The GOAT of Cricket

*The Gabba, Brisbane | January 6, 2017 | Day 3–4 – 3rd Test*

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**Scene: The Crack in the Fortress – Morning of Day 3 Ends**

The final wicket of the Australian innings cartwheeled under Bumrah's late inswinger. The Gabba's din had faded to whispers. For the first time in decades, Australia had been pushed to the edge at their fortress.

**Australia: 212 all out.**

India uses follow-on.

In the second innings Australia score 473 before all out.

India needed just **225 runs** to win the Test and, with it, the series. But this wasn't just a chase. It was a statement.

Ishaan Verma walked down the steps with his bat in hand and resolve in his chest. The clouds hung thick over the Gabba, but inside him, the weather was still.

**Inner Monologue:**

> *Thunder in the sky. Calm in the soul. I know what this is now: war without hate.*

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### **India 2nd Innings – A Target and a Storm**

**Opening Partnership: Rahul & Vijay**

**Over 1.3 – Starc to Rahul**

Pitched up. Nipped in. **LBW!** Given!

**India: 5/1**

**Crowd: Awake. Gabba pulse: rising.**

Ishaan emerged early.

The chants started:

> "You won't last, rookie! Cummins is coming!"

He met Kohli halfway to the crease. No words exchanged. Just a tap of the gloves.

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### **Ball-by-Ball Build-up**

**Over 4.1 – Cummins to Verma**

Short. Jumps awkwardly. Ishaan defends with soft hands. No run.

**4.2**

Good length, moving away. Left alone.

**4.4**

Bouncer! Ishaan ducks. Crowd roars.

**Stump Mic (Cummins):**

> "Not Adelaide now. This is the real deal."

**4.6**

Fuller. Ishaan pushes gently for a single. The scoreboard ticks. The heartbeat settles.

**Commentary (Harsha Bhogle):**

> "Cummins has the ball talking. But Ishaan... he's listening, not flinching."

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**Over 8.3 – Hazelwood to Verma**

Back of a length. Ishaan swivels and pulls. **FOUR!**

**Score: India 29/1**

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### **The Battle Rekindled**

**Over 11.1 – Cummins to Verma**

Short. Ishaan hooks. Gets on top. One bounce, deep square. **FOUR!**

**11.4**

Bouncer again. Swung hard—missed.

**Stump Mic (Cummins):**

> "One's gonna nick. One's gonna stick."

**Over 14.5 – Cummins to Verma**

Full ball. Ishaan clips to deep midwicket. **Two runs.**

He walks down the pitch. Pauses. Then turns. Not a glare. A nod.

**Commentary (Simon Doull):**

> "You can sense it now. It's not hate. It's history building itself between these two."

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**Score: India 78/1**

Ishaan: 33 (67)

Kohli: 38 (41)

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### **The Blow Arrives**

**Over 22.2 – Cummins to Verma**

Back of a length. Climbs steeply. Ishaan pokes. **Edge!**

**Caught behind!**

Gabba erupts. Cummins lets out a roar.

**Ishaan: 43 (93)**

No kick of the turf. No dropped head. Ishaan walked.

As he passed Cummins, he offered a small nod.

Cummins' eyes stayed locked, but this time—no words.

**Stump Mic:**

> *Silence.*

**Commentary (Harsha):**

> "That nod... that's respect forged in fire."

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### **India Continue the Chase**

Kohli anchors. Rahane supports. Pujara calms.

The scoreboard keeps ticking.

**Over 37.4 – Lyon to Kohli**

Punches through cover. **FOUR!**

**India: 224/4**

**Next Ball – Kohli nudges single.**

**India WIN by 6 wickets!**

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### **Post-Match Chaos & Calm**

The Gabba crowd stood in reluctant applause.

The fortress had fallen. For the first time since **1988**.

**Final Scorecard:**

Australia: 325 & 212

India: 461/3 dec & 213/4

**India win by 6 wickets.**

Kohli lifted the stump.

Rahane hugged Ishaan.

Ishaan, Bumrah and Shami celebrated in the dug out.

**Inner Monologue:**

> *Some victories roar. Others whisper. This one... just breathed. And it was enough.*

He looked up at the scoreboard.

Then toward Cummins, who stood alone near the long-on rope, staring into the distance.

**Crowd Chants:**

> "Ishaan! Ishaan! Ishaan!"

A rivalry was born.

But more than that—a legacy was begun.