Chapter 40: The Trash Talker

Our innings was about to begin and the anticipation was palpable. Today, we had a strong opening duo of Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar. As we took the field, the target to chase didn't seem insurmountable - 144 runs in 300 balls.

The first over of our innings went for just 5 runs, a good start given that the required run rate was 2.84. Both our openers were being cautious, only going after the bad deliveries. But our luck didn't hold for long - our first wicket fell early and it was the same man who had scored a century in our last match.

Sachin Tendulkar faced a daunting delivery from Mohammad Sami. The ball was pitched wide outside the off stump and swung away late, leaving Tendulkar little room for error.

Unfortunately, the little master chose to chase after it, only to end up with a faint edge. The Pakistan wicketkeeper, Akmal, was quick to react and made a stunning catch to send Tendulkar packing without scoring a single run.

With the game on the line, the captain decided to take matters into his own hands and swing the momentum in his team's favor. It was a bold move, but one that was necessary to secure the victory.

Thankfully, his partnership with Gambhir and Dravid was firing on all cylinders. Together, they were able to hit some crucial boundaries and most importantly, kept the scoreboard ticking by rotating the strike.

But this partnership didn't go long as Gambir was dismissed in the 6th over. He scored a total of 21 runs and our score was 29-2 after 6 overs.

The captain's valiant efforts to win the game were dealt a major blow when his partner in crime, Gambhir, was dismissed in the 6th over. Although Gambhir had played a crucial role in the partnership, contributing 21 runs to the cause, his departure left the team in a precarious position. The score stood at 29-2 after 6 overs.

As soon as the wicket fell, Yuvraj Singh sprang into action, already fully kitted up with his pads on. He knew that he had a crucial role to play in the game, and was determined to give it his all.

With two left-handed batsmen now on the pitch, the leg side - which was shorter than the off side - was playing right into our hands. It was the perfect setup for Yuvraj's big-hitting style, and he wasted no time in launching a blistering assault on the opposition bowlers

The partnership was in full flow, and it seemed as though nothing could stop us from cruising to victory. We continued to pile on the runs, and it wasn't until we had scored a whopping 114 runs that we finally lost our third wicket.

Unfortunately, it was Yuvraj Singh who fell victim to a perfectly executed delivery by Naved-ul-Hasan. The ball was short of a good length and angling across, tempting Yuvraj into a defensive shot on the front foot.

But the ball had just enough movement to clip the outside edge of the bat, and the wicketkeeper, Akmal, pulled off a stunning catch to send Yuvraj back to the pavilion.

With victory within our grasp, it was up to Mohammad Kaif to guide us home. The score stood at 114-3 after 24 overs, and all we needed was a few more runs to secure the win. But just as it seemed we were on the cusp of victory, disaster struck.

Kaif, eager to get the job done, took a risky shot at a short of a good length delivery outside the off stump from Razaq. Unfortunately, the ball took a slight edge and flew straight into the hands of Inzamam at first slip.

The moment had arrived - it was my turn to take my place at the striking end. Heart racing, I made my way onto the pitch, my mind focused on the task ahead. As the bowler delivered the ball, I could feel the tension in the air.

The ball was full and straight, hitting the damp pitch and starting to deviate in the air. With all my might, I tried to hit it down the ground, but to my dismay, the ball took a leading edge and went to the fielder at cover. A dot ball

The tension was palpable as the bowler charged in to deliver the second ball of the over. This time, he came around the wicket and bowled a slower, angled delivery that had me guessing. I waited patiently for the ball to arrive, but as it landed on the pitch, I realized too late that it had stopped dead in its tracks.

In a split second, I mistimed my shot, and the ball ballooned up into the air, threatening to fall into the waiting hands of the fielder at mid-off. But luck was on my side, and the ball fell short of its intended target, giving me a reprieve. It was a close call

The tension was mounting as the bowler approached for the third delivery of the over. This time, he pitched it short of a length, and the ball hit the damp pitch, failing to bounce as high as I was anticipating.

In a split second, I played a cross-batted shot, hoping to get it away, but the ball hit my pads, and the field erupted in a loud appeal. The umpire remained unmoved, signaling a dot ball, and the pressure continued to mount.

The following over was a tense affair, as the bowler and Rahul Dravid engaged in a strategic battle of wits, each trying to outmaneuver the other. I stood at the non-striker's end, watching intently as the action unfolded. It was a tight over, with no runs scored, and the pressure continued to build. As the over came to a close, I took a moment to survey the field, looking for any potential gaps or weaknesses in the opposition's defenses.

"Ha! Would you look at this kid? Can't even hit a straight ball! You think you're hot stuff after that one lucky game? Well, let me tell you something, buddy: you're just a little baby, and I'm gonna make you bawl like one!" Akmal taunted me from behind the wickets but tried to ignore his remark.

"Come on, you little baby. You gonna cry for your mommy? Or maybe you just wanna crawl back to the nursery where you belong," Akmal taunted again. Though I felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, I focused on keeping my cool and letting my performance on the pitch do the talking.

As Akmal continued his taunts, I could feel my focus and concentration deteriorating. On the first delivery, I attempted a block, but Akmal's voice echoed in my ears, "What are you doing? You're a batsman, not a statue!" His words pierced my confidence.

On the second delivery, I tried to play it safe with a defensive shot, but Akmal's voice rang out once again, "Come on, kid, show me what you got. Or are you too scared to even try?"

By the third delivery, my nerves were getting the better of me, and I mistimed my shot. Akmal's raucous laughter filled the air, "You're just a child, what did you expect? Stick to playing with your toys." The taunts stung, but I refused to let him get the best of me.

As the fourth delivery approached, Akmal continued his taunts, reminding me once again that I was only 16 and didn't have what it takes to play at this level. "You're just a kid, you don't have the experience to handle a pitch like this," he jeered. His words stung.

As the fifth delivery approached, my anger and frustration were mounting. My focus slipped, and I struggled to pick up the line and length of the ball.

Akmal could sense my struggle and seized the opportunity to taunt me further, "Come on, show me what you're made of. Or are you going to cry to your mommy?" I gritted my teeth, refusing to let him get the best of me.

As the sixth delivery approached, the weight of the pressure was starting to take its toll on me. Akmal's taunts had gotten under my skin, and I could feel my focus slipping away.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure, but Akmal's words continued to echo in my mind. His taunts were like a constant drumbeat, threatening to shatter my concentration.

The next delivery was a yorker-length ball, coming at me like a rocket. But I was ready for it. I jammed my bat down just in time, and the ball squirted out towards mid-on. With lightning-fast reflexes, I bolted for the opposite crease and made it just in time for a quick single.

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Using BC in English sentences breaks the overall flow of the sentences, So I am making his personality where he will keep calm most of the time and at most use polite words to insult others but if you guys can help me figure out a way to integrate the inner Delhiite. I would appreciate that.

And now about releases, I will go with releasing 10 chapters in a go. So sometime they will come on alternate days. Sometime twice a week. All depends on how much free time I'll get.

It's been a about a month now and I still haven't received a rating for my book. I only have 6 revies on this book. Please leave your reviews so it can get rated and get more reach.

And do check paragraphs I have left on Chapter titles in which the match starts. His stats are available in that comment. Like check chapter 34 and 38.