The Adelaide Oval had been won, England's chase had been stopped, and the internet was filled with celebrations across India.
India's ten-wicket victory over Jos Buttler's England had made a statement. Siddanth Deva's 150 kmph spell in the middle overs, followed by India's batting performance, had dominated the semi-final.
As the match settled into the record books, social media turned its attention to England's campaign.
@CricketNerd_IND:
I am still trying to comprehend Siddanth Deva's bowling spell. He didn't just take wickets; he took their batting apart. Bowling 150 clicks, hitting a heavy length, and giving up zero runs. He made Alex Hales look like a club cricketer who won a raffle to play in a World Cup. 🤯🔥
@BarmyArmyTears:
Look, we have to hold our hands up. We thought our batting depth would save us. We thought Buttler and Salt would attack. But you cannot attack a man bowling at 150 with an upright seam. Deva broke our partnership in twelve deliveries. Fair play, India. 🏴🇬🇧💔
@MemeCentral_Desi:
English Media before the match: "We will take the attack to India from ball one!"
Siddanth Deva: "Cute."
Bowls a 152 kmph swinging yorker 😂💀
@Stats_Guy99:
Siddanth Deva's figures: 4 Overs, 2 Maidens, 7 Runs, 3 Wickets. In a World Cup Semi-Final. Against an aggressive batting lineup. We have run out of superlatives. GOAT. 🐐🇮🇳
@Priya_Vlogs:
The way Virat Kohli and Deva batted together... it was pure class. No wild slogging. Just good footwork, timing, and placement. They didn't just beat England; they gave them a batting masterclass! ✨🏏
@CricCrazyJohn:
Jos Buttler's face when he got trapped LBW by that skidding inswinger from Deva will be framed and hung in the Louvre. He had no clue which way that ball was moving. Peak fast bowling! 🎯🔥
@DesiSarcasm:
England really thought they could "Bazball" their way through a World Cup Semi-Final, only to get "Deva-molished." Safe flight back to London, lads! ✈️👋
@UK_Cricket_Pundit:
It's a bitter pill to swallow, but India played a complete game. Their top order built the platform, Deva finished the innings, and their bowling discipline was strong. They are heavy favorites for the Final. 🏏🏆
@Virat_Army_Official:
The Devil and the King! 85 off 32 for Deva, 44 off 35 for Kohli. The Adelaide Assault was real! They used the short square boundaries. The MCG is not ready for this duo! 👑🔥
@SportsFreakIN:
Deva handing his cap to the umpire and deciding to bowl the 7th over himself because he was annoyed by the English powerplay is the most Alpha move in the history of the sport.
"Fine, I'll do it myself." 🥶🐐
The celebration of the semi-final victory lasted for four hours before the attention shifted to the final.
The fixture was confirmed.
India versus Pakistan.
The ICC T20 World Cup Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
@ICC_Official:
IT IS SET. India and Pakistan will clash for the ultimate prize at the MCG. 🇮🇳🇵🇰🏆
@HistoryBuff_IN:
This is it. The trilogy is complete. 2007 Final: India wins a thriller. 2009 Final: Siddanth Deva plays a huge knock to win the cup. Now, 2022. The third time these two teams meet in a T20 World Cup Final. I am already shaking. 🏆🔥
@PakCricketFan_99:
I am excited, but I am also terrified. Last time we met in a Final in 2009, Siddanth Deva scored 188 runs. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT IN A T20. Our bowlers still haven't recovered from that. Please, Deva, have some mercy on Sunday. 😭🇵🇰
@IndianCricketHeroes:
Hey PCB, quick question. Did you guys pack enough oxygen tanks for your fielders? Because Deva and Kohli are going to make them run a full marathon at the MCG again. 🏃♂️💨😂
@Lahore_Blues:
We are ready! Babar and Rizwan are in form! Shaheen Afridi is bowling thunderbolts! We will avenge the group stage loss! Bring it on, India! 💚🏏
@Virat_Army_Delhi:
Haris Rauf has been awfully quiet since Virat Kohli hit him for a straight-bat six back over his head. You do not wake up the lion at the MCG. 🦁👑
@Shoaib_Akhtar_Fan:
This is what cricket is all about! The two best teams. Pace vs Batting. If our fast bowlers can get early wickets and expose the middle order, we have a chance. But if Deva gets his eye in... Allah hafiz. 🤲🏏
@MemeCentral_Desi:
Pakistan Fielders: "We are ready for the final!"
