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The Indian cricket juggernaut had split into two distinct entities.
One arm, led by Hardik Pandya, had flown to Dublin. This was the "Young India" squad the likes of Deepak Hooda, Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, and Arshdeep Singh. They were there to play two T20Is against Ireland, a series designed to test the bench strength for the upcoming World Cup. It was loud, energetic, and full of IPL fervor.
The other arm the "Test Specialists" had a different mission. They were in England to finish what they started in 2021. The series scoreline read India 2-1 England. A draw or a win in the final rescheduled Test would give India their first series victory on English soil since 2007.
While the main squad (Rohit, Virat, Bumrah, Shami) was in Leicester playing a warm-up game against Leicestershire, Aarav Pathak had taken a different route.
Aarav had requested to skip the Leicester game. He didn't need match practice against a county side; he needed rhythm. He needed to reacclimatize to the Dukes ball in solitary confinement.
He landed in Birmingham days before the rest of the squad. The weather was typically English grey, gloomy, and nippy. The temperature hovered around 14 degrees Celsius, a sharp drop from the 35 degrees of Cuttack.
He checked into the team hotel near Edgbaston, dropped his bags, and went straight to the ground.
The Edgbaston training facility was quiet. The stands were empty, save for a few pigeons pecking at the grass. Aarav walked into the indoor nets. He was wearing his white training kit, a thick woolen jumper with the BCCI logo, and a beanie.
Waiting for him were six net bowlers arranged by the BCCI. Three were young Indian domestic seamers flown in for exposure, and three were local Warwickshire county 2nd XI bowlers.
"Right," Aarav said, strapping on his pads. "Red ball. Dukes. Shine it up. I want it swinging."
The transition from T20 to Test cricket is the hardest in the sport. In T20, your hands go at the ball. In Tests, especially in England, you wait. You play late. You play under your eyes.
For the first hour, Aarav didn't hit a single shot in anger. He left the ball. Leave. Leave. Leave. He watched the shiny red cherry swing away past his off-stump. He resisted the urge to drive. He was reprogramming his muscle memory.
"Bowl fuller!" he shouted to a young English seamer. "Make me drive!"
When they pitched it up, he didn't smash it. He leaned into forward defensive pushes, feeling the ball hit the middle of the bat. Thud. Thud. It was boring to the untrained eye, but to a cricketer, it was meditation.
After batting for two hours, Aarav took off the pads. He grabbed a fresh Dukes ball. It felt different from the Kookaburra used in India. The seam was more pronounced. It felt like a rock in his hand.
He marked his run-up. He wasn't bowling to a batsman. He placed a single stump at the striker's end. He placed a cone on the 'good length' spot—slightly fuller than in India.
He ran in. The cold air filled his lungs. He released the ball. It didn't just swing; it hooped. The overcast conditions made the ball talk. It pitched on middle, swung late, and hit the top of off-stump.
Aarav smiled. The rhythm is there.
He spent the next hour perfecting his wobbled seam delivery the one that nipped back in. In England, the slope at Edgbaston and Lord's made this delivery lethal.
The final part of the session was the most grueling. He stood in the slips while a support staff member used a 'Katchet' board to simulate edges. The ball flew fast and erratically off the plastic board. Aarav dived left. Catch. Aarav dived right. Catch. The Dukes ball is harder than the white ball. It stings the palms in the cold weather. His hands were red and throbbing, but he didn't stop until he had taken 50 clean catches.
By 6:00 PM, the session was done. Aarav sat on the grass, drinking a protein shake, looking at the empty stadium. In a few days, this place would be full. The Barmy Army would be singing. Jimmy Anderson would be bowling from the Pavilion End.
But for now, it was just him and the silence. He checked his phone.
He packed his kit bag. The 'Seth' of the IPL was gone. The 'Vice-Captain' of the T20 team was paused. Now, he was Test Cricketer. And he had a series to win.
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Aarav Pathak sat in the hotel lobby, sipping an espresso. He had spent the last two days in solitary confinement with the Dukes ball at Edgbaston, getting his eye in. The solitude was good, but he missed the noise of the dressing room.
Around 11:00 AM, the blue team bus pulled up to the porch. The doors hissed open.
First off was Rahul Dravid, looking focused. Then came the stalwarts. Virat Kohli, looking sharp in his travel gear. Jasprit Bumrah, smiling as always. Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill.
Aarav stood up to welcome them. "Welcome to Birmingham," Aarav smiled, shaking hands with Kohli. "It's cold."
