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November 14, 2021. Dubai International Stadium.The Pre-Match Show: "Extra Innings"Time: 5:00 PM (2 Hours before The Final)
The sun was setting over the Dubai skyline, painting the Burj Khalifa in hues of burnt orange and purple. But inside the studio overlooking the ground, the lights were blindingly bright. The air conditioning hummed, fighting the desert heat, but the atmosphere inside the glass box was already boiling.
Host: Tannay Tiwari.
The Panel of Legends: Sunil Gavaskar, Dale Steyn, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Harsha Bhogle, Shane Watson.
Tannay Tiwari: "Good evening, Namaste, and welcome to the center of the cricketing universe! We are just two hours away from history. The Final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. The Men in Blue versus the Black Caps. India versus New Zealand."
The screen behind him flashed montages of the tournament—Aarav's yorkers, Kane Williamson's calm drives, and inevitably, the violent, cinematic sixes of Aarav Pathak.
Tannay: "It is the rematch of the World Test Championship Final. India won the red ball battle in Lords earlier this year. Can New Zealand take revenge with the white ball? Or will India complete the double? I'm joined by cricket royalty. Gentlemen, welcome."
Ian Smith: (Leaning forward, adjusting his earpiece) "Well, Tannay, as a Kiwi, I have to say, the ghosts of WTC are still somewhat there. The ghosts of Lords are fresh. But this New Zealand side... they are like a bad rash. They just don't go away. They beat India in the group stage. They know how to strangle this lineup."
Sunil Gavaskar: (Smiling, a tricolor pin on his lapel) "Smithy, you beat an India that was tired. You beat an India that was doubting itself. The India you are facing tonight? This is a different beast. This is a team that chased 160 in 15 overs and even hit 260+ in 20 overs. This is a team that pulled a victory from the jaws of defeat against England and Pakistan. Momentum is wearing a blue jersey tonight."
Dale Steyn: "I'm looking at the pace. Boult and Southee vs Bumrah and Pathak. If the ball swings under lights, it's anyone's game. But..." Steyn paused, a grin spreading across his face. "India has something... or someone... that defies the laws of physics right now."
Tannay: "You took the words right out of my mouth, Dale. We can talk about matchups, we can talk about toss factor. But there is one name that has hijacked this entire tournament. The Prince. The Diamond. Aarav Pathak."
The studio lights dimmed slightly as the giant LED screen behind them shifted. A graphic appeared. It wasn't just a stats card; it was a testament to dominance.
[GRAPHIC: AARAV PATHAK - THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR]
Harsha Bhogle: "Look at that screen. Just... just look at it. If I wrote this in a fiction book, my editor would reject it for being unrealistic. We are witnessing something that shouldn't be possible."
Ian Bishop: "I have called games for West Indies in their prime. I have seen Gayle. I have seen Russell. I have seen AB de Villiers. But this?" Bishop shook his head, his deep voice resonating with awe. "This is a 21-year-old boy turning a World Cup into his personal playground."
Tannay: "Let's break it down. Shane, you were a premier all-rounder. You know the workload. Walk us through these numbers."
Shane Watson: "Ideally, I'd like to say these numbers are fake. But they aren't."
Watson stood up and walked to the interactive screen. He tapped on the Batting Stats.
[BATTING SUMMARY]
Matches: 6 (Innings: 4)
Runs: 398
Average: 199.00
Strike Rate: 206.22
Boundaries: 27 Fours, 26 Sixes.
Shane Watson: "Let's start with the runs. 398 runs. In four innings. He didn't bat against Scotland or Namibia. If he had, he might have crossed 500. But look at the Strike Rate. 206.22."
Watson turned to the panel, eyes wide.
"In T20 cricket, a strike rate of 140 is good. 160 is elite. 206 is... it's video game stuff. He is scoring two runs for every single ball he faces. And he's not doing it slogging at number 7. He's doing it at Number 3 and 4, against the new ball, against Rashid Khan, against Shaheen Afridi, against Mark Wood. It is sustained violence."
