The GOAT of Cricket

**Mumbai, India — June 2016**

The early morning calm in the Verma household was almost sacred. The kind of silence you didn't disturb unless it was absolutely necessary. Birds flitted past the balcony, and a warm stream of sunlight crept into the room where Ishaan Verma sat — frozen, phone in hand, heart pounding.

**7:03 AM. Inbox: 1 New Message**

> **Subject: National Selection — India T20I Squad Announcement**

> *"You have been selected to represent India in the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies. Kindly report to the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on 28th June before flying to Trinidad. Congratulations."*

For five whole minutes, he didn't move. Just stared. Read it once. Then again. And again.

Then came the whisper.

"Ma..."

Meera, her hands still dusted with atta from morning preparations, walked into the room.

"What happened?"

He handed her the phone. She read. Blinked. Then sat down on the bed, tears falling silently onto the floor.

Together, they turned to the photo of Raghav Verma hanging on the wall. Light from the window caught its edge just right — golden, like a blessing.

"He's smiling," Meera whispered.

---

### The Journey to Blue

Three days later, Mumbai airport was buzzing. Ishaan, now draped in BCCI training gear, was surrounded by media flashes, questions, and fans holding out everything from autograph books to smartphones.

**Reporter:**

> "How does it feel to be called up to the national team?"

**Ishaan (smiling):**

> "Like the beginning of something big."

The flight to Trinidad was long. Twenty-one hours of anticipation, silence, and strategy. Ishaan didn't sleep. He watched old match replays on his phone, studied Caribbean pitches, made mental maps.

The arrival in Port of Spain was met with calypso music, humid breeze, and a swarm of cricket-crazed locals.

In the team hotel lobby, a familiar voice called out:

"Welcome, superstar."

Virat Kohli.

He pulled him into a hug.

"Told you — one good IPL, and you're wearing the blue."

"You mean *our* IPL," Ishaan replied, grinning.

Rohit Sharma, now captain of the T20I side, led the first team huddle.

"This series isn't just about results," he said. "It's about showing who's next. We're building the future. Every ball matters."

Later, he pulled Ishaan aside.

"You're batting at three. Think you're ready?"

Ishaan grinned. "Born ready."

---

### Match Day — Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

**July 3rd, 2016**

The stadium was alive — steel drums, painted faces, vuvuzelas. Caribbean energy met Indian pride. A packed house.

In the changing room, Ravindra Jadeja handed Ishaan the cap.

**Jadeja (grinning):**

> "From red to blue. Don't blink — the dream's real now."

**India Playing XI:**

1. Rohit Sharma (c)

2. Shikhar Dhawan

3. **Ishaan Verma** (Debut)

4. Virat Kohli

5. MS Dhoni (wk)

6. Hardik Pandya

7. Ravindra Jadeja

8. Jasprit Bumrah

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

10. Yuzvendra Chahal

11. R. Ashwin

**Stump Mic — Dhoni:**

> "Give the kid space. He'll make his own noise."

---

### First Innings — India Batting

Rohit and Dhawan opened.

**5th Over:**

Shikhar misjudged Narine. LBW. Out.

"You're in, Ishaan!"

Helmet on. Gloves tight. Deep breath. As he walked out, the crowd murmured in curiosity — a debutant walking in at No. 3.

**Ball 1 — Jerome Taylor:** Full, outside off. Ishaan leaned in — elegant cover drive. **FOUR!**

**Commentary — Ian Bishop:**

> "That's class. No nerves, just timing."

**Ball 2:** Short. Duck.

**Ball 3:** Back of a length. Ishaan rocks back — **pulled behind square. FOUR!**

The crowd responded — not just Indian fans, but the neutrals. The cricket purists. They saw it.

---

**Powerplay Ends:** India 54/1. Ishaan: 29\*(12)

He rotated strike smartly, punished poor deliveries, and stayed busy.

**10th Over:** Brathwaite bowled short. Ishaan stepped back, uppercut — SIX over third man!

**Commentary — Harsha Bhogle:**

> "He's not here to audition. He's here to own it."

**19 balls. 50 runs.**

Fastest debut fifty by an Indian in T20Is.

He finally fell trying to loft Brathwaite again — caught at deep cover.

**Applause from all corners.**

India finished at 184/5. Ishaan: **57 (25)**

---

### West Indies Chase

Dhawan, Kohli, and Ashwin rallied the field.

Chahal spun magic. Bumrah yorked Gayle. Jadeja picked up two quick wickets.

West Indies — 165 all out.

**India win by 19 runs.**

---

### Post-Match Presentation

"Man of the Match: Ishaan Verma."

**Presenter:**

> "Ishaan, what does this night mean to you?"

**Ishaan:**

> "It means my Dada's watching. It means I belong. And it means... this is just the start."

---

### The Moment

Back in the hotel room, Ishaan video-called Meera.

She answered in tears.

"He saw everything," she said.

"I know," Ishaan replied. "He helped me time that first cover drive."

Out the window, the Caribbean moon shimmered over the sea.

**Diary Entry:**

> *India debut. Man of the Match. The jersey felt heavy at first. Now it feels like skin.*

> *This is not the dream. This is the beginning of the dream.*