India vs Australia — T20I, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
February 10, 2018
"T20 isn't madness. It's timed madness."
🌃 Scene 1: The Chinnaswamy Lights
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was alive before sunset.
Bangalore's humid air shimmered with chants, firecracker smoke, and a thousand flashlights. It was a T20 night—cricket's shortest format, but perhaps its loudest theatre. And in the middle of it, under floodlights sharp as daggers, walked a 20-year-old with the air of someone rediscovering joy.
Ishaan Verma.
He wasn't here to rebuild. Not to graft, not to prove anything.
He was here to explode.
🗣️ Scene 2: The Pre-match Exchange
The Indian dugout buzzed. Raina, Kohli, Dhoni, Hardik—all joking, gesturing toward the boundaries.
Coach Ravi Shastri walked in from the ropes, sunglasses still on under lights.
Shastri: "Verma, No. 3 today."
Ishaan (blinking): "Go hard?"
Shastri: "No. Go harder."
Raina patted Ishaan's back.
Raina: "T20 isn't madness. It's timed madness. Remember that."
🧠 Scene 3: The Role Reversal
Australia batted first. Glenn Maxwell had torched the field with a 64 off 32. Bumrah and Kuldeep slowed the death overs, but 187/5 was still a solid target.
Bangalore roared as Rohit and Dhawan opened.
1.3 overs: Rohit lofted one and fell to Tye — caught at deep mid-off.
Chants turned into murmurs.
From the dressing room, Ishaan rose.
Helmet. Gloves. No thoughts.
He jogged to the center, bat tucked under his arm like a sabre.
🔥 Scene 4: Ball-by-Ball Carnage Begins
2.1 – Cummins to Verma
Short, rising outside off. Ishaan leans back, upper-cuts it over point.
FOUR!
2.2 – Cummins to Verma
Length ball. Driven hard — splits extra cover and mid-off.
FOUR!
Commentary (Harsha):
"Oh my word! That's not placement — that's orchestration!"
Stump Mic (Warner at slip):
"He thinks it's IPL already?"
⚔️ Scene 5: The Glint in the Eye
Ishaan walked up to Dhawan.
Ishaan (grinning): "Ramp next over?"
Dhawan (grinning back): "Only if you want your bat trending on Twitter."
3.4 – Starc to Verma
Full, wide yorker. Ishaan shuffles across — lifts it over third man!
SIX!
The crowd exploded. Even Raina in the dugout stood up, mouth open.
Commentary (Shastri):
"The audacity of youth. That's outrageous!"
🎥 Highlight Reel – Over 5 to 6
5.1 – Zampa to Verma
Skids on. Reverse sweep — one bounce to third man.
FOUR!
5.4 – Zampa to Verma
Flighted. Ishaan steps out, inside-outs it over extra cover.
SIX!
🔢 Score Update
India: 67/1 after 6 overs
Ishaan: 35 off 15 balls*
Strike Rate: 233.3
Crowd: chanting his name rhythmically.
📉 Scene 6: The Moment of Madness
7.3 – Maxwell to Dhawan
Mistimed shot — falls inches short of cover.
Ishaan backs up too far, ready to steal a run.
Direct hit from Warner.
Run out.
The stadium silenced for a second — stunned.
Replay confirmed it. Gone.
Ishaan Verma – 42 (19 balls), 6 fours, 2 sixes
😅 Scene 7: The Exit and the Grin
He removed his gloves slowly. No sulk. No glare.
Just a boyish grin.
He walked off as the stadium clapped.
Raina on commentary mic:
"That's alright, champ. T20 is a play. You lit up Act 1."
📺 Scene 8: Dugout Banter
Ishaan sat down beside Kohli, still panting.
Kohli (smirking): "Ramp over third man, huh?"
Ishaan: "Wasn't even the best part."
Raina (from the booth, waving): "I told you — timed madness!"
🧊 Scene 9: Final Scenes
India chased down the target with 4 balls to spare. Pandya finished with a thumping six.
Presentation ceremony was abuzz with talk of Ishaan's cameo.
Commentary (Simon Doull):
"He's rewriting what tempo means in T20."
Back in the team bus that night, Kohli looked at Ishaan scrolling silently through the Twitter reactions.
"Still fun?"
Ishaan (smiling): "That was fun."
He leaned back. The Bangalore lights blurred against the windows.
📝 Final Monologue
"Sometimes it's not about how long you last.
It's about what you leave behind in 19 balls."