"It's England, Aarav," Virat grinned, hugging him. "If it's not raining, it's a good day. How was the solo camp?"
"Productive," Aarav replied. "The ball is doing a bit."
"Good," Shami rubbed his hands together. "We like movement."
The team checked in, the atmosphere light and banter-filled. They were leading the series 2-1. They just needed a draw to make history. The confidence was high.
However, the mood shifted drastically later that evening. An emergency team meeting was called in the conference room. Usually, these happened before the match, not on arrival day.
Rahul Dravid stood at the head of the table. His face was grave.
"Boys," Dravid began, his voice low. "We have had a setback. A major one."
The room went pin-drop silent.
"Rohit Sharma has had to fly back to India immediately due to urgent personal reasons," Dravid announced. "He will not be available for this Test match."
A collective gasp went through the room. Rohit was not just the opener; he was their second best batsman in the series so far. Losing him was a hammer blow.
"Also," Dravid added, "With Rahane not in the squad, the selectors have flown in Shreyas Iyer as cover for the batting lineup. He lands tomorrow morning."
The absence of Ajinkya Rahane the usual Vice-Captain and crisis man made the situation even more precarious. The leadership vacuum was massive.
The next morning, the team arrived at Edgbaston under heavy grey clouds. The mood was serious. The loss of Rohit had sharpened their focus.
Shreyas Iyer joined the squad, looking jet-lagged but eager. He went straight to the nets.
Aarav, having already acclimatized, looked the most comfortable. He was batting in the adjacent net to Virat Kohli. It was a masterclass in leaving. Virat, intense as ever, was shadow-practicing his forward defense between deliveries. Aarav was watching the ball late, playing it under his eyes.
"Watch the slope, Aarav," Virat called out after Aarav played a drive. "It drifts in from the pavilion end."
"Got it, Bhai," Aarav nodded.
In the bowling nets, the "Pace Cartel" was firing. Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Aarav. A four-pronged pace attack that was arguably the best in the world.
Aarav was bowling with the new Dukes ball. He wasn't bowling for speed today; he was bowling for control. He bowled a wobble-seam delivery to Virat. It pitched on off, nipped back, and hit Pujara on the thigh pad.
"Ouch," Virat muttered, rubbing his leg. "That nipped back sharp."
"Sorry, Virat bhai," Aarav apologized, but inside, he was pleased. If he could trouble Kohli's defense, he could trouble Joe Root too.
The second day of training was about tactics. Without Rohit, the opening combination was the biggest question. Shubman Gill was a lock for one spot. But who would partner him? Hanuma Vihari? Or maybe KS Bharat?
"Use your feet, Aarav!" Dravid shouted from the umpire's position. "Don't let them settle!"
Aarav stepped out to Ashwin, smothering the spin, and drove him through covers. "Good," Dravid nodded.
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The air in Birmingham was crisp, charged with the peculiar tension that only a decisive Test match can generate. The "Hollies Stand" was already buzzing, a sea of fancy dress costumes and beer cups, ready to unleash the famous Edgbaston roar.
This was the final chapter of a saga that began in 2021. India, under the iron-fisted leadership of Virat Kohli, had taken a 2-1 lead. They were one draw or win away from their first series victory in England since 2007. But standing in their way was a reinvented England—the "Bazball" era under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
The Broadcast
Harsha Bhogle (Voiceover): "A year in waiting. A series on the line. Two ideologies collide in Birmingham. The aggressive, new-age England versus the dominant, ruthless India led by Virat Kohli. It's Red Ball. It's the ultimate test. And the atmosphere is absolutely electric."
The camera panned to the center pitch. Nasser Hussain, looking sharp in a dark suit, stood with the microphone. Beside him was the Match Referee, David Boon.
Nasser Hussain: "Good morning to Edgbaston! The stage is set. We have two captains who only know one way to play—hard and fast. Please welcome them."
A roar erupted. From the pavilion end walked Ben Stokes, the England captain, looking ready for a brawl. From the dressing room walked Virat Kohli.
The noise for Kohli was deafening. He is the undisputed King of red-ball cricket. He walked with the swagger of a man who had conquered Australia and was about to conquer England.
Nasser Hussain: "Virat, Ben. Welcome. David Boon has the coin. Virat, you are the visiting captain, you call."
David Boon flipped the silver coin high into the English air. "Heads," Kohli called loudly.
The coin landed in the grass. "It's Tails," Boon announced.
Nasser Hussain: "Ben Stokes wins the toss. Ben, what are you going to do?"
