October 25, 2017 – 2nd ODI vs New Zealand – MCA Stadium, Pune
"You don't fix a flaw. You grow past it."
🌙 Prologue: The Net Session That Changed Everything
Three days before Pune, the DY Patil nets were under floodlights.
Ishaan stood alone in the shadow of the pitch, his shirt drenched in sweat, facing a side-arm specialist who hurled plastic white balls at angles that mimicked pressure.
Ball. Whack. Ball. Miss. Ball. Edge.
Then came a familiar voice from behind:
Dhoni (grinning): "You trying to kill the point fielder or just bore him to death?"
Ishaan turned. Dhoni was in a hoodie, sipping from a bottle. Kohli appeared behind him, pads on, chewing gum.
Kohli: "Your bat's heavy, your mind heavier. Let's shed both."
And so began the three-hour net session that wasn't about power — it was about rhythm, feet, release, and control.
🎯 Scene 1: Match Day – Pune Humidity and Poise
The MCA Stadium shimmered under a pale sun. Pune's autumn heat sat heavy in the air. The ODI series was 1–0 in New Zealand's favour. Pressure simmered beneath the politeness of the crowd.
Toss: India won. Kohli chose to bat.
Kohli at toss: "It's about building pressure, not escaping it."
By the time Ishaan padded up, India were 42/1 in 7.2 overs. Rohit had fallen — caught at midwicket trying to pull a slower one.
🚶♂️ Scene 2: The Walk to Rebuild
Ishaan walked out — India's No. 3.
The noise was not deafening, but it was watchful. Everyone in the stands seemed to lean forward just a little.
He tapped the bat twice. Glanced around the field.
Southee marked his run-up. Ishaan's mind wasn't racing — it was still.
🎥 Ball-by-Ball: First Impressions
7.3 – Southee to Verma
Good length on off stump. Ishaan leans in, defends with soft hands.
No run.
7.4 – Southee to Verma
Fuller, tailing in. Flicked off the pads.
Two runs.
7.5 – Southee to Verma
Bouncer. Ishaan sways — eyes locked on it.
No run.
7.6 – Southee to Verma
Back of a length. Guided with soft wrists toward backward point.
Single.
Commentary (Shastri):
"That's better. The hands are looser, the feet clearer. The dots don't scare him anymore."
🧱 Scene 3: The Building Begins
Over the next eight overs, Ishaan and Shikhar rotated strike. Singles between cover and point. Pushes to long-off. A calm between balls.
14.3 – Santner to Verma
Flighted ball. Ishaan steps out, opens the face — caresses through cover.
FOUR!
14.5 – Santner to Verma
Shorter. Cut hard — past backward point.
FOUR!
The crowd slowly warmed.
Stump mic (from Williamson at slip):
"He's playing with hands, not hope this time."
🧠 Scene 4: Flashback in Between Overs
Between overs, as he adjusted his gloves, a memory flashed.
Kohli in nets, flicking throwdowns and saying,
"You don't dominate pace by muscle. You dominate by presence."
Ishaan smiled faintly. His presence was returning.
🏏 Ball-by-Ball Highlight Sequence: Overs 20–25
India 105/1 — 20.0 overs
Ishaan: 39(41)*
20.1 – Boult to Verma
Length ball. Ishaan waits, punches through point.
FOUR!
21.2 – Santner to Verma
Goes inside-out. Flies just over extra cover.
TWO!
22.4 – Boult to Verma
Short ball. Ishaan ducks. The crowd whistles.
23.5 – Santner to Verma
Driven. Classic cover drive.
FOUR!
25.1 – Boult to Verma
Back of a length. Cut late, soft hands.
Single.
Commentary (Shastri):
"That's not luck. That's learning."
Ishaan nodded at Shikhar. The hundred partnership was only 12 away.
💥 Scene 5: The Arrival
28.4 – Henry to Verma
Half-volley. Ishaan steps into it — the full flourish of a cover drive.
FOUR!
The scoreboard flicked:
Verma – 50 (46)
The crowd rose. Kohli clapped from the dugout.
Stump mic (from Dhawan):
"That's how you answer trolls, chhotu."
🔁 Scene 6: The Acceleration
30.2 – Santner to Verma
Lofted inside-out — over cover.
SIX!
32.3 – Henry to Verma
Nudged through cover-point.
FOUR!
India: 190/2
Ishaan: 68(54)
The shot that brought him there was another cover drive — his sixth boundary in that zone.
Commentary (Harsha):
"The man who was once all fire is now all form."
💔 Scene 7: The End of the Knock
33.1 – Henry to Verma
Shorter. Ishaan tries to pull but mistimes.
Caught at midwicket.
OUT for 68 (54).
He didn't linger. No fist pump. No anger. Just calm.
The applause followed him.
📺 Scene 8: Post-Innings Conversations
India ended at 294/6. Later, Bumrah and Bhuvi defended well — India won by 34 runs.
In the dressing room, Kohli sat next to Ishaan.
Kohli: "That's one foot forward."
Ishaan (smiling): "And?"
Kohli: "A hundred more to go."
They bumped fists.
📖 Final Scene: The Notebook Returns
Later that night in the hotel, Ishaan opened his notebook. The old one.
Page 73.
He wrote:
"Maybe it's not about re-inventing who you are.
It's just remembering who you were before the noise."
He closed the book.
The white-ball journey had just restarted.