Emperor Of Cricket

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was an absolute madhouse. The fans were on their feet, screaming, chanting, waving flags, and celebrating what was already shaping up to be one of the greatest T20 batting performances of all time. The noise was deafening, a continuous roar of "RCB! RCB!", echoing across Bengaluru as Advay Rai and Virat Kohli walked back onto the pitch after the drinks break.

The scoreboard flashed 134/0 in 10 overs, and the entire stadium knew what was coming next. This was not just an opportunity for RCB to post a big total; it was a chance to create history. The way Advay and Virat had dismantled Mumbai's bowling attack in the first half meant they weren't going to slow down. The question was no longer whether RCB would post a high total, but just how high would they go?

The Mumbai Indians players looked stunned. Their faces told the story—they had no answers, no plans, and no way to stop the carnage. Rohit Sharma looked towards his bowlers, Bumrah wiped the sweat off his forehead, and Hardik Pandya shook his head in disbelief.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai's best bowler, was brought back in the 11th over in a desperate attempt to pull things back. He charged in, delivering a back-of-a-length delivery at 147 kmph, aiming for the ribs. Advay, who had been expecting the short ball, waited on the back foot and upper-cut it over third man for six!

The Chinnaswamy crowd erupted into chaos!

Harsha Bhogle's voice came through the speakers, barely containing his excitement. "Oh, come on! That is outrageous! You don't just upper-cut Bumrah for six like that!"

Bumrah turned around immediately, glaring at the pitch, trying to figure out how that even happened. The next ball was full and fast, targeting off-stump, but Advay shuffled across and opened the face of the bat, steering it past short third man for four!

Virat, standing at the non-striker's end, clapped his gloves together. Advay was playing on another level now.

The next two balls were perfect yorkers, but Advay calmly dug them out, rotating the strike with singles. On the fifth ball, Bumrah went for the short-pitched delivery again. This time, it was Virat who saw it early, rocked back, and pulled it flat over deep square leg for six!

The stadium exploded again as the scoreboard flashed RCB 153/0 in 11 overs.

The carnage didn't stop. Every over, every bowler Mumbai sent in, RCB's openers had an answer for it.

Hardik Pandya came steaming in for the 14th over, running in with extra effort, trying to deceive Advay. He bowled a slower delivery at 131 kmph, hoping to trick the young batter. But Advay had already picked it up early. He stepped forward and launched it straight down the ground for six!

The ball sailed into the top tier of Chinnaswamy, disappearing into the sea of RCB jerseys. The entire stadium was on its feet! The scoreboard flashed, and in that moment, everyone knew.

Advay Rai – 100(47) [12 fours, 6 sixes]*

Virat, standing at the other end, immediately dropped his bat and ran towards Advay, wrapping him in a tight hug, a huge smile on his face. The crowd roared in admiration, fireworks went off in the background, and the Chinnaswamy crowd chanted his name.

Harsha Bhogle's voice rang out. "A century on debut, a century in his second match… what are we witnessing here? Advay Rai is playing at a level beyond his years!"

Matthew Hayden shook his head. "This kid is something special. He's not just scoring runs; he's dominating world-class bowlers like it's a casual net session!"

Advay took a deep breath, lifting his bat to acknowledge the fans, a small smirk playing on his lips. But he wasn't done. He knew the job wasn't finished.

RCB 184/0 in 14 overs.

The Mumbai Indians bowlers had completely lost their rhythm. The crowd sensed it. Virat sensed it. And he wasn't about to let up either.

Lasith Malinga, looking to restore some pride, charged in for the 16th over. He bowled a full delivery at 142 kmph, tailing into the pads. Virat shuffled across and flicked it over deep square leg for six! The scoreboard showed him at 96.*

The next ball was a wide yorker, a perfect delivery. But Virat, reading it in an instant, walked across and scooped it over short fine leg for four!

The stadium went absolutely wild.

The scoreboard flashed again:

Virat Kohli – 100(50) [11 fours, 4 sixes]*

Advay, standing at the other end, immediately dropped his bat and ran toward Virat, embracing him in a hug, just as Virat had done for him earlier.

Harsha Bhogle couldn't contain himself. "They're pushing each other to greatness! First Advay, now Virat… this is something truly special!"

Matthew Hayden was in awe. "We are witnessing history, folks. This is an all-time IPL partnership!"

With just two overs left, the only thing remaining was finishing with fireworks.

Hardik Pandya charged in for the 19th over, hoping to salvage some pride.

The first ball, a length delivery outside off, was carved over deep point for six by Advay! The next ball, a slower bouncer, was ramped over the keeper's head for four by Virat!

The Mumbai Indians players looked defeated, their heads down, knowing there was no coming back from this.

Lasith Malinga ran in for the final ball of the innings, full and fast. Virat shuffled across and launched it into the stands!

The stadium was shaking with noise. The scoreboard flashed:

RCB – 266/0 in 20 overs.

