The GOAT of Cricket

*Sydney Cricket Ground | January 13–15, 2017 | Days 2–4 – 4th Test*

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**Scene: The Afterglow of Grit**

Day 2 began with the sun slicing through low clouds over the Members' Stand. SCG shimmered with promise, and tension. The scoreboard read:

> India: 189/3

> Ishaan Verma: 73\*

> Rahane: 24\*

The pitch, worn but reliable, offered bounce for the brave and reward for the wise.

**Inner Monologue (Ishaan):**

> *This isn't about one innings. This is about something more permanent. Like brickwork. Like roots.*

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### **Morning Session – Day 2**

**Over 82.4 – Hazlewood to Verma**

Back of a length. Ishaan hops, steers through point. **FOUR!**

**Over 84.1 – Cummins to Verma**

Short. Ishaan ducks. The crowd cheers the duel.

**84.3**

Full and fast. Edged. **Caught at slip!**

**Cummins roars.** Ishaan walks.

**Ishaan Verma: 84 (201)**

**Stump Mic:**

> *Silence. Then faint applause.*

**Commentary (Harsha):**

> "A fine innings. But you sense... there's another one coming."

India end on 336.

Australia reply with 392, Smith scoring 132.

**Day 3: Australia lead by 56**

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### **India 2nd Innings Begins**

**Scene: Late Afternoon Shadows**

The deficit was small. But momentum hung in balance.

Ishaan walked in at **19/1** after Rahul fell early.

Boos had mellowed. The crowd watched now, not taunted.

**Over 5.2 – Starc to Verma**

Full. Ishaan clips through midwicket. **FOUR!**

**5.4**

Short ball. Hooked. One bounce. **FOUR.**

**Stump Mic (Warner at slip):**

> "That's two lucky ones, rookie."

**Ishaan:**

> "Keep counting."

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### **Partnership with Pujara**

**Over 12.3 – Lyon to Verma**

Flighted. Ishaan steps down, drives over mid-on. **FOUR!**

**India: 72/1**

**Commentary (Simon Doull):**

> "He's picking length early. This is different from Brisbane. More proactive."

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### **Tea Day 3: India 154/2**

Ishaan: 61\*

Pujara: 44\*

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### **Evening Session – Cummins Returns**

**Over 61.4 – Cummins to Verma**

Short. Hooked. Clean. Into the crowd! **SIX!**

**Stump Mic (Cummins):**

> *No words. Just gritted teeth.*

**62.1 – Cummins to Verma**

Yorker. Dug out.

**62.3**

Good length. Ishaan drives past mid-off. **FOUR!**

**Crowd Roars. No longer booing.**

**India: 223/2**

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### **Over 66.2 – Starc to Verma**

Full. Straight. Flicked. Single.

**Century for Ishaan Verma!**

**102* (221 balls)*\*

**Commentary (Harsha Bhogle):**

> "He's not just passed tests. He's rewritten the syllabus."

**Kohli walks out from the dressing room. Meets him near the boundary.**

**Kohli:**

> "You've just replaced fear with belief in every young Indian."

Ishaan nods, eyes misty.

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### **India Declare on 311/4**

Ishaan: 102\*

Pujara: 94

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### **Australia Collapse Under Pressure**

Target: 256

They crumble.

Bumrah knocks over Warner. Jadeja traps Smith. Shami rips through the tail.

**Australia All Out: 167**

**India win by 88 runs. Series: India 3-1**

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### **Post-Match Ceremony**

The trophy is lifted.

Kohli holds it high.

Ishaan stands beside him. Not center-stage. But central in hearts.

**Media Buzz:**

> "Verma: 4 Tests. 1 fifty. 4 centuries. What a phenomenon."

**Inner Monologue:**

> *This isn't the end. It's the anthem before the journey.*