Chapter 70: The Silence of the Gods
The Wankhede Stadium was trapped in a suffocating bubble of tension. The humidity was 85%, but the mouths of thirty-three thousand people were dry.
Equation: 49 runs needed off 24 balls.
[COMMENTARY BOX]
Ravi Shastri: "This is it. The business end. Mumbai Indians have their noses in front, but the young man at the non-striker's end has a look in his eyes that scares me. He just took Harbhajan apart. Can he do it to the pacers?"
Harsha Bhogle: "Ashish Nehra has the ball. He's experienced, he's crafty. And look who is whispering in his ear. The God himself. Sachin Tendulkar is setting the field like a grandmaster moving pawns."
Over 17: The Grey World
Ravindra Jadeja was on strike. He looked nervous. He tapped the crease, looking at the fielders swarming the circle.
Ashish Nehra ran in over the wicket.
Ball 1: A perfect wide yorker.
Jadeja threw his bat at it. Missed.
Dot ball.
[STADIUM CROWD REACTION]