Ben Stokes: "We are going to bowl first, Nass."
Nasser Hussain: "Overhead conditions playing a part?"
Ben Stokes: "Yeah, there's a bit of cloud cover, a bit of moisture. We want to make use of it with the new ball. But we also back ourselves to chase. We've done it recently against New Zealand. We aren't afraid of a fourth-innings target."
Nasser Hussain: "Team news? Jimmy Anderson back?"
Ben Stokes: "Yes, Jimmy comes back in. Sam Billings keeps wicket. We are ready to go."
Nasser turned to Virat Kohli. The Indian captain adjusted his blazer, looking relaxed but intense.
Nasser Hussain: "Virat, you lead the series 2-1. Would you have batted or bowled?"
Virat Kohli: "We would have bowled first too. There's enough in it for the seamers. But batting first is a challenge we accept. We did it at Lord's, we did it at the Oval. It's about discipline."
Nasser Hussain: "Big news coming from your camp. Rohit Sharma is out due to personal reasons. Rahane is missing out. Talk us through the changes."
Virat Kohli: "Yeah, it's unfortunate for Rohit. He's been a pillar for us at the top. But injuries and personal issues happen. We have to adapt. Mayank Agarwal comes in to open. Shreyas Iyer comes into the middle order."
Nasser Hussain: "And Combinations?"
Virat Kohli: "We are playing five pacers and one spinner. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Aarav Pathak. With Ravindra Jadeja as the spinner. We are here to take 20 wickets, Nass. We aren't here to draw."
Nasser Hussain: "That is an incredibly aggressive lineup. Good luck, Virat."
The Teams
England XI:
Alex Lees
Zak Crawley
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes (C)
Sam Billings (WK)
Matty Potts
Stuart Broad
Jack Leach
James Anderson
India XI:
Shubman Gill
Mayank Agarwal (Replacement Opener)
Aarav Pathak
Virat Kohli (C)
Shreyas Iyer
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Shardul Thakur
Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
The Bell
The five-minute bell rang at Edgbaston.
Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal walked out to the middle. The clouds were grey, the ball was red, and James Anderson was marking his run-up.
The battle for the Pataudi Trophy had resumed.
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The overhead conditions at Edgbaston were quintessential England. Grey clouds hovered low, threatening but not yet weeping. The floodlights were on at 11:00 AM. James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the most prolific seam bowling partnership in history, held the new Dukes ball.
Facing them were Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal. Two attacking batsmen, forced to curb their instincts.
Overs 1-5: The Examination
Anderson started with a maiden. The ball swung late, shaping away from the right-hander. Gill left well, his judgment outside off-stump impeccable. Broad, from the other end, targeted Agarwal's pads but then straightened one past the outside edge.
Ravi Shastri: "This is proper Test cricket. The ball is talking. Gill and Mayank are playing with soft hands, not pushing at it. They know the value of the first hour."
Mayank got off the mark with a punchy drive through cover-point for three. Gill flicked Anderson through mid-wicket for his first boundary. The score ticked over slowly. 10/0... 18/0... 24/0.
Over 7: James Anderson to Shubman Gill
Gill was batting on 17. He looked settled, having played a couple of glorious drives. But Anderson is a master of patience.
6.1: Anderson bowled a length ball, shaping in. Gill defended. Dot.
6.2: Anderson went slightly wider on the crease. He bowled it short of a length, wide outside off-stump. It was a nothing ball, really. Not wide enough to cut, not full enough to drive. Gill, perhaps lulled into a false sense of security, didn't leave it. He poked at it. He pushed his hands away from his body, not looking to score, just feeling for the ball. It was a lapse in concentration. The ball kissed the outside edge. It flew at a comfortable height to Zak Crawley at second slip. Crawley didn't have to move. He swallowed it.
Michael Atherton: "Gone! Anderson strikes! And that is a soft dismissal. A shot that will disappoint Shubman Gill immensely. He wasn't looking to score; he was just pushing at a wide, shortish ball. Even if he middles it, he gets no runs. As it turns out, he edges it straight to second slip. England has the breakthrough!"
Shubman Gill c Crawley b Anderson 17 (24)Score: India 27/1
As Gill walked back, shaking his head at the replay on the big screen, a hush fell over the ground. But then, as the next batsman crossed the boundary rope, the applause began.
It wasn't just the Indian contingent. The knowledgeable English crowd clapped too. They had seen his exploits in last 3 games he played here in England; they knew his reputation. Only one section remained stubbornly silent—the Barmy Army in the Hollies Stand. They knew better than to wake a sleeping giant.
