October 10, 2017 – India vs Australia, 1st ODI – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
The first time Ishaan Verma held a white ball since The Oval.
🏟️ Scene 1: The Walk into Noise
The Wankhede was a sea of tricolour and flashbulbs. Chants of "Kohli! Dhoni!" boomed across the humid Mumbai air, but in between the beats of noise, another name tried to sneak in:
"Ishaan… Ishaan Verma…"
Some fans shouted it with hope. Others said it like a question.
Inside the Indian dressing room, the air conditioner whirred like a nervous breath. Ishaan stood in front of his kit bag, his fingers tracing the edges of the white-ball India jersey.
No press. No fanfare. Just memory.
He slipped it on.
Inner monologue:
"No finals today. No last over. Just a beginning. Again."
🕐 Scene 2: Toss and Setup
Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat.
"We want to test our middle order under lights," he said with a faint glance toward Ishaan.
The Wankhede pitch looked dry, with light grass. The Aussie pace trio — Starc, Cummins, and Faulkner — warmed up under the sun. Glenn Maxwell spun a white ball on his finger like a magician preparing a trick.
🏏 India Innings Begins
1st Over – Starc to Rohit Sharma
Two balls in, Rohit edged and was caught behind for 4.
The crowd gasped.
🎭 Scene 3: Ishaan Walks In — 8/1
Stadium Screen:
NOW BATTING: ISHAAN VERMA | M: 8 | AVG: 43.6 | HS: 102*
He walked out slowly. Bat tucked under arm. A white grip on his bat. Head down. The ghost of that Champions Trophy knock still danced in the corners of his vision.
Stump mic (from Finch at slip):
"Here he is. Mr. Solo Hundred."
Ishaan tapped his bat once. Twice. Looked up at Cummins at fine leg — who offered a smirk.
🔁 Ball-by-Ball: Ishaan's First 10 Balls
2.1 – Starc to Verma
Length ball on off. Defended softly.
No run.
2.2 – Starc to Verma
Back of a length. Ishaan lets it go.
Crowd murmurs.
2.3 – Starc to Verma
Overpitched. Ishaan drives—but straight to cover.
No run.
2.4 – Starc to Verma
Short. Ishaan sways away.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "He's not rushing. That's a good sign."
2.5 – Starc to Verma
Full and fast. Flicked behind square.
FOUR!
Crowd roars — not massive, but meaningful.
⏳ Scene 4: Settling In
By the 10th over, India were 56/1. Ishaan: 21(31)*
Commentary (Harsha):
"He's finding a rhythm. But the question with Verma has never been the start — it's what happens after."
Ishaan tapped gloves with Shikhar Dhawan.
"Let's just bat," Dhawan smiled.
"Nothing else exists."
⚡ Scene 5: The Turning Point – 14th Over
14.2 – Faulkner to Verma
Slower one. Ishaan cuts late.
FOUR!
14.3 – Faulkner to Verma
Short ball. Ishaan goes for the pull — mistimes. Just clears mid-on.
Two runs. Nervous energy.
14.4 – Faulkner to Verma
Full, wide outside off. Ishaan tries to up the tempo.
Drives aerially — caught at mid-off.
OUT!
Stadium falls to silence.
Commentary (Simon Doull):
"That's soft. That's really soft."
🧣 Scene 6: The Long Walk Back
As Ishaan walked back — 28(34) — a boy in the lower stand clapped gently. One fan shouted,
"You played for yourself again!"
That one pierced deeper than it should've.
In the dugout, Ishaan sat next to Kohli.
Kohli didn't say much — just handed him a bottle of water.
🎙️ Post-Innings
India finished with 287/6. Pandya and Dhoni did the heavy lifting.
Australia fell short by 11 runs.
India won the match.
📺 Scene 7: Headlines & Backlash
Next morning's headlines:
"India wins — but what's up with Verma?"
"28 (34) — Not quite a comeback"
"Too slow, too soon?"
🧠 Final Scene: Ishaan's Mind
Late night. Ishaan sat alone in his Mumbai hotel room. Shirt half-open, sweat still clinging to him.
He stared at the replay of his dismissal on a muted screen.
Inner monologue:
"I didn't freeze. I didn't fail. I just… faded."
He picked up a tennis ball from the floor, tossed it in the air once. Twice. Then stood up.
Put on his shoes.
Stepped into the hallway.
Final Line:
"Let them talk. I've just started warming up."