Sunil Gavaskar: "And the consistency, Watto. Look at the scores. 98 vs Pakistan.* Chasing a collapse. 143 vs Afghanistan. Setting a target. 104 vs England* in a Semi-Final chase. These aren't soft runs. These are 'Crisis Runs'. He averages 199. Effectively, you have to get him out twice to stop him."
Harsha Bhogle: "There is a lovely irony here, isn't there? The record for the most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition was held by Virat Kohli. 319 runs in 2014. A record we thought would stand for a decade."
Harsha chuckled, leaning back.
"And who breaks it? His own protégé. His own teammate. It seems Indian batters are just fighting among themselves to see who can be the greatest! The King set the bar, and the Prince just vaulted over it."
Ian Smith: "It's frightening. As a Kiwi, it's terrifying. How do you set a field for a man who has hit 26 sixes in four innings? That's six sixes a game! You can't put fielders in the stands, can you?"
Tannay: "But gentlemen, that is just half the story. If he was just a batsman, he would be the Player of the Tournament. But he isn't just a batsman."
The graphic shifted. The Bowling Stats appeared in red.
[BOWLING SUMMARY]
Overs: 20.4
Wickets: 15
Best Figures: 4/10 (vs Scotland)
Economy: 5.18
Strike Rate: 8.27
Dale Steyn: "This... this is where I get offended," Steyn laughed, shaking his head. "I spent my life trying to bowl 150 clicks and keep my economy under 7. This guy comes in, smashes a hundred, and then bowls 4 overs at 152 kmph with an economy of 5.18."
Steyn pointed at the screen.
"Look at the Strike Rate. 8.27. He takes a wicket every 8 balls. He is essentially guaranteeing you two wickets in the Powerplay or the Death. He took 5 wickets for 0 runs against England's tail in test! A hat-trick! He isn't an all-rounder, and had bad form in IPL and now when back in form. He is two world-class players stitched together."
Ian Bishop: "That is the point, Dale. We talk about Jacques Kallis. We talk about Garry Sobers. We talk about Andrew Flintoff. Greats. But in T20 cricket? Nobody has ever had a peak like this. Kallis batted like a dream, but he didn't bowl 155. Flintoff bowled fast, but he didn't average 199 with the bat."
Bishop paused, looking directly into the camera.
"We are arguably looking at the greatest individual performance in the history of team sport. Not just cricket. Any sport. To be the best attacker and the best defender in the same tournament? Unheard of."
Tannay: "Let's look at the 'Records Watch' graphic. Because he is hunting history tonight."
[RECORDS ON THE LINE]
Most Runs in a Single Edition: BROKEN (398 runs vs Kohli's 319).
Most Wickets in a Single Edition: Record is 16 (held by Hasaranga, 2021). Aarav has 15.
Player of the Tournament: Guaranteed?
Sunil Gavaskar: "He needs two wickets tonight to become the leading wicket-taker. Think about that. The leading run-scorer AND the leading wicket-taker in the same World Cup. If he does that... build the statue. Build it outside the ICC headquarters tomorrow."
Ian Smith: "The only thing that can stop him is the Law of Averages. Surely, surely he is due for a failure? He scored 104 not out three days ago. He can't do it again... can he?"
Shane Watson: "That's the thing with 'Zone' players, Ian. When you are in that headspace, the Law of Averages doesn't apply. He sees the ball like a football. And with that style he has developed, after the bad IPL form, he has won the mental battle before the first ball is bowled."
Harsha Bhogle: "It's the eyes. Have you seen his eyes when he walks out? There is no fear. There is no anxiety. It's just... certainty. Virat has that intensity, that fire. Aarav has... ice. He is a cold-blooded assassin in a blue jersey."