Aarav Pathak walked out. He adjusted his gloves. He looked at the sky. He looked at the pitch. He tapped the bat on the crease. Guard: Middle stump.
On the TV screens worldwide, a graphic popped up that made the commentators pause.
AARAV PATHAK - TEST CAREER (Since Dec 2020)
Innings: 24
Runs: 2048
Average:113.77
Centuries: 12
Series Stats (vs Eng): 403 Runs @ 134.33
Nasser Hussain: "Look at those numbers. Just look at them. Since taking over the Number 3 spot in Australia his debut series, he has been a run machine. An average of 113. It's Bradman-esque. India is incredibly lucky to have a player who essentially serves as a cheat code. He comes in, stabilizes, and then dominates."
Ravi Shastri: "He has time. That is his biggest asset. Against Anderson swinging it both ways, you need time. Aarav plays the ball under his eyes."
6.3: Anderson to Aarav. Anderson, sensing a new batsman, pitched it up, looking for the inswinger. Aarav leaned forward. A solid forward defense. The bat met the ball with a dead straight face. Dot.
6.4: Anderson tried the outswinger. Aarav shouldered arms. He watched it all the way into Sam Billings' gloves. Dot.
6.5: Anderson went straighter. Aarav clipped it off his toes to deep square leg. He got off the mark immediately. 1 Run.
6.6: Mayank Agarwal defended.
Score: 28/1.
For the next hour, it was a battle of attrition. Aarav and Mayank didn't look to dominate; they looked to survive and rotate. Aarav was reading the pitch brilliantly. He noticed the ball was doing more off the seam than in the air. He communicated this to Mayank. "Play inside the line. Don't reach out."
Over 10 (Broad): Aarav played a beautiful back-foot punch through covers. FOUR. It was his first boundary, hit with minimal effort.
Over 12 (Matty Potts): The young debutant tried to bounce Aarav. Aarav swayed out of the way, unbothered.
They rotated the strike with singles, keeping the scoreboard ticking without taking risks. The run rate hovered around 3.5.
Score after 14 Overs: India 52/1. Aarav: 14* (22) Mayank: 19* (38)
The umpires called for drinks. The Barmy Army started singing 'Jerusalem'. Aarav took off his helmet and wiped his forehead. Ashwin walked out with the water bottles.
"Brilliant leave, Aarav," Ashwin said, handing him a bottle. " Captain's words: Jimmy is trying to suck you into the drive. Don't fall for it. Make him bowl to you."
"The ball is softening a bit," Aarav noted. "The swing is less now. We can start scoring soon."
"Stay there till lunch," Ashwin advised. "If we don't lose another wicket this session, we win the day."
Aarav nodded, drinking deeply. He looked at the scoreboard. 27/1 had become 52/1. The ship was steadied. Now, it was time to set sail.
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The players walked back onto the field after the drinks break. The cloud cover had thickened slightly, casting a brooding shadow over the ground. The floodlights, usually a peripheral presence, now seemed to be the primary source of illumination.
Ben Stokes threw the ball to the young sensation from Durham, Matty Potts. Potts had been the find of the summer for England, bustling in with energy and hitting the deck hard.
Nasser Hussain: "Welcome back. A fascinating first hour. India 52 for 1. They have weathered the storm of Anderson and Broad, but now they face Matty Potts. He has a knack for making things happen. He hits the splice, he nips it back. Mayank Agarwal on strike."
Over 15: Matty Potts to Mayank Agarwal
Ball 1: Potts ran in with his distinct, high-knee action. He bowled a length ball outside off. Mayank left it alone. Dot.
Ball 2: Potts went fuller. Mayank pushed it to mid-off. Dot.
Ball 3: Potts went wide of the crease. He angled the ball in towards the right-hander. Mayank Agarwal, expecting the line to hold, played for the angle. But the ball straightened. It kissed the surface and held its line beautifully, just enough to beat the inside edge of the bat but catch the back pad? No, it caught the edge. Mayank tried to defend late, but he was squared up. The ball took the outside edge and flew low to Zak Crawley at second slip. Crawley dived forward and scooped it up.
Michael Atherton: "He's done it! Matty Potts breaks the stand! It's the angle that did him. Mayank was playing for the inswinger, but it held its line. A regulation catch in the slips. India loses their second wicket just after the break! The budding partnership is broken."
