The GOAT of Cricket

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide — December 15, 2016 | Day–Night Test

The southern sky of Adelaide carried a chill that bit at uncovered skin. For most, it was the twilight of Australian summer; for Ishaan Verma, it felt like the edge of a knife. As the Indian team bus rolled through the tree‑lined avenues toward Adelaide Oval, the stadium's floodlights already glowed like distant beacons.

Adelaide Oval—cricket's cathedral in South Australia—wore its day–night Test mantle proudly: a boundary rope flanked by glowing white LED boards, seating tiers empty now but waiting. The air smelled of fresh-cut grass, rain‑kissed soil, and anticipation.

Arrival and Spotlight

2:00 PM local time. The team arrived by bus. Many faces peered through tinted windows—veteran stars in white flannels and young hopefuls clutching pads. But all eyes tracked one figure stepping down last: Ishaan Verma, Test debutant. Cameras flashed. Reporters tagged hashtags. Social media went into meltdown as #VermaDebut and #IndiaInOz trended globally.

In the bowels of the players' entrance, Ishaan paused. The noise of the city, the squeal of brakes, the crunch of gravel under his spikes—it all felt surreal. He unclasped his bag and inhaled deep. A single thought echoed in his mind:

This is it. White flannels. A pink ball. Adelaide under lights. This is Test cricket.

Practice Session: A Prelude to War

Inside the nets, Australia's pace battery warmed up. Pat Cummins ran in with fierce intent, hurling the red‑pink ball like a missile. Josh Hazlewood mixed fuller deliveries with cutters that nipped back. Ishaan watched from the ropes, hands in his pockets.

Commentary snippet over the stadium PA (Harsha Bhogle impersonation):

"If you're Ishaan Verma, you're marking every stride of Cummins' run‑up, every seam position. Because this is the baptism by fire."

Ishaan didn't respond. He closed his eyes, picturing the seam movement he'd studied on YouTube. He whispered:

"Watch the seam. Watch the wrist."

Dressing Room: Thunder Before the Storm

Back in the Indian dressing room, the mood was thick with purpose. Dhoni had returned to the Test side after a brief hiatus—rumored to mentor the newcomers. His presence filled the room.

He called Ishaan forward.

"I remember you as a kid chasing tennis balls in Shivaji Park," Dhoni began, placing a heavy, sky‑blue box in his hands. "Now, this is yours."

Ishaan opened it: the India Test cap, embroidered with the three lions. His breath caught.

Dhoni smiled. "Pink ball or red, the Test cap isn't about color. It's about time. You're here because you've earned it."

He gently placed the cap on Ishaan's head.

Teammates clapped, Kohli nodded approvingly, and Ishaan felt the weight of history settle on his shoulders.

The Toss: A Line in the Pink Sand

5:15 PM. The floodlights blinked on. The stands filled with 40,000 spectators—more by TV. Under lights, the stadium glowed. The captains met at the center.

Rohit Sharma called correctly.

Rohit (stump mic): "We'll bat first. Pink ball under lights—batsmen have to take charge."

Commentary (Simon Doull):

"Remarkable nerve from India's captain. Adelaide's known for seam movement. To bat first under the lights—brave or foolish?"

Ishaan took a final breathe, touched the seam on the pink ball, and readied himself for the unknown.

First Innings: A Nerve‑Shredding Start

Over 1.1 – Cummins to Rahul

Full, pitched up. Rahul leaves. Two balls later, an inswinger nips back. THUD—pad to trap.

Umpire raises finger.

India: 0/1.

Crowd roar.

Stump mic (Rohit to Ishaan):

"Watch his wrist. He's got that wrist position cold."

Over 2.3 – Hazlewood to Vijay

Short and wide. Vijay pulls—edge to keeper. 1/2.

A hush fell. Fans waved Indian flags in nervous solidarity.

Ishaan paced on the boundary, helmet under arm.

Inner monologue:

Two down in the first ten minutes. This isn't lawn cricket. This is war. Seams, swing, spotlight. Breathe, Verma. One ball at a time.

Over 5 – Cummins to Pujara

The ball angled in, then jagged away. Pujara survived a maiden. Ishaan felt a tingle as Cummins glared in his direction, as though marking the rookie's heartbeat.