Tannay: "We have a clip from yesterday's press conference. Let's hear what the man himself thinks."
[VIDEO CLIP PLAYS]Scene: Press Conference Room. Aarav Pathak sits with Rohit Sharma.Reporter: "Aarav, you have broken Kohli's record. You are one wicket away from the bowling record. Do these numbers matter to you going into the final?" Aarav : "Numbers are for you guys to write about. I don't look at the stats board. I look at the trophy cabinet. It's been empty for too long. Tonight, we fill it. If I take 0 wickets and score 0 runs, but we win... I'll be the happiest man in Dubai." Rohit Sharma (Laughing): "If he scores 0, I will throw him myself. We need those runs!" [CLIP ENDS]
Dale Steyn: "See? That's the attitude. He doesn't care. That makes him dangerous."
Tannay: "Okay, prediction time. The toss is in 15 minutes. Who lifts the trophy?"
Shane Watson: "My heart says New Zealand because they are so disciplined. They won't give Aarav freebies. But my head... my head cannot bet against a man averaging 199. India, but I think Law of Average would affect him."
Ian Smith: "I have to back the Black Caps. Trent Boult against the Indian top order under lights... if they get Aarav early, India panics. New Zealand."
Ian Bishop: "I think destiny is writing a script here. The way India is playing... the way Aarav is playing... it feels like 2011. It feels like 2007. India wins."
Sunil Gavaskar: "It will be tight. New Zealand is a fantastic side. But India has the diamond. And diamonds are hardest to break. India to win, and Aarav Pathak to finish it with a six."
Harsha Bhogle: "I think we are privileged. Forget who wins. Just watch the kid play. We might never see a tournament like this again in our lifetimes. But yes... India. The trophy is coming home."
Tannay: "There you have it! The experts have spoken. The stats are frightening. The stage is set. The greatest all-rounder of the modern era is ready to paint his masterpiece. Don't go anywhere! The Toss is coming up next!"
[SCENE CUT to the Center of Dubai International Stadium]
The floodlights washed out the twilight. The pitch looked hard and flat—a batting paradise.
Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson stood with the Match Referee.
I stood a few yards away, marking my run-up for the warm-ups. I looked at the giant screen where my face was plastered next to the stats. 398 Runs. 15 Wickets.
[SYSTEM STATUS][Event: WORLD CUP FINAL.][Condition: Peak.]
I looked at the trophy sitting on the podium. It gleamed under the lights.
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November 14, 2021. 6:30 PM. The Dressing Room.
The noise from the stadium was already filtering through the concrete walls—a deep, resonant bass of drums and cheers. But inside the Indian dressing room, the air was still. It smelled of Deep Heat, fresh laundry, and nervous energy.
The whiteboard at the front of the room was covered in red and blue marker ink. Plans for Kane Williamson. Plans for Martin Guptill. Field placements for the death overs.
But the time for tactics was fading. It was time for the heart.
The squad sat in a semi-circle. The support staff stood at the back.
Ravi Shastri walked to the center. He took off his sunglasses for the first time all day. His eyes were intense, heavy with the weight of his tenure. This was his last game as Head Coach.
"Gentlemen," Shastri's voice rumbled. "We have walked a long road. From the dust bowls of Chennai to the Gabba in Brisbane. From the swing of Lord's to the heat of Dubai. We have been bruised. We have been written off. But we are still standing."
He pointed at the Indian crest on his chest.
"Tonight is not about technique. You know how to play a cover drive. You know how to bowl a yorker. Tonight is about this. The badge. It's about looking the man next to you in the eye and saying, 'I will not let you fall.' New Zealand is a good team. They are nice guys. But tonight... we don't need nice. We need ruthless."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.
MS Dhoni, the Mentor, spoke next. He didn't stand up. He sat on a kit bag, leaning forward, his voice barely above a whisper, forcing everyone to lean in.