Mayank Agarwal c Crawley b Potts 19 (41)Score: India 53/2
The wicket fell, but the applause that followed wasn't for the bowler. It was for the man walking down the pavilion steps. Virat Kohli. The noise started as a murmur and grew into a roar. "KOH-LI! KOH-LI!"
He walked out with that familiar brisk stride, bat tucked under his arm, gloves adjusting his helmet. He looked at the sky, he looked at the field. He looked ready for war.
Ravi Shastri: "Here comes the big man. The King. Virat Kohli. He loves this ground. He scored a magnificent 149 here in 2018. India needs him to stand tall today. He joins the young Prince, Aarav Pathak. This is the partnership India has been dreaming of."
Kohli met Aarav mid-pitch. A quick fist bump. "Watch the wobble seam," Aarav whispered. "It's stopping a bit." Kohli nodded, his eyes intense. "Let's grind."
Over 15 continued: Kohli took guard. Two slips and a gully. Potts ran in. Kohli defended the first ball solidly to mid-on. Dot.
Over 16: James Anderson vs Aarav Pathak
Anderson returned. The battle of generations. Aarav on strike.
Ball 1: Anderson bowled a beauty, shaping away. Aarav left it on length. Dot.
Ball 2: Anderson overpitched slightly. Aarav leaned forward. The balance was exquisite. He presented the full face of the bat, driving it through the covers. It wasn't hit hard; it was caressed. The ball raced across the lush outfield. FOUR.
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is pure class. Head right over the ball. High elbow. When he plays that shot, you just want to pause the television and admire it. He makes Anderson look medium pace."
Ball 3: Anderson corrected his length. Aarav defended. Dot.
Ball 4: Aarav worked a straight ball to square leg for a single. 1 Run.
Ball 5: Kohli on strike. Anderson vs Kohli. Anderson bowled in the channel. Kohli left it alone. The crowd cheered the leave. Dot.
Over 17: Matty Potts
Kohli was itching to get off the mark. Potts bowled short and wide. Kohli slashed at it a bit high, but it flew through the gap at point. FOUR. Kohli punched the air gently. Off the mark.
Nasser Hussain: "He gets going! A bit of width from Potts and punished. But you can see the intent. Kohli wants to feel bat on ball."
For the next seven overs, it was a grind. Aarav looked serene. He was leaving well, judging the bounce, and picking off singles. Kohli looked busy. He was fidgety, shuffling in his crease, trying to disturb the bowler's length.
Over 20: Aarav faced Stuart Broad. Broad went round the wicket, targeting the pads. Aarav flicked it. But he didn't close the face. He punched the flick. The ball sped through mid-wicket. FOUR.
Michael Atherton: "He has so much time. Broad is bowling 85mph, but Aarav is playing him like a spinner. He waits, and then the hands take over. He moves to 26."
Over 22: Kohli played a glorious straight drive off Potts for three runs. He moved to 11. India was stabilizing at 70/2.
Over 23: Matty Potts to Virat Kohli
Potts was steaming in. He wasn't intimidated by the reputation of the batsman.
Ball 1: Potts bowled a length ball, nipping back in. Kohli defended on the back foot. Dot.
Ball 2: Potts went wide of the crease. He angled it in sharply. Kohli, perhaps expecting the outswinger or the one that holds the line, decided to leave it. It was a tight leave. The ball passed dangerously close to the off stump. Dot.
Ball 3: Potts ran in. He hit the deck hard. It was a wobble-seam delivery. It pitched on a good length outside off. Kohli, batting on 11 off 18 balls, looked to play a defensive push towards cover. But he was in two minds—play or leave? At the last microsecond, he tried to withdraw the bat. But it was too late. The ball jagged back in sharply off the seam. It took the inside edge—or perhaps the bottom edge as he tried to pull the bat away. It crashed into the stumps. CLATTER.
The bails flew. The stumps were rattled. Virat Kohli stood there, frozen. He looked back at his stumps, disbelief etched on his face. He had dragged it on? Or was he bowled through the gate? It was a chop-on. The indecision had cost him.
Nasser Hussain (Voice rising): "HE'S GOT HIM! Matty Potts gets the big fish! Virat Kohli drags it on! He was in two minds, late on the withdrawal, and the stumps are a mess! Birmingham erupts! The King is gone cheaply! India are 3 down and in trouble!"
Virat Kohli b Potts 11 (19)Score: India 71/3
The Barmy Army roared. "Cheerio! Cheerio!" The Indian fans fell silent. 71/3. The top order was blown away. The unfinished business was looking shaky.