Advay Rai – 137(61) [15 fours, 8 sixes]*Virat Kohli – 121(58) [13 fours, 5 sixes]*

Harsha Bhogle laughed in disbelief. "This is unreal. A double-century partnership, two centuries, and RCB has posted an absolute monster of a total!"

Matthew Hayden had his hands on his head. "266 in 20 overs. This is destruction on another level. Mumbai will need a miracle to chase this down."

The RCB dugout erupted in celebration, the players standing and clapping as Advay and Virat walked off the field together, acknowledging the crowd, their bats raised high. The Chinnaswamy Stadium was still on its feet, chanting, clapping, witnessing a match that would be talked about for years to come.

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was still buzzing with excitement as the Mumbai Indians batters walked out to chase a near-impossible target of 266. The air was thick with energy, the RCB fans still chanting, their voices filling the night sky. It wasn't just the home crowd that felt the enormity of the moment—even the MI players knew they were up against history. The scoreboard flashing 266 was a daunting sight, and every single RCB fielder could sense it.

Virat Kohli led his team onto the field, clapping his hands together, his voice sharp as he encouraged his players. "Stay sharp! Keep the pressure on them from the first ball!" he yelled, his words cutting through the night air. Advay Rai, standing at the boundary line, rolled his shoulders, his eyes locked onto the MI openers. This was his moment to finish what he started.

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock took their stances, knowing they needed the perfect start to even dream of chasing this target. The required run rate was already 13.3 runs per over, an impossible climb against a hungry RCB attack. The first over belonged to Navdeep Saini, steaming in at full pace, his 140+ kmph deliveries skidding off the surface. He started well, hitting good lengths, giving Rohit and de Kock no room to free their arms.

The first real sign of aggression came in the second over, when de Kock stepped down the track to Umesh Yadav and smashed him over extra cover for six. A ripple of excitement ran through the MI dugout, but RCB didn't flinch.

The very next over, Saini sent a sharp bouncer at 145 kmph, rushing de Kock, who went for the hook shot. The ball caught the top edge and flew straight to fine leg, where Yuzvendra Chahal settled under it!

The crowd erupted in celebration, as the first breakthrough had come quickly.

Harsha Bhogle's voice filled the air. "And there's the early wicket! Quinton de Kock falls, and RCB are right on top of this game!"

De Kock walked back shaking his head, Mumbai now at 34/1 in 3.2 overs.

Mumbai needed something special, and Suryakumar Yadav walked in, hoping to rebuild the innings. Rohit and SKY tried to counter-attack, playing smart cricket, rotating the strike, and picking off the occasional boundary. For a brief moment, it seemed like MI were settling in.

Then came Yuzvendra Chahal, introduced in the 7th over, and he didn't take long to make an impact. On his second ball, he bowled a perfect googly, deceiving Suryakumar, who missed it completely as the ball crashed into the stumps!

The Chinnaswamy crowd roared in unison, the sound shaking the stadium.

Harsha Bhogle chuckled. "Chahal strikes! He's done this for RCB so many times, and he's done it again tonight!"

Mumbai was in deep trouble at 68/2 in 6.5 overs, the required run rate creeping above 14 runs per over. The pressure was mounting, and it was only going to get worse for them.

Then came Advay Rai.

Virat tossed him the ball in the 9th over, the young all-rounder marking his run-up, his eyes locked onto the crease. The stadium buzzed with anticipation, waiting to see if he could deliver with the ball just as he had done with the bat.

The first ball was a fiery 144 kmph delivery, hitting a good length, seaming slightly away from Kieron Pollard. The MI powerhouse attempted a cut shot, but only managed to edge it straight to the keeper!

The stadium exploded with noise!

Harsha Bhogle almost jumped from his seat. "And he does it again! Advay Rai, the man who's done it all tonight, now picks up a big wicket with the ball!"

The RCB fielders rushed toward Advay, clapping him on the back, as Pollard trudged off, shaking his head. Mumbai were now 92/3 in 9.3 overs, and their hopes were fading fast.

In his next over, Advay came steaming in, faster this time. The batsman on strike? Hardik Pandya—Mumbai's last real hope.

Advay fired in a full-length yorker at 146 kmph, the ball dipping at the last second. Hardik tried to scoop it, but missed completely—the ball crashed into middle and leg stump!

The crowd went into complete madness.

Harsha Bhogle could barely contain himself. "He just doesn't stop! With the bat, with the ball—Advay Rai is putting on a show every single night!"

The Mumbai dugout looked completely deflated, the body language of their players showing the inevitable. Their best hitters were back in the pavilion, the required run rate was now touching 18 per over, and even Rohit Sharma, still at the crease, looked like he knew this was over.

Over the next few overs, the game slipped further out of Mumbai's hands. Rohit, trying to accelerate, fell in the 15th over attempting to go after Umesh Yadav, miscuing one to long-on.

