Yet another encounter in the cash rich cricket league called the IPL was about to get underway. The Mumbai Indians were taking on the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the swanky new Wankhede stadium. The match was due to start in an hour’s time and Pankaj was still stuck in a long serpentine queue leading up to the gates.
“I hope we don’t miss the toss,” a flustered Pankaj grumbled to one of his friends. “Relax dude! Aaram se pahunch jaayenge,” his friend Karan tried to assuagethe fears of their group.
“We’d better bro. I want to see Pollard & Gayle..” Pankaj’s voice trailed off as his breath caught in his throat. A flash of red had caught his attention. More specifically, a female beauty wearing the RCB colours had drawn his attention.
She stood from her friends and Pankaj’s heart skipped a beat as well as beat faster at the sight of her. He couldn’t help but stare at the tall ethereal beauty. Suddenly, the match wasn’t what was occupying his mind space.
When they entered the stadium, Pankaj was elated to know that ther beautiful starnger’s group was seated in the row right in front of them.
“Mumbai aaj jeetegi yaar. Akela Gayle kya kar lega,” said a fired up Karan as they took their seats. An angry voice in front of them retorted,” Excuse me guys! RCB is going to nail it tonight. MY Virat Kohli will kill the blue brigade.”
Pankaj’s heart began its abnormalities again. For it was the same gorgeous angel who had admonished his friend. He also felt a deep pang of envy towards Virat Kohli, the foul mouthed heartthrob of millions of girls in India.
He managed a smile and shot back, “We shall see about that. Don’t forget that the God of Cricket is on our side. YOUR Virat Kohli is nothing but a thumb sucking kid in comparisionto the Master Blaster. “
Her perfectly featured face blushed a deep red as she realised how evident her possessiveness of Kohli was. Quickly regaining her feistiness she remarked,” Dude! That’s so not happening! I’m telling you...” Her voice trailed off as she realised we were distracted. The cheerleaders had stepped onto the field!
“Quit ogling you hopeless guys! I’ll tell you what – I’m even willing to place a wager. 500 bucks says RCB wins tonight.”
"No, I’m not interested in something like that,” Pankaj remarked. Drawing up his courage he said,” Losers treat for dinner. Let’s make it interesting.” His friends gape in awe. The usually reticent Pankaj was turning on the charm for the pretty lady.
“Very well then. Have it your way. Just be prepared to dish out the dough,” came the prompt reply.
Pankaj couldnt help but grin. No matter what happened in the game, he was going to have dinner with a very pretty lady. “Listen, give me your name & number. How do I know you’re not going to run away after the mauling?” Pankaj said.
A bemused smile curled up on the girl’s face. This was crunch time. Knowing her contact details was an absolute must for our Pankaj. She said,”I am Pallavi. Here’s my number.” Pankaj somehow managed to get his wobbly fingers to save the number. This was going much better than he could have ever imagined.
38 overs of intense action later, the equation boiled down to this: RCB needed 19 runs off 12 balls. Virat Kohli was batting like a man possessed, already notching up a fine 70 not out. However, his team mates had failed to rally around him & RCB had already lost 7 wickets in the thrilling chase.
Lasith Malinga ran in to bowl the 19th over. A well set Virat Kohli anticipated the short ball and pulled it away for 4. Pallavi & her friends high fived each other. 15 needed off 11.
During the match, Pankaj managed to learn a few things about Pallavi. She was an independent woman who had built a start up IT firm in Bangalore after quitting her job. He liked what he saw even more.
Malinga ran in to bowl the next delivery. Again, the gifted Kohli outfoxed the bowler and dispatched the ball for four more. 11 needed off 10 as the boisterous Mumbai crowd was stunned into silence.
The next delivery was a well disguised slower ball and Kohli could only hit it for a single. 10 runs off 9 balls. 30,000 pairs of eyes stared intently at Malinga as he ran in to bowl to the tail ender. His trademark delivery, the swinging Yorker, landed perfectly and uprooted the leg stump.
Pankaj leapt up and let out a war cry as a stunned Pallavi held her head in her hands. The next delivery was an exact action replay. Another tail ender had his stumps shattered by a Malinga toe crusher. The equation was now tantalizingly delicious. The hat trick ball was safely defended by the batsman, which left RCB with 10 to get off the last over.
Virat Kohli took guard against Johnson. He knew it was all up to him. He needed to hit the next 10 runs. Not too far away, Pallavi looked on, a silent prayer on her lips.
Pankaj was wondering where to look: the action on the field or the gamut of emotions playing out on Pallavi’s impeccable features. Johnson began well – no runs were conceded in the first two balls. 10 off 4 needed. Pallavi & her group were now yelling themselves hoarse with the cries of “Kohl! Kohli! ” Finally, the booming sound of leather on willow could be heard as a brilliant square cut yielded 4 runs. 6 needed off 3.
“Why didn’t Johnson look to bowl a Yorker?” a worried Karan yelled out. Pankaj was too nervous to make any observations on strategy.
Johnson ran in to bowl the next ball. Some of the confident swagger had returned to Kohli’s stance. It was evident that he backed himself to finish the job. Kohli connected with his lofted shot straight over the bowlers head. It hurtled towards our stand for a huge six! Pallavi stuck her hand out and caught the flying ball and the small RCB contingent in the stadium broke out in a victory dance. A beaming Pallavi kissed the ball and pocketed the little piece of cricketing history.
After an amazing but expensive dinner, it was time to say goodbye. “Told you to not doubt Kohli,” said a beaming Pallavi, “He is a star yaar.”
“Yes. That he is. Perhaps we should celebrate the win alone. “ a hopeful Pankaj asked.
Pallavi’s eyebrows shot up & she flashed Pankaj a brilliant dimpled smile. “Thought you’d never ask shy boy. Let’s go.”
Pankaj was delighted. Lalit Modi was right. Stadium ka maja stadium mein hai.
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