The GOAT of Cricket

*The Gabba, Brisbane | January 5, 2017 | Day 2 – 3rd Test*

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**Scene: Sunrise Over Brisbane – Day 2 Begins**

There was no mist in the sky. No dew on the pitch. The only thing that lingered in the air was *pressure*. A fortress still standing—but shaking.

India resumed on **201/2**. Ishaan Verma was on **58* off 189*\* balls. Kohli on 87\*.

As they walked onto the Gabba once again, the crowd tried their best:

**Crowd Chant:**

> "You can't breach the Gabbaaa!"

**Inner Monologue (Ishaan):**

> *Today, I knock on its walls. Tomorrow, it falls.*

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### **Morning Session – Ishaan Finds His Gear**

**Over 63.3 – Starc to Kohli**

Length ball. Kohli drives down the ground. **FOUR.**

**Kohli brings up 100.**

Applause rings through the Gabba. Australia tightens the field.

**Over 66.4 – Cummins to Verma**

Short ball. Ishaan pulls—not in anger, in command. **FOUR!**

**Over 66.5 – Cummins to Verma**

Fuller. Ishaan leans into a drive. Past cover. **FOUR!**

**Over 66.6 – Cummins to Verma**

Back of a length. Ishaan rocks back—cuts behind point. **FOUR!**

**Commentary (Simon Doull):**

> "Three boundaries in three balls. That isn't defiance anymore. That's dominance."

**Stump Mic (Cummins):**

> "You're dancing with fire, kid."

**Ishaan (calmly):**

> "Only one of us is burning."

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**Over 72.2 – Lyon to Verma**

Flighted. Ishaan steps forward. Drives over extra cover. **FOUR.**

**India: 271/2**

Ishaan: 97\*

**Over 73.1 – Starc to Verma**

Short. Ishaan sways. Next ball is fuller.

**73.2 – Starc to Verma**

Clipped through midwicket. One run.

**Century!**

**Ishaan Verma: 100* (247 balls)*\*

**MCG Crowd Applause. Gabba Gritted Teeth.**

**Commentary (Harsha Bhogle):**

> "A century at the Gabba. A second one in three Tests. This isn't a purple patch. It's a purple reign."

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### **Lunch: India 312/2**

Kohli: 128\*

Ishaan: 109\* (255)

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### **Afternoon Session – The Lead Grows**

**Over 80.1 – New Ball – Starc to Verma**

Pitched up. Ishaan flicks for **FOUR.**

**India cross 350.**

**Cummins returns – 85th over**

**85.3 – Cummins to Verma**

Bouncer! Ishaan ducks. Not flinching.

**85.4 – Cummins to Verma**

Full. Ishaan drives, and it pierces mid-off. **FOUR!**

**Stump Mic:**

> "Still swinging, Pat. Still missing."

**Commentary (Simon Doull):**

> "The way Ishaan is playing Cummins... he's turned fire into feather."

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**Over 90.2 – Hazlewood to Kohli**

Edge! Caught behind!

**Kohli out for 162.**

MCG crowd rises. Gabba cheers.

**India: 401/3**

Ishaan walks to him.

**Ishaan:** "That was gold. I'll finish it."

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**With Rahane, Ishaan continues**

**Over 96.6 – Lyon to Verma**

Short and wide. Cut late. **FOUR.**

**Over 100.4 – Starc to Verma**

Short again. Ishaan hooks. One bounce to deep square. **Two runs.**

**Ishaan moves to 141.**

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**Tea: India 442/3**

Ishaan: 145\*

India declare at **461/3** after Tea.

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### **Evening Session – Australia Crumble**

**Shami and Bumrah open fire.**

**Over 3.2 – Bumrah to Warner**

Bowled! Middle stump flattened!

**Ishaan at Slip, Clapping Loudly**

> "Bumrah, take a bow!"

**Over 6.4 – Shami to Khawaja**

Edged to gully. Gone.

**Over 10.1 – Jadeja to Smith**

Stumped!

**Australia: 88/5 by stumps**

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**Day 3 Morning**

Australia all out for **212.**

Bumrah: 4 wickets.

Shami: 3 wickets.

India leads by **249** runs.

**Last Scene: Ishaan at Slip**

As Bumrah knocks over the final stump, Ishaan claps.

**Inner Monologue:**

> *The walls have cracks now. The fortress bleeds. Tomorrow, we storm it.*