"Pressure," Dhoni said softly. "People say pressure is a bad thing. I say pressure is a privilege. It means you are in a position where the result matters. Enjoy it. Don't play the occasion; play the ball. If Williamson hits a four, smile. If you get hit for six, smile. Because you know the next ball is yours. Trust the process."
Rohit Sharma, the Vice-Captain, stood up. He looked relaxed, but his hands were clenched.
"We keep it simple," Rohit said. "We know their plans. They will try to bore us. They will try to make us make mistakes. We don't blink. We stay in the moment. Ball by ball. Over by over."
Then, Virat Kohli stood up. The Captain. The King. He paced the room, energy radiating off him like heat waves.
"This is it," Virat said, his eyes burning. "The final frontier. We have won against them in WTC Final. We know how to defeat Kiwis in a final. we have done it in 2019 Semis, in 2021 WTC and would do it again for T20I World Cup. I want intensity from ball one. I want noise. I want them to feel like they are playing against eleven tigers."
He stopped pacing and looked around the room.
"Does anyone want to say anything? Anyone?"
The room was quiet for a second. Then, I stood up.
My heart was hammering against my ribs. I was the youngest in the room. The rookie.
"Skip," I started, my voice slightly shaky but gaining strength. "This is... this is my first ICC tournament from where I played from the start."
I looked at Virat, then at Rohit, then at Dhoni.
"You guys have built this legacy for years. I just... I just want to say thank you for trusting me. When I was failing in the IPL, you backed me. When I was hit for runs, you backed me. Tonight... I don't care about my records. I don't care about the wickets or the runs. I just want to run through that brick wall for this team. I want to put that trophy in your hands."
The room was heavy with emotion.
Then, the silence was shattered.
"Oh, stop it, you crybaby!" Rishabh Pant shouted from the back, jumping up.
"Bro!" Hardik Pandya yelled, throwing a towel at me. "You are the one who took us to the finals! Stop being humble! It's annoying!"
"Yeah!" Suryakumar Yadav laughed. "Without your sixes against all the teams and wickets, we would be watching this match on TV in Mumbai! You are the engine, Prince! Own it!"
The tension broke instantly. The room erupted in laughter and cheers. Virat walked over and hugged me, lifting me off the ground.
"You heard them," Virat grinned. "You are the engine. Now, let's start the fire."
We gathered around the whiteboard for the final tactical confirmation.
Bowling Plan: Defending or Attacking First
"We treat every inning like we are defending 120," Bharat Arun said.
The Powerplay (Overs 1-6):
Over 1:Aarav Pathak. "Shock and Awe," Virat said. "New ball. Pace. Make Guptill uncomfortable immediately."
Over 2:Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Swing. Control.
Over 3:Jasprit Bumrah. The heavy ball.
Over 4-6: Rotate between Bhuvi and Varun Chakravarthy (Mystery spin to confuse the openers).
The Middle Overs :
Aarav Pathak. "You are the enforcer," Rohit said. "Short bursts. High pace. Break partnerships."
Jadeja, Hardik & Varun. Choke the runs.
The Death :
Bumrah & Aarav. "3 to 4 overs combined," Virat confirmed. "Yorkers. Bouncers. Nothing in the slot."
"Aarav," Dhoni added. "If Williamson is in, don't bowl length. He loves the third man guide. Cramp him or go wide yorker."
"Got it, Mahi bhai," I nodded.
"Right!" Ravi Shastri clapped his hands, the sound echoing like a gunshot. "Enough talk. It's showtime. Let's go out there and bring it home!"
"INDIA!" The shout shook the walls.
We grabbed our kits. We put on our caps. I adjusted my collar.
The tunnel awaited. The lights awaited. The World Cup Final was here.
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[FLASHBACK: 24 Hours Before The Final]November 13, 2021. Press Conference Room, Dubai.
As the journalists gathered in the press room, adjusting their cameras and dictaphones, they didn't know they were about to witness the end of an era before the match even began.