Siddanth Deva: "I'm going to hit it to long-on and run three."
Pakistan Fielders: Immediate leg cramps 🦵💥😂
@CricketShitpost:
The MCG boundaries are massive. Which means Deva and Kohli aren't going to rely only on sixes; they are going to run twos and threes and put pressure on the Pakistani fielding unit. Running between the wickets is back on the menu! 🫀💀
@Sanju_Fan_Club_Kerala:
Can we talk about Sanju Samson?! Deva promoted him to open in the knockouts, and he is playing proper cricket! That 46 against England was a good innings built around timing! Ready for a Sanju special in the Final! 🐘🔥
@BabarAzam_Squad:
Believe in the boys! We survived the group stages, we beat New Zealand, and we are peaking at the right time! The pace attack will win us this cup! Inshallah! 🇵🇰🏆
@Vibe_Official_Trends:
"INDvPAK" has officially shattered the global trending record on Vibe. We are seeing over 12 million posts per hour. The internet is barely holding together. 📈🌐
@Sonia_Styles12:
My entire family is already planning the watch party. My dad has bought three boxes of sweets, and my mom is threatening to lock me in my room if I jinx it. The tension in Indian households right now is suffocating! 😰🏠
@Local_Uncle:
Very proud of Siddanth Deva's captaincy. He doesn't panic. He reads the pitch, sets his fields, and trusts his bowlers. This is the calm leadership we need for a high-pressure final against Pakistan. 🙏🇮🇳
@Gamer_Boy007:
Bro, I can't even play FIFA right now. My hands are sweating just thinking about the first over. Shaheen Afridi to Rohit Sharma. Absolute cinema. 🎥🍿
@Peshawar_Zalmi_Lover:
Congratulations to India on reaching the final. Let's hope for a competitive game of cricket. And seriously, someone please ask Deva to hit boundaries instead of making our boys sprint. We are tired. 🤝🇵🇰
@BlueBleeders:
The Asia Cup loss in September was a wake-up call. Deva wanted the team to feel the pressure. Now they are a different side. The redemption arc is almost complete. 🏆🔥
@TiredFastBowler:
Watching Arshdeep Singh execute those blockhole yorkers in the semi-final... the kid has ice in his veins. He is ready for the big stage. 🧊🎯
@Deva_Empire_Forever:
The Master Architect has built his innings. One more match. One more victory. The crown is coming home to India. 🇮🇳👑
---
The social-media discussion was matched by the television coverage building towards the final.
Inside the Star Sports studio in Mumbai, the pre-match analysis show was underway.
Jatin Sapru sat at the center of the desk. To his left were Harsha Bhogle and Sunil Gavaskar. To his right, Shoaib Akhtar appeared from Lahore on a large screen.
"Welcome back to our continuing coverage, counting down to the final," Jatin Sapru announced. "Tomorrow morning, the sun will rise over the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and ninety thousand fans will witness India versus Pakistan. For the third time in a T20 World Cup Final."
Jatin turned to the screen.
"Shoaib bhai, let's start with you. The mood in Pakistan must be good after beating New Zealand, but when you look at this Indian team, specifically the way they defeated England in Adelaide... what is the conversation in the Pakistani dressing room right now?"
Shoaib Akhtar leaned forward.
"Jatin, I will tell you exactly what the conversation is. They are concerned. Yes, they are confident in their pace attack. Shaheen and Naseem are bowling well. But you have to understand the history Siddanth Deva has against Pakistan. Our bowlers still remember 2009. A hundred and eighty-eight runs in a T20 final!"
Shoaib pointed towards the camera.
"And it's not just the batting. Did you see what he and Virat did in the group stage match at the MCG? They used the large boundaries and ran hard between the wickets. They put pressure on our fielders. Babar Azam knows that if Deva and Kohli settle in, Pakistan's fielding unit will have to work throughout the innings."
Harsha Bhogle nodded.