As Kohli walked back, shaking his head, a different kind of energy emerged from the dressing room. Rishabh Pant. The man who lived by the sword. He walked out swinging his bat, adjusting his thigh pad, looking around at the hostile crowd with a smirk.
He met Aarav in the middle. They bumped fists. "Ball is doing a bit," Aarav said, his face serious. Pant grinned. "Good. More gaps then."
Ravi Shastri: "Here comes the X-Factor. Rishabh Pant. India is in a hole. 71 for 3. They need a partnership. But Pant doesn't know how to block. He only knows one way. This will be fascinating against the moving ball."
Over 25: James Anderson to Rishabh Pant
Anderson, the master with 600+ wickets, looked at the young left-hander. He moved the slip cordon.
Ball 1: Anderson bowled full, swinging away. Pant didn't wait. He stepped out—yes, stepped out to Anderson on the second ball he faced! He heaved it over mid-off. He didn't time it perfectly. The bat turned in his hand. He fell over as he hit it. But the ball cleared the infield and raced away. FOUR.
Michael Atherton: "He is unbelievable! Second ball against Jimmy Anderson, and he charges him! He ends up on the floor, but the ball ends up at the boundary! That is Rishabh Pant for you!"
Ball 2: Anderson shortened the length. Pant tried to defend but was beaten. Dot.
Ball 3: Pant took a single to deep point. 1 Run.
Ball 4: Aarav on strike. Anderson tried to attack Aarav's pads. Aarav played a delicate glance. Fine leg was up. FOUR.
Sunil Gavaskar: "Beautiful. Soft hands. Aarav is the perfect foil for Pant. One is fire, the other is ice. One bludgeons, the other guides. This partnership could be dangerous."
Over 27: Matty Potts to Rishabh Pant
Potts, confident after getting Kohli, ran in to Pant.
Ball 1: Short and wide. Pant slashed. He went hard. The ball flew over the slip cordon. It was in the air, but safe. FOUR.
Nasser Hussain: "He plays with fire! Every ball is an event. Potts is bowling well, but Pant is disrupting his rhythm. He refuses to let the bowler settle."
Ball 2: Potts bowled straight. Pant defended. Solidly. Dot.
Ball 3: Pant stepped out again. He converted a length ball into a half-volley and smashed it straight back past the bowler. FOUR.
Ravi Shastri: "That's a bullet! Straight down the ground! 50 partnership comes up in no time! These two are changing the complexion of the session!"
While Pant was providing the entertainment, Aarav Pathak was providing the education. He moved to 40. He faced Jack Leach, the spinner who was introduced to stem the flow.
Over 30: Jack Leach to Aarav Pathak
Ball 1: Leach tossed it up. Aarav stepped out. Smooth footwork. He didn't hit it in the air. He drove it along the carpet through extra cover. FOUR.
Ball 2: Leach went flatter. Aarav went back and punched it through mid-wicket. FOUR.
Ball 3: Leach bowled on the pads. Aarav swept. A conventional, hard sweep. FOUR.
Michael Atherton: "Three fours in a row! He is taking the spinner apart. Aarav Pathak moves to his half-century! A brilliant, gritty, and stylish 50 under pressure!"
Aarav raised his bat. A calm acknowledgment. 53* off 68 balls. Pant walked up and hugged him. "Badhiya hai Aarav! (Good going, Aarav!)"
Over 32: Jack Leach to Rishabh Pant
If Aarav dismantled Leach with technique, Pant dismantled him with violence.
Ball 1: Pant skipped down the track. He didn't get to the pitch. It didn't matter. He swung one-handed. The bottom hand came off. The ball soared over long-on. SIX!
Ravi Shastri (Booming): "ONE HANDED! INTO THE STANDS! He puts the spinner into the crowd! Rishabh Pant is playing a different game! England doesn't know where to bowl!"
Ball 2: Leach fired it in wide. Pant played the reverse sweep. Against the spin. He nailed it. Over point. FOUR.
Nasser Hussain: "This is absolutely bonkers batting! 71 for 3 has become 140 for 3 in the blink of an eye! This partnership is running away with the game! England looks shell-shocked. Ben Stokes is scratching his head. Aarav and Pant are playing Bazball against England."
The session ended with India at 148/3. The partnership was worth 77 runs in just 14 overs.
Aarav Pathak: 58* (75) - Elegant, assured.
Rishabh Pant: 45* (38) - Destructive, chaotic.
Harsha Bhogle: "What a session! India was on the ropes when Kohli got out. But this counter-attack? It's breathtaking. Pant is being Pant, but look at Aarav Pathak. He hasn't played a single false shot."
