Against the winds

June finally arrived and with it came the readiness of the Indian Arsenal to face the "Windies," the formidable power hitters of the cricketing world. A flutter of excitement coursed through me at the prospect of watching them play, especially Chris Gayle. I hastily packed my belongings, eager to be the first one to board the bus to the airport.

"Why are you rushing?" Yuvraj asked, amusement lining his voice. "Water boys are the last to board, Haha."

Undeterred, I responded, my voice full of playful defiance, "Paaji, I think you also need some training against short deliveries. I can help you there."

His laughter was replaced with a genuine concern. "Hey, Vipin, listen man. I was just kidding. You are the powerhouse. Why don't you sit with me? Vipin bhai, yarr…"

Smiling, I walked back to my seat, continuing our playful banter, "I'm not kidding, Paaji. You do need some training. It's the job of us substitutes to help you overcome your weaknesses, and I will help you. I know all your weaknesses."

Taking my seat beside Dhoni, I prepared myself for the journey ahead. It wasn't long before we reached the airport, where a swarm of journalists and reporters awaited us, microphones poised for action. I had assumed they were there to question the team about our upcoming West Indies tour, but it quickly became apparent that I couldn't have been more wrong. Their eyes were fixed on me.

One reporter broke away from the crowd, bypassing the entire team to approach me directly. "Vipin, what do you think of the ongoing protest? How has this affected you? Has the ongoing protest affected your cricketing life?"

I was prepared for this moment; I had been anticipating it. My response was firm, "No comments."

A snicker slipped from Raina, seated behind me, but I chose to ignore it. Unruffled, I continued onwards, soon boarding the plane.

The flight was long, very long. It took us 21 hours to reach Jamaica. My body was sore all the sitting I had to do in one sitting.

Finally we got out of the airport and were escorted to our hotel. We had 5 ODIs and 4 Test matches thus my schedule was full from 18th of May to July 2nd. I was ready with the energy drinks, water bottles and bananas in my arsenal.

The first was scheduled to be played on 18 May and we were ready.

"Alright, Team! Gather 'round, gather 'round!" Dravid announced, his voice echoing with enthusiasm. "Today is a big day for us as we prepare to take on the Windies in the first match of this thrilling series. We've been training hard, honing our skills, and we are ready to give it our all out there on the field."

His gaze landed on me, sincere and determined. "Now, I know not all of us will be taking the field today but don't let that down. You also have your part to play in the game. We all are dependent on each other."

Looking back at the entire team, his eyes sparkling with unwavering resolve, he continued. "Now let's go, Team! Let's show the Windies what we're capable of. Play hard, play fair, and may the best team emerge victorious! Go out there and make us all proud!"

We won the toss and decided to bat first. The batsmen, donning their gloves and padding, gathered their resolve for the innings ahead.

The opening pair took the crease, Robin Uthappa and Virender Sehwag. Both were ready to show the efforts of their training bu, fate had other plans.

Robin was dismissed for a golden duck, a catch well executed by Ramdin off Hinds's ball, with India's scoreboard yet to register a run.

It was a harsh blow, but the crowd's expectation of a powerful innings remained undiminished as MS Dhoni made his way onto the field.

Dhoni's presence revived hopes, his bat twirling with an eager anticipation. He partnered Sehwag, trying to build a solid foundation for the Indian innings. However, Hinds had the better of him and he was bowled out after scoring just 14 runs. At the fall of Dhoni's wicket, India stood at a precarious 26 for 2 in the 7th over.

Next in line was the experienced Rahul Dravid, known for his steady hand and unwavering concentration. He played a measured innings, adding 18 runs to the scorecard before being run out courtesy of Mohammed's sharp fielding.

As Dravid took the long walk back to the pavilion, Yuvraj Singh walked in, his strides filled with confidence. He managed to get a few shots across the boundary before being bowled by Mohammed, adding 26 runs to the tally.

Mohammad Kaif's time at the crease was brief and he managed only 12 runs before Gayle caught him off Taylor's bowling. Suresh Raina couldn't replicate his previous performances, falling for just 2 runs, the victim of Taylor's lethal delivery caught behind by Ramdin.

Amid the flurry of wickets and mounting pressure, the umpire signaled for the water break. It was then that I found myself shouldering a responsibility that belied my role as the team's water boy. With my heart pounding in my chest, I walked onto the field carrying refreshments and words of encouragement.

Upon reaching Sehwag and Harbhajan at the crease, I couldn't help but admire their composure in the face of the adversity we were facing. Handing over the water bottles, I found my voice, "Keep your heads high, Paaji, we've faced bigger odds and emerged victorious. And remember, if you don't do good today, I will replace you sooner or later but I'm still cheering for you."

Sehwag, his face sweaty yet determined, laughed at my comment as he took a long sip of water before handing the bottle back to me. "Good point, kid," he replied, his voice firm yet kind. "We're not backing down. We're here to fight."

Harbhajan, still catching his breath, managed a smile. "Now, off you go. We have a game to play."

After the break, Sehwag was showing a masterclass, weaving a mesmerizing 95 runs out of 103 balls with ten fours and a massive six, until a well-timed catch by Gayle ended his heroic innings.

Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh then took charge. They had a tough task ahead of them, but managed to add some crucial runs. Harbhajan displayed remarkable resistance, scoring 26 runs before being caught out, while Agarkar contributed a vital 21 before he too was caught, this time by Smith off Gayle's bowling.

Munaf Patel and Sreesanth, the tail-enders, were left with the formidable task of saving the innings. Patel was dismissed for a duck, caught by Chattergoon off Mohammed's ball. Sreesanth, however, managed to stay not out, scoring a couple of runs, bringing the innings to a close.

As the players left the field, the air hummed with a mixture of relief and anticipation. They had fought hard and the scorecard reflected their endeavor.

236 in 50 overs