Requested by : Gillinmydil wrote this while i was half asleep so it may not be upto the mark 😭 please excuse me lmaoo...hope you like it <3

Synopsis : In which Ishan Kishan and Samiksha Sharma are experts at pushing each other's buttons—until their teammates decide to rearrange the game.

For Samiksha Sharma, being a physiotherapist for the Indian cricket team was a dream job—one she had worked tirelessly to achieve. But she hadn't accounted for one challenge: Ishan Kishan. The wicketkeeper-batsman seemed determined to make her life difficult. Whether it was his attitude toward recovery sessions or his sarcastic remarks, he had a knack for getting under her skin.

Ishan, for his part, had his reasons for the tension. Samiksha's no-nonsense approach and her ability to call him out—on his lazy stretches, his poor hydration habits, or even his erratic batting—ruffled his feathers. Their arguments were the stuff of locker room legend.

Shubman, a close friend of Samiksha's family and Ishan's priyatame, had had enough. Watching their constant bickering had become both a source of amusement and secondhand frustration (as well as embarrassment, especially when they fought at the most random places over the most obnoxious things). With the help of his girlfriend, Sara, Shubman decided it was time to play matchmaker.

"Five minutes late again, Ishan," Samiksha said, arms crossed, clipboard in hand, as Ishan strolled into the team physio room.

"Five minutes isn't going to kill anyone, Doc," he quipped, flopping onto the treatment table with a smirk.

"It might kill your career if you keep neglecting recovery. You'll end up benched, and then where will all your wisecracks go?" she shot back.

Rohit, passing by the room, paused and grinned. "Another round of Kishan vs. Sharma? I should start charging for tickets."

"Not funny, bhaiya," Samiksha said, glaring at the captain.

"On the contrary, very funny," he replied, winking at Ishan before leaving.

The session began with Ishan complaining about every stretch, Samiksha reminding him of the basics, and the tension between them crackling like static electricity.

Later that evening, Shubman sat with Sara in the team hotel lounge, sipping on coffee.

"They're unbearable," Shubman said.

"They sound like an old married couple," Sara replied, laughing.

"Exactly! And they don't even realize it. I'm telling you, they're perfect for each other. We just need to make them see it."

"Do you have a plan?"

Shubman smirked. "Always."

The next day, during a practice match, Shubman convinced Ishan to stay behind for "extra fielding drills." Meanwhile, Sara invited Samiksha to watch.

"I don't have time for this," Samiksha protested.

"You're always working, Sam. Take a break. Besides, it'll help you understand their on-field movements better, right?" Sara coaxed.

Reluctantly, Samiksha agreed.

From the sidelines, she watched as Shubman lobbed increasingly difficult catches toward Ishan. His agility and precision were undeniable, but his cocky attitude persisted.

"Show-off," she muttered under her breath, though she couldn't deny a grudging admiration for his skill.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Shubman said, appearing beside her.

"He's talented, but he knows it too well," she replied.

"That's just Ishan. Deep down, he's a good guy. You'd see that if you gave him a chance."

Samiksha raised an eyebrow. "Are you matchmaking, Shubman?"

"Who, me? Never," he said, grinning innocently.

A week later, during an away series, Ishan injured his shoulder during a diving catch attempt. Despite his protests, Samiksha insisted on a full assessment.

"I'm fine!" he argued as she guided him to the physio room.

"You're not fine until I say so," she snapped.

Their argument escalated until Ishan finally blurted, "Why do you care so much? You're always on my case!"

"Because it's my job to keep you fit! And because I can't stand the thought of you throwing away your potential!"

The room fell silent. Both of them stared at each other, caught off guard by the intensity of the moment.

That night, Shubman and Sara hatched their next plan, roping in Rohit and Virat for added chaos, because they thought that those two were experienced.

"We need to force them to spend time together," Shubman explained.

"And how do we do that?" Rohit asked.

"Team dinner," Sara suggested. "But with a twist."

The "twist" turned out to be a seating arrangement that placed Ishan and Samiksha side by side. Under the watchful eyes of their teammates, the two were forced to interact.

To everyone's surprise, the dinner wasn't a disaster. As the evening progressed, their bickering softened into playful banter. By the end of the night, they were laughing—much to the delight of their matchmakers.

In the weeks that followed, the ice between them began to melt. Ishan started showing up to his recovery sessions on time, and Samiksha found herself looking forward to their conversations.

One evening, after a match-winning performance by Ishan, he found Samiksha waiting for him near the locker room.

"Good game," she said, handing him a water bottle.

"Thanks, Doc," he replied, his usual smirk replaced by a genuine smile.

For a moment, they stood there, the noise of the stadium fading into the background.

"Samiksha," he began hesitantly, "I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with, but... thanks for putting up with me."

She smiled. "Someone has to keep you in check."

"Well, I'm glad it's you," he said softly.

A few months later, as the stadium roared with celebration after a thrilling series victory against new zealand. Shubman stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze drifting toward Ishan and Samiksha. Amidst the chaos of cheers and clinking glasses, the two of them stood apart, sharing a quiet moment under the twinkling fairy lights strung above the team's victory party.

Ishan leaned against a pillar, his usual cocky grin softened into something gentler as he looked at Samiksha. She had her arms crossed, a teasing smirk on her lips, but her eyes betrayed a warmth she could no longer hide.

"Mission accomplished," Shubman murmured, raising a toast to Sara, who stood by his side, her smile as radiant as the moment itself.

Sara clinked her glass against his. "They were impossible, weren't they?"

Rohit and Virat joined them, their expressions a mix of pride and amusement.

"About time," Virat said, shaking his head. "I was beginning to think I'd have to lock them in a room together."

Rohit laughed, raising his drink. "Let's just hope they don't kill each other before the wedding."

Sara chuckled. "They'll be fine. After all, opposites attract. It's written in the stars."

Meanwhile, Samiksha rolled her eyes at something Ishan had said, but the flush on her cheeks gave her away. Ishan leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. "You know, for someone who claims to hate me, you're awfully good at standing this close."

Samiksha tried to scoff, but her lips curved into a reluctant smile. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just enjoying the moment."

"Sure," he said, stepping just a fraction closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "But admit it—you'd miss me if I wasn't here."

Her breath hitched, and for once, she didn't have a quick retort. Instead, she reached out, straightening the collar of his shirt, her fingers lingering for just a second too long. "You're still annoying," she said softly, but there was no heat in her voice.

"And you're still stubborn," he replied, his tone teasing but his gaze serious.

For a moment, the noise around them faded, leaving only the hum of possibility in the air. Samiksha smiled—a real one this time—and Ishan couldn't help but grin back, as if he'd just scored the winning run.

From a distance, Shubman nudged Sara. "They're going to be fine, aren't they?"

Sara watched as Ishan brushed a stray strand of hair from Samiksha's face, their laughter mingling like a melody in the night. "Oh, they're going to be more than fine," she said.

And as the team celebrated, Ishan and Samiksha shared a look that wasn't just a promise of more arguments and laughter but the tentative beginnings of something deeper—something that might just last a lifetime.