David Gower: "It's the perfect blend, Harsha. Left hand, right hand. Aggression and anchor. England fed Pant's strengths, and they couldn't breach Aarav's defense. If these two bat for another hour, India will be in a commanding position."
Nasser Hussain: "Ben Stokes needs to change something. The 'Bazball' approach is being used against them by Pantball. And Aarav... he looks like he wants a big hundred again in England. He looks immovable."
Back in the dressing room, Rahul Dravid smiled. The rescue act was on.
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The players walked out after lunch. The cloud cover had thickened, turning the sky a bruised purple. The lights were beaming down. Ben Stokes, the England captain, took the ball himself. He had a plan. Bodyline.
Over 35: Ben Stokes to Aarav Pathak
Stokes ran in with purpose. He banged it in short. Aarav ducked. Stokes glared. The battle of egos had begun.
Aarav moved to 66 with two glorious boundaries off Matthew Potts in the previous over. He was the highest run-scorer of the series, and second was Joe Root. He looked destined for a century.
Over 37:
Ball 1: Stokes came round the wicket. A bouncer directed at the ribs. Aarav fended it off awkwardly to leg gully. Safe.
Ball 2: Stokes bowled full and wide. Aarav drove, but straight to cover. Stokes followed through, shouting something incomprehensible but aggressive.
Ball 3: Stokes went back to over the wicket. He bowled a wobble-seam delivery that pitched on off and straightened violently. Aarav (66) was looking to play his trademark back-foot punch. But the ball stopped on him. It kicked up from a length. It took the shoulder of the bat and flew to Zak Crawley at second slip, who held onto a sharp chance.
Nasser Hussain: "He's got him! The plan works! Stokes gets the big fish! Aarav Pathak goes for a well-made 66, but England needed this breakthrough desperately!"
As Aarav turned to walk back, disappointment etched on his face, Ben Stokes didn't just celebrate. The adrenaline of the captaincy and the frustration of the partnership boiled over. Stokes ran past Aarav, screaming. It was aggressive. It was personal. And then, amidst the roar, Aarav heard it. A slur. Something about "you lot" and "go back". It was faint to the cameras, but clear to the man standing two feet away.
Aarav stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't look at the umpire. He didn't continue walking. He turned around slowly. He stared at Ben Stokes. It wasn't the fiery stare of Kohli; it was the cold, dead stare of a man who remembered everything.
Stokes stopped his celebration, realizing he might have crossed a line. The umpire, Aleem Dar, stepped in between them.
Aarav took a step towards Stokes. "Enjoy the wicket, Ben," Aarav said, his voice cutting through the noise, audible on the stump mic. "I'll see you in the next innings."
He held the stare for another second, then turned and walked off, bat tucked under his arm, head held high. The crowd booed, but Aarav didn't flinch.
Sunil Gavaskar (On Air): "That was ugly. Unnecessary from Stokes. You get the wicket, you celebrate. You don't abuse. Aarav handled that with immense dignity. He didn't back down, but he didn't lose his cool. That is a leader."
Aarav Pathak c Crawley b Stokes 66 (98)Score: India 168/4
As Shreyas Iyer walked down the stairs, ready to take guard, the heavens opened. It wasn't a drizzle; it was a deluge. The umpires called for the covers immediately. Pant and the English fielders sprinted off.
Delay: 45 Minutes.
When play resumed, the conditions had changed. The moisture in the air had freshened up the surface. The ball was going to swing again.
Over 40: James Anderson to Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer faced the master. Ball 1: Anderson bowled a beauty. Outswinger. Beaten. Ball 2: Inswinger. Shreyas got hit on the pad. High. Ball 3: Anderson bowled the wobble seam. Shreyas played inside the line, tentative, feet stuck in the crease due to the earlier short-ball barrage from Stokes. The ball kissed the outside edge. Sam Billings dived to his right. A stunning one-handed catch.
Michael Atherton: "Welcome to England, Shreyas Iyer! Jimmy Anderson is too good! The rain break worked perfectly for the home side. India loses half their side now! 175 for 5!"
Shreyas Iyer c Billings b Anderson 15 (11)Score: India 175/5
India was in trouble. 190/5. The tail was exposed. Enter Ravindra Jadeja. The rock. And at the other end? Rishabh Pant. The Storm.
Pant saw the wickets falling. He saw Stokes chirping. He decided enough was enough.