"It is the application of cricketing skills, Shoaib. What interested me against England was Siddanth Deva's captaincy. He realized the English openers were taking the game away from India, and instead of relying on his frontline bowlers, he took the ball himself."
Harsha turned to Gavaskar.
"Sunny bhai, we saw him bowl at 150 kilometers an hour, hitting a hard length. He didn't offer width. It was a display of fast-bowling discipline."
Sunil Gavaskar adjusted his glasses.
"That is what makes him such an effective player, Harsha. He does not rely on tricks. He relies on basic skills. Upright seam, good wrist position, and genuine pace. He read the pitch and hit the deck hard. But his captaincy goes beyond his own performance."
Gavaskar tapped his pen on the desk.
"Look at the decision to promote Sanju Samson to open. KL Rahul was struggling to find his timing in the powerplay. Deva recognized that Sanju has quick hands and the technique to use the field restrictions. He trusts Sanju's ability to play the pull shot and score square. It was a clear change to the batting order."
"And it freed up Suryakumar Yadav to do what he does best in the middle overs," Jatin added.
"Exactly," Shoaib said from the screen. "SKY is difficult to contain because he can score around the field. But India's biggest advantage tomorrow is clarity. They know their roles. Pakistan has to strike early. If Shaheen cannot get Rohit or Sanju in the first two overs, India will put pressure on the bowling attack."
"The MCG is a large ground," Harsha concluded. "It demands fitness, placement, and discipline. Tomorrow, we will see how the Pakistani pace attack handles India's batting, and how Siddanth Deva uses his resources. Stay with us."
---
While the experts discussed the final in the studio, the conversation continued on the streets.
In Pune, outside an IT park in Hinjewadi, a local Chai Tapri was crowded with young professionals.
The wooden benches were occupied by groups of friends, many of them still wearing office clothes.
"Bhai, pour three more cutting chais here!" a young man named Rahul shouted, waving a twenty-rupee note at the stall owner.
He turned towards his friends—Zaid, Kabir, and Aniketh—who were gathered around a wooden table.
"Okay, guys," Kabir said, placing his hand on the table. "The group stage match was a trailer. Tomorrow is the actual movie. If Shaheen Afridi pitches it up looking for swing, Sanju Samson is going to drive him through the covers. Sanju's timing is too good for full deliveries."
"You are delusional if you think Shaheen is going to pitch it up," Zaid replied. "He saw what happened in the group stage. He's going to drag his length back. He's going to aim for the ribs. Pakistan knows they have to use the bounce of the MCG."
"Let them bounce it," Aniketh said, taking a sip of tea. "Did you guys not watch Deva against Mark Wood? Wood was bowling 152 clicks at his head, and Deva pulled him into the second tier. Pace means very little to Deva. He uses the bowler's pace."
"Exactly!" Rahul said, high-fiving Aniketh. "Deva has the best hand-eye coordination in the history of the universe. I am telling you, if Deva bats for more than ten overs tomorrow, he is scoring a century. I will put money on it."
"Speaking of money," Zaid interrupted, pulling out his smartphone and opening a payment app. "We need to sort out the budget for tomorrow's watch party. Last time we played Pakistan, half of you conveniently 'forgot' to split the bill for the pizzas and the Old Monk."
"Bro, I paid for the biryani during the semi-final!" Kabir defended himself.
"The biryani was terrible, Kabir! The chicken was dry!" Rahul argued. "Tomorrow, we are ordering from the good place in Koregaon Park. And Zaid is hosting because he has the 65-inch TV."
"I am hosting, but I am not cleaning up after you animals," Zaid warned, holding up his phone. "Scan the QR code. Five hundred bucks each, right now, to cover the alcohol and the snacks. I am not buying the drinks until the money is in my account."
"So demanding," Aniketh said, pulling out his phone to scan the code. "But fine. It's the World Cup Final. We need proper supplies. If Virat hits another straight-bat six off Haris Rauf, I am going to need a strong drink to handle the adrenaline."
"That shot..." Kabir said, looking across the table. "When Virat stepped back and punched a 153 kmph bouncer straight back over Rauf's head... I literally stopped breathing. That was not a cricket shot. That was an insult to the laws of physics."