The door opened. Three men walked in. Ravi Shastri, the outgoing Head Coach. Aarav Pathak, the sensation of the tournament. Virat Kohli, the Captain.
They sat down. The flashbulbs went off like a strobe light.
Virat pulled the microphone closer. He didn't wait for a question. He looked calm, almost serene, a stark contrast to the fire he usually breathed on the field.
"Before we take questions," Virat said, his voice steady, "I have a statement to make."
The room went pin-drop silent.
"This World Cup Final will be my last match as India's T20 Captain."
A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room. Pens stopped writing. Fingers froze on keyboards.
"Regardless of the result tomorrow," Virat continued, looking straight into the camera lenses. "Win or lose, I am stepping down. I will continue to lead the side in ODIs and Test cricket with the same passion. But considering the workload, and the need for a fresh perspective in this format... it is time. I have given everything to this team. And I will leave it with nothing left in the tank."
He sat back. The shockwave was palpable. The King was abdicating the throne.
Reporter (ESPNcricinfo): "Virat, that is... massive news. Why now? Why before the Final? Does this put extra pressure on the team?"
Virat: "No. It releases pressure. The boys know this from the time we were playing test in Lords. We talked. Now, we don't play for the future. We play for tomorrow. One last ride."
Reporter (Times of India): "Moving to the match... India vs New Zealand. Again. You beat them in 2019. You beat them in the WTC. Is there a sense of complacency? Or do you see them as a threat?"
Ravi Shastri: (Interjecting, his voice booming) "Complacency? We don't know that word. Look at this team. We are not thinking about the past wins. We are thinking about the process. New Zealand is a dangerous side. They scrap. They fight. But we are the wolves. We hunt."
Then, the focus shifted. The sharks in the media sensed blood in the water regarding individual performances.
Reporter (Daily Mail): "Virat, a question on your own form. You are the captain, the leader. But in this tournament, you haven't scored a single fifty. You've had starts, but the 'King Kohli' dominance with the bat has been missing. Do you feel you are walking into this final undercooked?"
Virat's jaw tightened. "I feel fine. I am hitting the ball well in the nets. In T20, sometimes you have to play the situation. My role has been to stabilize. Tomorrow, if the team needs runs, I will get them."
The reporter turned his gaze to me. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, trying to look relaxed.
Reporter (Indian News Channel): "Aarav, coming to you. You are having a dream tournament. 398 runs. 15 wickets. You are one wicket away from equaling the all-time record, two from breaking it. You have single-handedly won the last three matches."
The reporter paused, a cynical smile appearing.
"My question is... how does it feel to carry this team on your shoulders? Because let's be honest, the senior players haven't shown up. Rohit failed in the big games. Virat hasn't scored a fifty. The middle order collapsed against Pakistan and New Zealand. Is it frustrating for you to be the only one performing while the legends are failing?"
The room went quiet. It was a bait. A trap designed to create a headline: 'Young Star Slams Seniors'.
I felt the heat rise in my neck. I looked at Virat. He was looking down at the table, his expression unreadable.
I leaned into the microphone. The 'King's Aura' flared up, not directed at a bowler this time, but at the man with the notepad.
"Carry the team?" I repeated, my voice low and dangerous. "That is the biggest joke I have heard all month."
I pointed at Virat.
"You are questioning the man who carried this team on his shoulders for a decade? You are questioning the man who made us believe we can win anywhere in the world? You are talking about Rohit Sharma, who hit five centuries in the 2019 World Cup?"
I slammed my hand on the table. It wasn't theatrical. It was anger.
"Let me tell you something about 'carrying'. The reason I can hit sixes, the reason I can bowl fast... is because I know they are standing behind me. I play with freedom because Virat Kohli is my captain. If I fail, he is there. If I get hit for runs, he is the first one to back me. You were the one said to drop me due to my IPL form. Remember this, He's my captain (Pointing to Kohli) the one who believed in me first, he gave me my chance, and I'll never forget that."
