Chapter 34: IND vs PAK, 2006

The Test series began on January 07, 2006, but I was not a part of it as I was not selected to play. Despite my efforts, I had not yet accumulated enough points to be considered for first-class cricket

Although I missed out on the opportunity to play in the Test series, I was still keeping an eye on the matches. Unfortunately, the outcome remained unchanged from the past, with Pakistan emerging as the winners of the 3-match series with a 1-0 victory.

Shoaib Akhtar set the tone for the match with a crucial wicket of Rahul Dravid, setting the stage for a dominant performance by the Pakistani bowlers.

Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq delivered outstanding displays of seam bowling, leading Pakistan to a comprehensive 341-run win at the National Stadium.

February arrived, bringing with it the disappointment from the recent defeat. The team's morale was low after losing not only against Pakistan, but also in the previous Test series against Australia. The loss against our arch-rivals hit us the hardest, leaving us feeling frustrated and dejected.

Despite the disappointment of the Test series, there was a silver lining in the form of an upcoming ODI series. While losing the Test series was tough, the prospect of winning the ODI series offered us a glimmer of hope. It was an opportunity to bounce back and relieve some of the pain of the previous defeat.

February 6th arrived quickly, and with it came the first ODI and my debut. The excitement was palpable, but so was my nerves. I had never played in front of such a large crowd and the pressure was immense.

I was used to playing in front of smaller crowds, as my experience until now was limited to under-16 matches. But playing an international match against a team like Pakistan was a different story altogether.

The whole stadium was filled to capacity, and the atmosphere was electric. It was a surreal feeling, knowing that so many people were there to watch the game and that I was now playing on the big stage.

As we arrived at the stadium, the sight that greeted us was a sea of blue and green. The stands were filled with a mix of Indian and Pakistani flags, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. It was a reminder of the passion and excitement that surrounds international cricket, and the magnitude of the opportunity that lay before us.

Cricket is constantly evolving, and it is likely that we will see many changes in the years to come. But one thing that will always remain the same is the fans. Their passion and excitement for the sport will endure, and they will continue to be the lifeblood of the game.

As we stepped into the locker room, the excitement was palpable. We quickly changed into our ODI jerseys, a light blue jersey with the tricolor in brushstrokes displayed diagonally under the sponsor, Sahara. Putting on that jersey was a proud moment, representing my country and all the hard work that had led me to this moment.

I was elated to see that my jersey had my name, "Vipin," and my lucky number "69," printed on it. It was a surreal feeling, realizing that I was now a part of the Indian cricket team.

Before long, we were all ready and our team lined up on the field for the National Anthem. It was a proud moment for me, standing alongside my teammates and representing my country.

The feeling of pride and honor was immense as the anthem played and the crowd went silent. I took a deep breath and let the emotions wash over me, knowing that this was a moment I would never forget. The next step was to focus on the game and give it my all.

As the National Anthem came to an end, both captains stepped onto the field for the coin toss. The excitement was palpable as I returned to my position and prepared for the match. I couldn't believe it - this was my first international match, and it was going to be broadcasted on TV for the world to see.

When Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first, our captain, Rahul Dravid, walked into the dressing room. The atmosphere was tense.

"Team, we'll be batting first today. The past is behind us and this is a new day, a new opportunity. Let's go out there and give it our all," said Rahul Dravid, our captain and leader.

"What's our game plan for this innings?" asked Virender Sehwag, breaking the silence in the dressing room.

"Gentlemen, we're in this to win. To make that happen, we need to stay sharp and stay together. One ball at a time, we'll build partnerships and trust in our game plan. With composure and determination, we'll put up a score to be reckoned with," spoke Rahul Dravid with conviction.

"Listen up, guys. The ground is smaller and faster than usual, so we need to be extra selective with our shots. But don't let that hold you back. Show your skills and play with freedom. We've got to be quick on our feet and adjust to the conditions immediately," reminded the captain.

"Got it, Captain," nodded Yuvraj Singh.

"Awesome! And with a smaller ground comes more chances for boundaries. So, be positive, keep your eye on the gaps, and keep the scoreboard ticking," smiled Rahul Dravid.