"Rauf's soul literally left his body," Rahul laughed as his phone confirmed the payment. "Alright, Zaid, you're funded. But seriously, guys. Are we confident? It's Pakistan in a final."
The conversation slowed.
The group knew what a Pakistan-India final could bring: pressure, momentum swings, and a match that could change with one spell or partnership.
Zaid looked at his friends and took a sip of his chai.
"We have Siddanth Deva," Zaid said. "They don't. We're going to crush them."
The friends raised their cups and clinked them together.
"To the Devil," Kabir grinned. "May he break their hearts one more time."
---
A thousand kilometers away, the evening breeze moved across Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
The park had long been associated with Indian cricket, with players such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar having learned the game there.
As the sun went down, the park filled with people on their evening walks.
Three senior men—Mr. Deshpande, Mr. Sharma, and Mr. Kulkarni—walked around the park.
They were discussing the final.
"I am telling you, Sharma ji," Mr. Deshpande said, adjusting his spectacles without slowing down. "The way Siddanth Deva set the field against Jos Buttler in the semi-final... it was excellent captaincy. He didn't put a man back on the boundary for the hook shot. He kept mid-wicket inside the circle, challenging Buttler to clear him."
"It requires courage to challenge a batsman of Buttler's quality like that," Mr. Sharma agreed. "It reminds me of Kapil Dev in '83. Kapil trusted his bowlers and used attacking fields. Deva has that same confidence, but he combines it with the game management we saw from Dhoni."
"Deva is different," Mr. Kulkarni said. "Dhoni was a master of managing pressure. Deva creates pressure with his own bowling. Did you see his spell? Four overs, two maidens, seven runs, three wickets. In a T20 match. He bowls with an upright seam and a conventional action. He uses pace, line, and length."
They passed a group of young boys playing tape-ball cricket on the grass.
"What gives me the most satisfaction," Mr. Deshpande continued, "is seeing young Sanju Samson finally getting a proper run at the top of the order."
"Ah, Sanju," Mr. Sharma said. "Such a good player to watch. He doesn't slog every ball. He plays proper cricket shots. The high elbow, the transfer of weight onto the back foot when he plays the pull... it is good to watch."
"And that is Deva's influence," Mr. Kulkarni said. "Deva values technique. He saw that KL Rahul was struggling with his footwork, getting stuck on the crease. He changed the order and promoted Sanju. It stabilized the powerplay."
"Tomorrow is going to be a test for him," Mr. Deshpande said. "Pakistan's fast bowlers are a serious challenge. Shaheen Afridi swinging the new ball back into right-handers is a threat. Rohit Sharma has to be careful with his front pad."
"Rohit will be fine," Mr. Sharma said. "He has the experience. But the key is Virat Kohli. If Virat anchors one end, Deva and Suryakumar Yadav can attack the Pakistani spinners in the middle overs. Shadab Khan is a good bowler, but he will have to change his plans when Deva uses his feet."
"I remember the 2009 Final," Mr. Kulkarni said as they reached the final part of their route. "We were watching in my living room. We thought 160 was a winning score back then. And then Deva walked out and scored 188 runs by himself."
"He was a young man then," Mr. Deshpande said. "Now, he is a captain who can control a game in different ways. He doesn't need to score 188 again. He needs to put the team in a position to win."
The three men slowed near the exit gates of Shivaji Park.
"Tomorrow morning, gentlemen," Mr. Sharma said, patting his friends on the back. "Nine o'clock sharp. The tea will be ready."
"We will be there," Mr. Kulkarni replied. "May the best team win. But more importantly... may India crush them completely."
They laughed before going their separate ways.
As the night deepened across India, the television coverage, watch-party planning, and cricket discussions began to quieten.
The streets of Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad grew quieter.
Alarms were set.
Jerseys were laid out.
Televisions were left ready.
Across the country, supporters prepared for the final.
Thousands of kilometers away, the Melbourne Cricket Ground stood empty under the Australian night sky.
The pitch had been rolled.
The boundary ropes were in place.
The floodlights were ready.
The talking was almost over.
The teams had their plans.
All that remained was for the sun to rise and for Siddanth Deva to walk onto the MCG for the World Cup Final.