Over 45: Jack Leach vs Rishabh Pant
Ball 1: Pant stepped out. He hit it so hard that the mid-on fielder ducked for cover. FOUR.
Ball 2: Leach fired it wide. Pant reverse-swept him over point. FOUR.
Ball 3: Pant danced down again. Lofted straight back over the bowler's head. SIX!
Ravi Shastri: "He is taking the mickey out of them! He doesn't care about the situation! He is playing T20 cricket in whites! Jack Leach is being dismantled!"
The partnership blossomed. Jadeja played the perfect second fiddle, rotating the strike and defending the good balls. Pant annihilated anything loose. He moved into the 90s with an audacious ramp shot off Anderson over the slips.
Over 55: Stuart Broad to Rishabh Pant
Pant was on 96. Broad bowled full. Pant went down on one knee. He didn't just sweep; he slog-swept a fast bowler. The ball flew into the Hollies Stand.
Nasser Hussain: "RISHABH PANT! A CENTURY FOR THE AGES! 100 off just 89 balls! Under pressure, with the team in trouble, he has counter-attacked like a genius! Look at the emotion! Look at the dressing room!"
Pant took off his helmet, screaming, raising his bat to the balcony where Dravid and Kohli were applauding wildly. Aarav, sitting with a towel around his neck, was up on his feet, clapping furiously.
India: 260/5.
Pant continued the carnage for another hour. The partnership with Jadeja crossed 100. India crossed 300. But fatigue, and perhaps a rush of blood, finally caught up.
Over 66: Joe Root to Rishabh Pant
Joe Root, the part-time spinner, was brought on to buy a wicket. Pant tried to hit him out of the park. He mistimed the slog. The ball went high to deep mid-wicket. Zak Crawley settled under it.
Michael Atherton: "The entertainment ends! But what a knock! 146 runs of the highest order. He has single-handedly dragged India from the abyss to a position of strength."
Rishabh Pant c Crawley b Root 146 (111)Score: India 330/6
Shardul Thakur walked out. The man with the golden arm and the gritty bat. The light was fading. The floodlights were overpowering the natural light. Anderson and Broad returned with the second new ball imminent.
Jadeja took charge. He shielded Shardul initially, refusing singles, playing a mature, senior pro innings. But Shardul didn't need shielding. He played a gorgeous cover drive off Anderson to get off the mark.
Overs 67-73: The Grim Defense
The English bowlers were tired. Stokes was limping slightly. Jadeja and Shardul blocked. Leave. Block. Leave. Block. It was old-school Test cricket to end the day.
Over 73: The umpires took out the light meter. Aleem Dar spoke to Ben Stokes. "It's too dangerous for the pacers. Spin only or we go off." Stokes looked at the dark sky. He shook his head. "We go off."
STUMPS, DAY 1.
Scorecard Summary:India: 338/7 (73 Overs)
Rishabh Pant: 146 (111) - The Hero
Aarav Pathak: 66 (98) - The Anchor
Ravindra Jadeja: 83* (163) - The Rock
Shardul Thakur: 10* (12)
Virat Kohli: 11
Shubman Gill: 17
Bowling (Eng):
James Anderson: 3/52
Matty Potts: 2/85
Ben Stokes: 1/34
Harsha Bhogle: "What a day of Test cricket! It had everything. The class of Aarav Pathak, the ugliness of the confrontation, the rain, the collapse, and then the absolute brilliance of Rishabh Pant. India finishes on 338/7. They would have taken that at 98/5."
Sunil Gavaskar: "Absolutely. Pant changed the game. But don't forget Aarav's 66. He blunted the new ball. He set the platform. And Jadeja... he is still there. If India gets to 400 tomorrow, England will be under huge pressure."
Nasser Hussain: "Ben Stokes will be disappointed. They had India on the mat. But the Pant-Jadeja partnership took the game away. And that incident with Aarav... Stokes needs to be careful. You don't want to wake up the beast. Did he forget what happened in the last game of the series. Aarav will have the ball in hand in the second innings. He won't forget."
Aarav sat in the corner, still in his pads. His eyes were focused on the replay screen showing his dismissal and the subsequent argument. Pant walked in, high-fiving everyone. He saw Aarav. "Badhiya khela, Bhai (Played well, brother)," Pant said, sitting next to him. "Stokes said something?"
Aarav nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "He did. He thinks he can bully us."
Aarav looked at Pant, a cold smile forming. "Wait till I get the red cherry, Rishabh. I'm going to bowl fast. Very fast."
The day belonged to Pant. But the battle... the battle was far from over.
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