Krunal Pandya swung his bat a few times, picking up a couple of boundaries, but the target was too far out of reach. Even though MI avoided getting bowled out, they never looked like they were in the chase.

When the final over began, the scoreboard read 176/6, and the required runs? 90 runs off 6 balls. Impossible.

Navdeep Saini ran in to bowl the final over, the crowd already celebrating. The MI batters took a couple of singles, a boundary was hit, but when the last ball was bowled, it was official—RCB had won.

The final scoreboard flashed:

Mumbai Indians – 183/7 (20 overs)

RCB won by 83 runs!

The RCB players sprinted onto the field, high-fives and hugs all around. Virat walked straight to Advay, clapping him on the back. "That's two in two, champ," he grinned. Advay just smirked, adjusting his wristbands.

The Chinnaswamy crowd was still going wild, banners waving, chants filling the night air. The fans knew this wasn't just a win—it was a statement.

Advay Rai, once again, had stolen the show, and as he walked back to the dressing room, he couldn't help but feel it—this was just the beginning.

As Advay walked toward the pavilion, the air was still alive with the lingering energy of RCB's dominant victory. The crowd was buzzing, chanting, clapping, their voices echoing through the stadium, refusing to let the night end quietly. The scoreboard flashed RCB's 83-run win, the replays of key moments still playing on the giant screen above the stadium.

Advay was moving with his teammates, his mind still partially in the match, until something unexpected happened.

For just a few seconds, the giant screen flickered, shifting from the game highlights to a brief pan of the VIP stands—showing various celebrities, team owners, and known personalities watching the match. And in the middle of it all, for just a fleeting moment, he saw her.

His steps faltered.

It was her. The girl he had seen that day—the one he had never been able to forget.

She was sitting in the VIP section, wearing an RCB jersey, talking to someone beside her. The camera hovered on her for only a few moments before switching to another well-known celebrity. But that was all Advay needed.

His heart hammered once, and before he even realized it, his legs were moving on their own.

He quickened his pace, catching up to Virat Kohli, who was a few steps ahead of him, acknowledging the fans with his usual composed demeanor. Advay reached out and gently grabbed Virat's arm, pulling him slightly away from the rest of the players.

Virat, slightly startled, turned to him with a questioning look. "What happened?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.

Advay leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper, just enough so that only Virat could hear him.

"Virat bhai… I saw her."

Virat's expression changed immediately, his brows raising slightly as he read the look in Advay's eyes. "Who?"

Advay's gaze flickered back toward the VIP stands before he turned back to Virat.

"The girl I told you about back then. She was just on the screen."

Virat's eyes sharpened slightly as he followed Advay's line of sight, scanning the stands for whoever had just made Advay stop in his tracks like this.

Virat's eyes followed Advay's gaze, scanning the VIP stands. His expression remained neutral at first, but then—recognition flashed in his eyes.

He knew who she was.

A flicker of understanding crossed his face as he turned back to Advay, his voice dropping lower. "I know her."

Advay's brows furrowed slightly. "You do?"

Virat gave him a knowing look but didn't say anything immediately. Instead, he glanced around quickly, noting the multiple cameras still trained on them. The stadium was still full, and the broadcasters were covering every moment of RCB's post-match celebrations. The last thing they needed was to attract unnecessary attention.

Keeping his voice calm but firm, Virat leaned in slightly and said, "There are a lot of cameras here. Let's go to the locker room and talk."

Advay nodded without hesitation. Whatever Virat had to say, it was clearly important. Without another glance toward the stands, the two of them picked up their pace, heading toward the tunnel that led to the locker room.

The roar of the Chinnaswamy crowd slowly faded behind them, but Advay's heart was still pounding in his chest. For years, he had only remembered her face—a memory he thought he'd never get closure on.

And now?

She was here.

And Virat knew who she was.

As soon as Virat entered the locker room, he walked straight to his spot, sat down, and without missing a beat, turned to Advay.

"Are you dumb?"

The words came out so suddenly that the entire locker room fell silent.

Every RCB player stopped what they were doing, their eyes snapping toward Virat and Advay. Some of them, halfway through taking off their pads, froze. Others, who had been laughing and chatting just a second ago, now just stared in confusion.

Advay, caught completely off guard, blinked. "What?" he asked, looking genuinely confused. "Why?"

Virat ran a hand through his hair and leaned forward, staring at him like he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. "You really don't know her?"

Advay, still flustered, looked at him blankly. "No?"

Virat exhaled sharply, shaking his head, before finally saying the words that made the entire locker room even more confused.

"That's Ananya Pandey."

For a few seconds, no one reacted. Some of the players exchanged glances, trying to make sense of the conversation. Chahal, sitting on the bench, frowned slightly. "Wait… what?"

Advay, on the other hand, just looked at Virat, his confusion only deepening.

"Who?"

Virat stared at him like he had just said something absurd. "Are you serious? You don't know Ananya Pandey?"

Advay shook his head, still not getting it. "No. Is she a celeb?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire locker room burst into chaos.