The GOAT of Cricket

Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 26, 2016 | Boxing Day Test – Day 1

Scene: The Colosseum Awakens

Melbourne, 10:30 AM | Boxing Day

They came in tens of thousands.

The turnstiles spun relentlessly. Flags, faces painted blue and green, chants that echoed through Federation Square. Over 91,000 spectators swarmed the MCG—melting into the vast steel and concrete bowl of cricket's grandest cathedral.

From the Indian dressing room, Ishaan Verma stood by the window, sipping his black tea. Below, the outfield glowed a soft emerald. He could hear the crowd—even up here, it was thunder.

Inner Monologue:

"Adelaide was a page.

Today... I write a chapter."

He touched his pads once more. Wrapped his fingers around the bat handle. No nerves. Only stillness.

Scene: Toss – India Bat First

Virat won the toss under clear skies and chose to bat. "We want to put runs on the board and control the game."

Simon Doull on commentary:

"The wicket's hard and true, but there's bounce. And with that Aussie pace trio—Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood—it'll still be a trial by fire."

Score: 42/1 – 13.3 Overs | MCG Roars Again

Pujara had just edged Starc to first slip. Gone for 19. The crowd rumbled. A few Aussie fans started singing:

"Same old India, always collapsing…"

Ishaan adjusted his gloves, stepped out. The Melbourne colosseum swallowed him whole.

Scene: Over 14 — Cummins Senses Blood

Commentary (Harsha Bhogle):

"The crowd knows what's coming. The world knows what's coming. It's Ishaan Verma versus Pat Cummins—Round Three."

Ball-by-Ball – The First Salvo

Over 14.1 – Cummins to Verma

Short. First ball. Ishaan ducks early. Ball thuds into Pant's gloves.

Crowd: "Ooooooooh!"

Stump Mic (Cummins):

"Still remember Adelaide, rookie?"

Over 14.2

Fuller. On off stump. Ishaan defends—dead bat. No run.

14.3

Back of a length, angling in. Ishaan punches to mid-on. Quick single!

Commentary (Simon Doull):

"That's brave. Gets off strike. Smart cricket."

Score: 50/1 — Crowd Energy Swells

The crowd claps for the 50. Ishaan is on 1(6). Kohli, at the other end, steady as ever.

Building the Innings – Brick by Brick

Overs 15–25:

Cummins and Hazlewood bowled in tandem. Ishaan left well, defended compactly. Kohli scored fluently at the other end.

Ishaan's first boundary came in Over 18.4 — full ball from Hazlewood. Leaning drive. Four through cover.

Crowd: Applause from the Indian contingent.

Stump Mic:

"Nice shot, kid," muttered Kohli, nodding mid-pitch.

Score: India 84/1 – Drinks

Ishaan: 18*(37)

Kohli: 34*(54)

Commentary (Harsha):

"It's a measured innings. Ishaan's seen Cummins early. Let the blood settle. Now we'll see if he can unfurl."

The Turn – Cummins Returns (Over 30)

Cummins was brought back just before Lunch. Crowd rose in anticipation.

Over 30.1 – Cummins to Verma

Short. Ishaan sways. No movement. Cold eyes.

30.2

Full, fast, and jagging in. Inside edge onto pad. No run.

30.3

Another short ball. Ishaan ducks calmly.

30.4

Short again—but wider. Ishaan rocks back—

HOOKS!

Ball soars—sails—deep backward square...

SIX!

Commentary (Simon Doull):

"Ohhhhhh! He's done it! That's the exact delivery he fell to in Adelaide—and he's just hooked it into Row H!"

Crowd: The Indian section explodes. Aussie fans stunned.

Stump Mic (Cummins):

"…alright then."

Inner Monologue (Ishaan):

"You came hunting blood. I brought fire."

Lunch – India 123/1

Kohli: 58*(89)

Ishaan: 39*(72)

Inside the dressing room, Dhoni handed Ishaan a banana.

"First round's done. Just remember—Cummins always comes back."

Ishaan grinned, sweat still glistening.

"So will I."

Afternoon Session – Flow and Footwork

Over 37 – Lyon to Verma

Flighted. Ishaan skips out, lofts over extra cover.

FOUR.

Over 39 – Starc to Verma

Length ball. Flicked behind square. Another boundary.

He begins shifting gears. Drives. Cuts. Punches off the back foot.

Commentary (Harsha):

"The boy is now the craftsman. Each shot carving silence into song."

Over 45.5 — Cummins Returns Yet Again

Score: 177/1

Ball: Short. Again.

Ishaan watches it all the way. Ducks. But he's smiling now.

Stump Mic (Cummins):

"Enjoying yourself, are ya?"

Ishaan:

"It's the view from up here."

The 50 Comes

Over 47.3 – Hazlewood to Verma

Full and straight. On-driven.

FOUR.

Fifty for Ishaan Verma!

Off 103 balls.

He removes his helmet. Raises his bat. The Indian fans erupt again.

Commentary (Bhogle):

"Another milestone. A half-century at the MCG. Calm, calculated, collected."

Score: India 183/1

The Cathedral Watches

Daylight slowly wanes. The shadows lengthen. Over 90,000 people watch a 21-year-old own the stage.

Over 52 – Lyon to Verma

He sweeps. He dances. He leaves with soft hands. Footwork divine.

Over 54.6 — Starc to Verma

Short. Ishaan pulls—not hard, but precise.

FOUR!

Commentary (Simon Doull):

"He's in the zone now. Every shot is an answer."

Stumps Approaching

Over 60 — Cummins, New Ball in Hand

60.1 — Short. Duck.

60.2 — Full. Driven. No run.

60.3 — Length ball, angling in. Ishaan clips off pads.

FOUR.

And the crowd erupts.

Commentary:

"What composure. This isn't defiance. This is dominance."

Over 62.4 – Hazlewood to Verma

Good length, straight. Ishaan leans across, drives past mid-on.

Three runs.

He moves to 88*.

The Indian balcony leans forward.

Over 64 — Final Over of the Day

64.3 – Lyon to Verma

Tossed up. Ishaan advances, punches it to long-off.

Single.

89 not out.

Kohli walks over, fist bumps him.

Score: India 247/2 at Stumps

Ishaan Verma: 89* (174 balls)

Virat Kohli: 94* (141 balls)

Partnership: 205 runs*

Scene: Dressing Room, Post-Play

Lights out. Kit bags zipped. The crowd long gone. But Ishaan remained by the dressing room steps, staring at the empty cathedral.

Inner Monologue:

"Today, I answered him. Not with anger. With batting."

"But tomorrow... I finish it."

He tapped his bat's handle once, gently.