Chapter : 77

Rishav's POV 

Cricket has been a journey more than just a sport to me. Mom and Dad often tell me that I learnt to hold the bat even before I learnt to write properly. They probably exaggerate the stuff but this game has indeed revolved around my life. Starting from the funny little informal matches we used to play in the neighbors gully to the professional Ranji matches, it's been a fun ride.

How the little arguments on the umpire's decisions would turn into furious fights. How the unlucky boys would be pushed into the homes to retrieve the ball which would've shattered some windows up there. How sometimes the bowlers would throw an easy ball just to encourage the batsman to hit harder.

The sportsmanship.

The friendships.

The memories.

Indeed, Cricket has been worth all my seventeen years. Or should I say eighteen now?

"Come on now, it's been over an hour since I've been waiting out here. And this is NOT how you treat the birthday boy." I complained as I looked down at my dress up once again, unsure if it looked okay.

"Patience, my boy." Ravi said as he poked his head out of the door.

Ravi wolf whistled as he took in my attire. He slid out of the door, trying to stop me from peeking in. Standing in front of me, he looked at me from head to toe and then vice versa.

"Does it look too much?" I asked, worried.

"For the first time, I must say, you look like the perfect Indian boy." Ravi said and smiled.

"You mean it's all okay right?" I asked as I looked down at my black and white kurta and distressed jeans once again.

Ever since the realization has struck my parents and friends, they've started the preparations for my birthday which is supposed to be today. But the way I've been pushed out of my own home and made to wait at the doorstep like a stranger is so unfair!

"You looking gorgeous, my love." Ravi said as he winked at me and then turned to reenter the house.

I stopped Ravi by his shoulder. He turned to look at me with a frown as if asking what it was.

"I know you want a kiss but be happy with the compliments for now, sweetie." Ravi said with a smirk while I fake-gagged.

"I don't know if I'll get another moment like this one, so I wanted to talk." I said as I realized that there was no one right now with us.

"Fine, speak. But quick, I need to get the ribbons done." Ravi said.

I frowned at him. Ribbons? How old am I? Ten?

"Anyways, I wanted to thank you, Ravi. For all the times you've been there for me. For all the times you've made me strong. For... All the times when I doubted my own self whereas you believed in me with blind faith. I don't even know if I'd have been into the IPL had it not been you with me in this journey to push me whenever I hesitated to step up and to pull me up whenever I fell." I spoke slowly, meaning every word.

Ravi stilled for a moment. I could see tears glisten in his eyes for a second. He looked up and blinked back the tears and gave me a toothy grin.

"Kya pagle, rula hi diya tuney." (Why crazy, you made me cry.") Ravi said as he pulled me in for a hug.

"Did I miss something?" Kabir's voice reached us as we turned to look at his head which emerged out of the doorway just the way Ravi had peeked out.

"You just missed our little dramatic scene. Nothing much, really." Ravi waved off as he entered back into the house.

"That's so unfair! I deserve to enter the house after such a fantastic speech!" I scowled as I looked at Ravi who walked into the house with a smirk.

I sighed as the boys closed the door again.

***

2 Months Later

"Wow, it has been quite an interesting opening match today between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru! With RCB scoring 256 runs will DC succeed in defeating them? Moreover, it'll be very interesting to watch how the debut players Rishav Neil and Harsh Sinha play in this game..." The commentator went on.

Though we were in the changing room, I could hear the commentary and the cheers of the massive crowds that had gathered at the famous Brabourne Stadium of Mumbai.

"The runs may look difficult to chase but trust me, boys; it's easier done if we maintain the teamwork and manage to make enough runs. Every individual batsman needs to score good so that the burden will be less on the next man up." Shreyas Iyer, our captain, commanded as he stood in front of us, his arms crossed on his chest and a look of determination in his eyes.

"So are the openers ready?" Shreyas asked as he looked back and forth between me and Rishabh Pant.

"Yeah." Both of us nodded and then looked at one another.

"Don't be too nervous, okay Rishav?" Shikhar Dhawan, a senior batsman, said as he patted my back in encouragement.

"Why'd I be nervous?" Rishabh asked, confused.

"I meant the Neil boy. Not you." Dhawan cleared while Rishabh laughed.

"Damn, I guess our names are gonna be a problem now, eh?" Rishabh asked me with a smile.

I shrugged with a small smile. I guess so.

"Come on, it's time." Ponting, our team coach said and he clapped his hands once.

Standing up, I put the helmet on and pulled the bat up. Looking back at the entire team of experienced cricketers, I made my way out of the dressing room. Reaching the end of the pavilion, I looked out at the vast ground and felt at a lack of breath as the entire scene sank in.

I hesitated at the pavilion. Somehow, my feet resisted to walk ahead. It was all so unreal. Too much for me to take in, I guess.

"Hey, come up. It's all good." Rishabh's voice brought me the much needed support.

Smiling behind the guards of his helmet, he walked ahead as I followed him out. In that moment, all my nervousness, all the anxiety, vanished. My thoughts got drowned away by the loud commentators and the electrifying atmosphere of the crowds surrounding the stadium. I could spot flags being glided up. Blue and Red dominated the entire stadium as fans tried to overpower the rival team.

I could hear the chanting start. I laughed to myself as the fans began chanting the name 'Rishav' but on a closer observation, it was actually 'Rishabh'.

"I think we'll stick to the names Neil and Pant rather than using their first names. It'll be all haywire otherwise..." The commentators went on.