I glared at the reporter.
"I haven't carried anyone. I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I am performing because they built the platform. So don't you dare disrespect them. If I score 0 tomorrow and Virat scores 100, nobody will be happier than me. We are a team. You touch one, you deal with all of us."
"Next question," I snapped, sitting back and crossing my arms.
Virat looked at me. He didn't smile. He didn't say thank you. But the look in his eyes—a mixture of pride and brotherhood—said everything.
The press conference ended. We walked out.
"You didn't have to do that," Virat murmured as we entered the tunnel.
"Yes, I did," I replied. "You shielded me in the IPL. I shield you now."
Virat stopped. He looked at the pitch in the distance.
"Tomorrow," Virat said softly. "Tomorrow we silence them all. Together."
[FLASHBACK ENDS]
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November 14, 2021. The Center of the World.
The Dubai International Stadium was no longer a cricket ground. It was a coliseum. The Ring of Fire, the circular arrangement of floodlights that defined the stadium's roof—blazed down with an intensity that turned night into day. The air was thick, humid, and vibrating with the collective heartbeat of 30,000 fans inside and a billion watching around the globe.
It was the Trilogy. The Final Act.
In June, under the grey, weeping skies of Southampton, India had claimed the red ball supremacy, lifting the World Test Championship Mace. New Zealand, had watched from the balcony, defeated but dignified. They wanted blood. They wanted revenge for the WTC.
In October, in the group stages of this very tournament, New Zealand had strangled India. They had humiliated us, pushing our Net Run Rate into the abyss. We wanted revenge for that night of Halloween horror.
Now, only one team would leave with the silver trophy.
The noise level dropped slightly as the presentation party walked out to the center. It was a gathering of royalty.
Ranjan Madugalle, the Match Referee, looking stern and official. Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, looking as calm as a monk who had just meditated for a decade. Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, looking like a coiled spring, energy radiating from him in waves.
And walking beside them, holding the gleaming T20 World Cup trophy, was the God himself. Sachin Tendulkar.
The roar that greeted Sachin was deafening. "SACH-IN! SACH-IN!"
I stood near the boundary rope, doing my final warm-up stretches. I stopped to watch. Seeing my mentor, my 'Dad', walking out there with the trophy... it grounded me. It reminded me of the lineage I was now a part of.
Sachin placed the trophy on the podium. He shook hands with both captains. He whispered something to Virat, who smiled tightly. Then he patted Kane on the back.
Ian Bishop (Broadcast): "It is time. The two captains are ready. The coin is in the hands of Kane Williamson."
Kane flicked the coin high into the Dubai night. It sparkled as it spun.
"Tails," Virat called loud and clear.
The coin landed. It settled in the grass. Ranjan Madugalle looked down.
"It is Tails."
A massive cheer went up from the Indian contingent. In Dubai, the toss is half the battle. The dew factor in the second innings turns the ball into a bar of soap.
Ian Bishop: "Virat Kohli has won the toss. Virat?"
Virat: "We are going to bowl first. The wicket looks good, hard and even. But we know the dew will come in later, and it will get better to bat on. We want to know what we are chasing. We love chasing."
Bishop: "Big changes?"
Virat: "No changes. Same team. Why change a winning combination? The boys are pumped. We have unfinished business with this team."
Bishop: "Kane, would you have bowled?"
Kane Williamson: (Smiling his zen smile) "Yeah, probably. It's the trend here. But we have to put runs on the board first. If we can get 160-170, with our bowling attack, we are in the game. We've played good cricket to get here. Just another game of cricket, really."
Just another game. Only Kane Williamson could say that about a World Cup Final.
As the captains walked back to the dugouts to relay the news, the camera cut to the commentary box. The glass-fronted studio was buzzing with analysis.
