand scored 182. Good score? Yes. Winning score? No! Why? Because they forgot one thing!"
He slammed his hand on the desk (gently).
Sidhu: "They forgot that a wounded tiger is dangerous, but a hungry lion is unstoppable! New Zealand played well in the middle. Williamson was like a surgeon, cutting and slicing. But in the death overs... what happened? The air went out of the balloon! Phusss!"
He turned to Ian Smith.
Sidhu: "Smithy, my brother. You were 149 in 15 overs. You should have scored 210! But who stopped you? The Bullet Train! Aarav Pathak! He came in and bowled like a man possessed. He broke the captain's stumps! When you break the captain, you break the spine!"
Ian Smith: (Laughing) "He was brilliant, I admit that. But Navjot, surely you respect the New Zealand attack? Boult, Southee, Sodhi. They defend low totals for breakfast."
Sidhu: "They defend against mortals, Smithy! Tonight, they are facing immortals! Look at this Indian batting line-up. It is like a buffet of destruction! You have the appetizer in Rahul, the main course in Rohit and Virat, and then... the dessert! The cherry on top! Aarav Pathak!"
Nasser Hussain: "But that's the point, isn't it, Navjot? You are relying on one man. If Boult gets Rahul and Rohit early, like Shaheen did... does India have the middle order to stand up? We saw them collapse against New Zealand in the group stage. History repeats itself."
Sidhu: "History is for historians, Nasser! We are making the future! You talk about collapse? I talk about character! Did you see the England game? We were down and out. Who stood up? Aarav. Who stood up? Hardik. This team has more bounce-back ability than a rubber ball!"
Sidhu turned to the camera, his eyes twinkling.
"When the storm comes, the birds hide.But the Eagle flies above the storm!Nasser thinks the cloud covers the sun.But he forgets the sun is just waiting to burn!"
Sunil Gavaskar: (Laughing) "I missed this energy! But Sidhu is right on the technical point. The death bowling. New Zealand scored only 33 runs in the last 5 overs. That momentum shift is crucial going into the break. India walks into the dressing room feeling like they won the last round."
Isa Guha: "Let's talk about the chase strategy. How does India approach 183? The required rate is 9.15 from the start."
Sidhu: "Simple mathematics, Isa! You break it down. You don't eat the whole chicken in one bite; you choke! You eat it piece by piece! The Powerplay is key. New Zealand will swing it. Boult will bring it back in. Rohit and Rahul need to be watchful for two overs, then explode. If India is 50/0 or 50/1 after 6 overs... game over!"
Nasser Hussain: "And if they are 30/2?"
Sidhu: "Then the King and prince would be there! Nasser, why are you so negative? You remind me of a traffic light that is always red! Have some faith! If they are 30/2, Virat Kohli walks in. The greatest chaser in the history of white-ball cricket. And Aarav Pathak walks in. The man who is averaging 199. Do you know what 199 means? It means he scores a double century every time he goes out to bat basically!"
Tannay: "We have to talk about the dew factor. The groundsmen are out there with the ropes."
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is the biggest ally for India. The ball will get wet. It will skid onto the bat. Sodhi and Santner will struggle to grip it. Kane Williamson knows this. That's why he wanted 200. He knows 183 is 15 runs short with the dew."
Ian Smith: "The dew is a factor, yes. But Trent Boult... he takes the pitch out of the equation. He bowls full. If he gets that yorker swinging..."
Sidhu: "Ifs and buts! If my aunt had a mustache, she would be my uncle! Let's talk reality! The reality is India has the firepower. They have the depth. And they have the belief. This isn't the team of the 90s that would panic. This is Virat's India. They look you in the eye and say, 'Come and get it!'"
Tannay: "Okay, final predictions before the chase begins. One word."
Nasser Hussain: "New Zealand. Pressure."
Ian Smith: "Black Caps. Just."
Isa Guha: "India. The Aarav factor."
Sunil Gavaskar: "India. Comfortably."
Tannay: "Sidhu Paaji?"
Sidhu: "One word is not enough for my heart, Tannay! But I will say this..."
He stood up, adjusting his tie.
"The cup is gold, the jersey is blue.Sorry New Zealand, but tonight we subdue!The fireworks are ready, the sweets are made.Tonight, the Kiwi dominance will fade!INDIA! THOKO TAALI!" (Clap your hands!)
He clapped his hands loudly, laughing as Nasser Hussain shook his head in disbelief.
Tannay: "There you have it! The Guru has spoken! Thoko Taali! The players are walking out. The lights are blazing. 183 runs to win the World Cup. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are marking their guards. Trent Boult has the new ball. History awaits!"
[SCENE CUT to the field]
The camera panned over the pitch. The Indian openers were stretching. In the dugout, Aarav Pathak was sitting next to Virat Kohli. He wasn't looking at the pitch. He was looking at his bat, tapping the handle.
The second half of the war was about to begin.
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