"We're a team, remember that. We win and lose together. Let's support each other, push each other, and play as one. Today, we go out there and show the world what we're made of. Best of luck to all of us," rallied Rahul Dravid.

The team nodded in agreement and we all felt pumped up and ready to take on the challenge ahead. With these words of wisdom from our captain, we left the dressing room and took the field, ready to face the Pakistani attack.

It was a tense but exciting moment, and we were all determined to give it our all and come out on top. The adrenaline was flowing and we were ready to put on a show and make our country proud.

The squads of both the teams were as follows:

INDIA: PAKISTAN:

Virender Sehwag Salman Butt

Sachin Tendulkar Kamran Akmal (wk)

MS Dhoni (wk) Shoaib Malik

Yuvraj Singh Shahid Afridi

Rahul Dravid (c) Mohammad Yousuf

Vipin Chaudhary Inzamam-ul-Haq (c)

Mohammad Kaif Younis Khan

Ajit Agarkar Abdul Razzaq

Zaheer Khan Naved-ul-Hasan

Murali Kartik Mohammad Asif

Sreesanth Arshad Khan

As the match began, two legendary batsmen, Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, took their positions as the opening batsmen. The excitement was palpable, as the fans cheered on their heroes.

I, too, was part of the starting line-up, filling in for Irfan Pathaan.

Naved-ul-Hasan delivered a tantalizing short ball just outside the off-stump, and Sehwag wasn't going to let it pass him by. With a powerful punch on the back foot, he sent the ball flying wide of the third man fielder and straight to the boundary rope for a stunning four runs! It was the first time the bat connected with the ball in this innings, and it was a memorable one.

The excitement of the match was palpable as the first over got underway, with Sehwag's explosive four bringing us a quick start of four runs. However, our joy was short-lived as we suffered a setback with the loss of our first wicket.

With precision and cunning, Mohammad Asif sent down a teasing short ball on the off stump, shaped perfectly to move away from the batsman.

Sehwag, always ready for a challenge, moved back to defend, but couldn't resist the temptation and got a faint edge, gift-wrapping a simple catch for Akmal behind the stumps.

IND - 5/1 after 1.1 overs.

With determination, Dhoni stepped up and took charge at the crease. The partnership between him and Tendulkar was a treat to watch, as they both played with flair and confidence. The game was going smoothly for us, until the last ball of the 15th over brought about our second loss. Despite their best efforts, the opposition managed to claim another wicket.

Naved-ul-Hasan served up a tantalizing bouncer, angling into the batsman and testing Dhoni's skill. In a moment of daring, Dhoni hooked the ball but was cramped for space, causing the ball to take a deflection off the shoulder of the bat and loop softly towards Farhat at short fine leg. With cat-like reflexes, Farhat pounced on the opportunity and made a simple catch to dismiss Dhoni.

With the pressure mounting, Yuvraj Singh made his way to the crease, ready to continue the fight. However, fate had other plans and we suffered yet another setback as Yuvraj was dismissed. The loss of two key players in quick succession put our team in a precarious position.

With a masterful delivery, Mohammad Asif bowled a fractionally short ball just outside the off stump, tempting Yuvraj to go for the shot. Showcasing his brilliant technique, Yuvraj went back and cut the ball away flat in the air towards backward point.

Shoaib Malik, always alert and ready, sprang into action with a diving catch to his left, snatching the ball out of the air with a stunning display of athleticism. It was a truly brilliant catch that left everyone in awe.

With the weight of the game on his shoulders, the captain took it upon himself to make a difference and forge a vital partnership. Despite his best efforts, however, he wasn't able to provide the spark that our team needed, leaving us searching for a way to turn the tide.

Abdul Razzaq bowled a beauty of a delivery, a good length ball on the middle and leg stump that posed a major challenge for the batsman. Dravid, not one to back down from a fight, lofted the ball away flat towards deep square leg. In a moment of brilliance, Arshad Khan anticipated the shot and moved swiftly to take a smart catch.

With the score at 285/4 after 42 overs, the stage was set for me to take to the crease and make a difference. My plan was to approach the game with caution, play with patience, and add some much-needed runs to the team's total.

I was determined to stay at the crease for the remaining 8 overs and help steer our team towards victory.