Ian Smith: "Well, the first blow has been landed by India. The toss is massive here. But let's talk about the narrative. New Zealand... they are the nice guys, but don't mistake kindness for weakness. They are hurting from the WTC Final. Trent Boult, Tim Southee... they remember Southampton. They want to set the record straight."
Sunil Gavaskar: "Absolutely, Smithy. But look at the flip side. India remembers the group stage match. That recent defeat stung. It woke them up. Since then, they have been a different animal. They haven't just won; they've annihilated teams."
Isa Guha: "It's Fire versus Ice, isn't it? Virat Kohli, the emotional, aggressive leader, in his last game as T20 captain. Versus Kane Williamson, the calm, calculated strategist. But the X-factor... the man everyone is talking about... isn't a captain."
Harsha Bhogle: "You mean the man with the golden arm and the diamond bat? Aarav Pathak. Let's look at the graphic again because it bears repeating. 398 Runs. He is just 2 runs away from becoming the first player in history to score 400 runs in a single T20 World Cup edition. That is mind-boggling."
Ian Bishop: "And 15 wickets, Harsha. Don't forget the ball. He is one wicket behind Wanindu Hasaranga's record of 16. If he takes two wickets tonight—which, let's be honest, he probably will in his first spell, he becomes the leading wicket-taker AND the leading run-scorer. We are running out of superlatives."
Ian Smith: "From a Kiwi perspective, he is the threat. We managed to keep him quiet in the group stage—he scored 53 but it was a struggle. But that was a different Aarav. That was 'Calibration Aarav'. This... this is 'God Mode Aarav'. The way he dismantled Pakistan and England... Kane will have a specific plan for him. Do you bowl spin early? Do you try to bounce him?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "You don't bounce him, Ian. Not when he's pulling 150kmph bowlers into the stands. You have to get him early with the moving ball. Trent Boult is the key. That left-arm angle coming back in. Aarav has been strong against it, but in a final, with the nerves... one mistake is all it takes."
Isa Guha: "What about the other matchups? Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell provided a great start in the semi-final against England and throughout the world cup campaign. If they get going against Bhuvi and Bumrah, New Zealand can set a base."
Harsha Bhogle: "Martin Guptill is a dangerous player, but he has a weakness against high pace early on. I wouldn't be surprised if Virat throws the ball to Aarav for the first over again. Shock and awe. 155kmph in the first over of a final? That sets a tone."
Ian Bishop: "It's going to be fascinating. India relies heavily on their Top 4. KL Rahul is in sublime form, Rohit looks good. But the middle order... Hardik and Pant haven't had much time in the middle because Aarav keeps the game! If New Zealand takes early wickets, how will the middle order respond to the pressure of a final?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is the question. But look at the body language. Look at Virat. He is prowling like a tiger. Look at Aarav. They don't look nervous. They look ready."
Ian Smith: "The Black Caps are ready too, Sunny. We may be a nation of 5 million, but we punch above our weight. It's going to be a cracker."
On the field, the Indian team formed the huddle. The noise was deafening.
Virat Kohli stood in the center. He didn't give a long speech this time. He just looked at every single player.
"We know what to do," Virat shouted over the crowd. "We don't give them an inch. If they hit a boundary, we bounce back. If they take a wicket, we fight harder. Aarav, you have the new ball."
I nodded, adjusting my collar. My heart rate was steady. The System was silent, running in the background like a well-oiled engine.
"Let's go!"
We broke the huddle with a roar.
"INDIA!"
I walked to the top of my mark. The umpire handed me the new white ball. It felt hard and perfect.
Martin Guptill was taking his guard. Daryl Mitchell was at the non-striker's end.
I looked around the stadium. The Sea of Blue. The flags. Shradha was somewhere in there. Sachin was watching.
[System Alert][Event: World Cup Final.][Objective: Destroy.]
I started my run-up.
The Final had begun.
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