The practice ground was alive with energy, both teams gathered for a friendly warm-up match. The banter had begun even before the first ball was bowled, but the air buzzed with something sharper beneath the surface.

Tara stood by the sidelines, her camera slung over her shoulder, ready to capture candid moments for promotional material.

The players, however, seemed less interested in the photos and more focused on outdoing each other in every way possible.

“Morning, Tara!” Virat called out, waving her over.

“Morning,” she replied, adjusting the strap of her bag.

Rohit glanced at her camera. “You’re documenting this?”

“Someone has to capture the chaos,” she joked, earning a chuckle from both men.

“Well, make sure to get my best shots,” Virat said, grinning. “We need a new profile picture for the team page.”

Nearby, Hardik was already hyping up his teammates. “All right, boys. Let’s show these Kiwis how it’s done!”

“Show us what, exactly?” Matt Henry quipped, strolling over with a sly grin. “How to lose gracefully?”

The comment drew a mix of laughter and mock groans from the Indian side, but Shubman Gill’s smirk widened.

“Careful, Henry,” Shubman said. “Your last spell in India didn’t exactly scream dominance.”

Matt’s smile faltered, and the tension between them grew palpable.

“Gill,” Virat warned quietly, his sharp gaze cutting through the moment.

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

The game began with the Indian side batting first. Rohit and Virat opened, their chemistry on full display as they dismantled the New Zealand bowlers with calculated precision.

Tara captured the energy through her lens—the determined expressions, the sharp movements, and the camaraderie that bound the team together.

But as Shubman stepped up to bat, the mood shifted. Matt Henry, now bowling, seemed to take his role as challenger personally.

The first delivery zipped past Shubman’s bat, narrowly missing the off-stump.

“Close one,” Matt said, his voice carrying across the field.

Shubman smirked, tapping his bat against the pitch. “That’s the best you’ve got?”

The second delivery was short, and Shubman pulled it effortlessly to the boundary. He didn’t even glance at Matt as the ball sailed past the ropes, adjusting his gloves with practiced ease.

The tension escalated with each ball. By the end of the over, Shubman had dispatched Matt’s deliveries for two boundaries and a six.

“On your face, Henry!” Ishan called from the boundary, laughing and clapping exaggeratedly.

Matt’s jaw tightened, his glare fixed on Shubman.

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

During the next over, as the players switched positions, Matt approached Shubman at the crease.

“You’ve got a big mouth for someone who’s just getting started,” Matt muttered, his voice low but sharp.

Shubman didn’t flinch, his smirk unwavering. “And you’ve got a habit of throwing tantrums when things don’t go your way.”

Matt’s expression darkened. “Careful, Gill. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”

Shubman stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Oh, I think I do.”

Before either could say more, Virat strode over, his expression thunderous.

“What the hell is going on here?” he snapped, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the other players.

Neither Matt nor Shubman spoke immediately, their glares still locked on each other.

“Gill, back off,” Virat ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned to Matt, his eyes narrowing. “And you—keep your trash talk on the field. This isn’t a boxing ring.”

Matt straightened, his jaw tight. “I’m just playing the game, Kohli.”

“Play it better,” Virat shot back, his voice dripping with authority. “And leave my players alone.”

The confrontation drew the attention of the rest of the team. Tara, watching from the sidelines, felt her stomach twist as she saw Matt glance briefly in her direction.

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

The game wrapped up with India narrowly edging out New Zealand, but the tension lingered long after the final ball. Tara stayed back to review her photos, hoping the quiet would help her process the day’s events.

“Hell of a game,” Hardik said, walking over.

“Yeah,” Tara replied absently, scrolling through her camera.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“I’m fine,” she said, though the knot in her chest said otherwise.

Hardik studied her for a moment before nodding. “Let me know if you need anything.”

₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊

Later that evening, Tara sat on the balcony of her hotel room, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Her phone buzzed with a message from Matt.

Matt
We need to talk.

Tara
About what?

Matt
Us.

She stared at the screen, her heart sinking. The memory of his exchange with Shubman played in her mind, mingling with Virat’s fury and Shubman’s quiet intensity.

She placed her phone on the table, unable to respond.

The sound of a door opening caught her attention, and she glanced to the side to see Shubman stepping onto the adjacent balcony. He leaned against the railing, his hair slightly ruffled, a faint smile tugging at his lips when their eyes met.

“Hey,” he said, his voice carrying easily over the quiet night.

“Hey,” she replied, tucking her knees up to her chest.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked, tilting his head.

Tara shrugged. “Too much on my mind. You?”

“Same,” Shubman said, his gaze drifting over the cityscape. “Long day. Lots of action on and off the field.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You mean the ‘action’ with Matt?”

Shubman smirked, glancing at her. “Didn’t mean to steal the spotlight. But he started it.”

Tara rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“Hey, I was just defending myself,” Shubman said, raising his hands in mock innocence. “And, to be fair, I did hit some great shots off him.”

“Which I’m sure you’ll remind him of every chance you get,” Tara teased.

“Absolutely,” Shubman replied, his grin widening. “What’s the point of hitting sixes if you can’t gloat a little?”

Tara laughed, the tension in her chest easing for the first time all evening.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, the sounds of the city below filling the quiet.

“You know,” Shubman said suddenly, “for someone who’s supposed to be behind the scenes, you’ve been in the middle of everything lately.”

Tara raised an eyebrow. “Is that your way of saying I should stay out of your cricket drama?”

“Not at all,” he replied, smiling. “It’s actually kind of fun having you around. You keep things interesting.”

She felt her cheeks warm at his words but kept her tone light. “Good to know I’m not completely useless.”

“Far from it,” Shubman said, leaning back against the railing. “Anyway, you should try to get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.”

“You too,” Tara replied, watching as he gave her a small wave before stepping back inside.

As the balcony door clicked shut behind him, Tara let out a soft sigh, the faint smile lingering on her lips. For a moment, the weight of the day felt lighter, replaced by the quiet comfort of unexpected friendships.

shubmangill has posted!

shubmangill enjoying the calm after the storm with the right people 😋

Liked by ishankishan, viratkohli, taraarora and 1,451,877 others.

Comments:

viratkohli Nice view, but I know you’re ready for round two!

klrahul Can’t beat that view!

hardikpandya Stay humble, mate. Great shot!

taraarora Definitely the perfect company 🌙

mohammadsirajofficial That’s some peace right there.

rohitsharma Looks like you’re winning off the field too!

ishankishan Well deserved after today!

yashasvijaiswal Life goals right there!

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