Over 6.2 – Cummins to Verma (First Ball)

Good length, off stump drift. Ishaan leaves—inside edge just misses the cord.

Crowd gasp.

Stump mic (Cummins, sotto voce):

"He's got his eyes on mine."

Ishaan gripped the bat. Didn't speak.

Over 6.4 – Cummins to Verma (Second Ball)

Short. Ishaan ducks instinctively, the ball kissing his helmet.

Crowd eruption—some sympathetic, some savage laughter.

Inner monologue:

Pain. Warm blood. Focus.

He tapped the helmet, walked forward.

Over 6.6 – Cummins to Verma (Third Ball)

Full and outside off. Ishaan drives—CRACK! straight past point. Four.

Commentary (Harsha):

"A statement shot! On debut! He's saying: I'm not frightened."

Settling the Nerves

The floodlights blurred in Ishaan's vision as he navigated the pink ball's swirling seam. He danced down the track to Nic Maddinson, lofted him over mid‑off, and winked at Dhoni behind the stumps.

India: 15/2. Ishaan: 9*(8).

Over 12 – Hazlewood's Return Spell

First ball: tossed up. Ishaan sweeps—missed. Next: a quicker one aimed at rib. Ishaan ducks. Third: full—he drives—4. Fourth: mellower—he abuses spin—6.

Crowd chant:

"VER‑MA! VER‑MA!"

Pat Cummins (to himself):

"We'll see how long that lasts."

Tea Interval Reflection

Tea: India 47/3. Ishaan 23*(34).

Under the big screen, Pat Cummins paced, watching Ishaan's bat like a hawk.

In the dressing room, Ishaan sipped tea, staring at the pink leather in his gloves.

Dhoni (softly): "First session done. You've shown grit. Keep going."

He nodded, sipping the warmth.

Second Session: Building Ground

Over 21 – Hurst to Verma

Swept fine—4. Run. Click.

Stump mic (Dhoni):

"Nice and smooth, Ishaan. Keep it late."

Over 25 – Lyon's Spin Debut

Nightwatchman mode. Ishaan dug in. Four dots. One driven through cover for two. Lyon flung the ball—floated—he missed three times. Maiden.

Crowd reaction:

A mix of respect and inquisitive murmurs: "Can he handle spin?"

Inner monologue:

I will. I have to.

Twilight Drama

As the sun dipped beyond the western stands, the pink ball glowed like a ruby. Shadows lengthened. The air chilled further. The scoreboard read:

India 82/3

Ishaan Verma: 36(78)*

Over 35 – Hazlewood to Verma

Shortish, angled into the body. Ishaan flicked—edge to fine leg, but the fielder dropped it.

Crowd gasp → applause for reprieve.

Commentary (Simon Doull):

"That drop might live to haunt Australia. Debutant Verma given a lifeline."

Over 38 – Cummins' Revenge Spell

Cummins returned for a fiery over—bouncers, cutters, skid‑throughs. Ishaan survived each.

Stump mic (Cummins):

"This is my pitch. Not his theatre."

Ishaan stood firm.

Stumps: Under Pink Lights

Stumps called.

India: 105/3

Ishaan: 36(97)*

He survived nine overs under lights, against Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon.

Crowd reaction as players leave the field:

"RAH‑MA! VER‑MA! RAH‑MA! VER‑MA!"

Teammates clapped Ishaan's helmeted head as he walked off.

Dressing Room: Quiet Victory

Back in the dressing room, Ishaan removed gloves. He examined his knuckles—bruises, but no bleeding.

Virat Kohli approached.

"That was as brave as cricket comes. Well held. Well fought."

Dhoni added a grin:

"Welcome to the Test arena, champ."

Ishaan barely nodded.

Inner monologue:

36 runs in a debut session. But the real test is tomorrow.

He found a mirror and adjusted the cap.

"I'm here. Tomorrow, I conquer."

Nightcap: Monologue and Memory

Later that night, in solitude, Ishaan opened his locker's top drawer. There lay a folded letter from his late father:

"If you face one ball with honesty, you've beaten half the world."

He smiled. Folded it gently.

Final line typed into his diary:

"Pink ball, brave heart. This is only Day 1 of a lifelong quest."

Outside, Adelaide Oval lights shimmered against a dark sky. Inside, Ishaan Verma slept, ready for tomorrow's dawn—when the real battle would resume.