ICT One Shots And Imagines

The Dream of 2021

14th November 2021

Rohit stared at Virat from the non-striker's end as the latter took his stance. He adjusted his gloves, fiddled with his helmet and held the bat, standing stoic.

"Two runs to win, one ball remaining! Can Kohli pull this off? The entire country is on their feet by now!!"

Rohit's heart palpitated just as fast as of the hundred and thirty-five crore people of India. 

"Woakes bowls a wide yorker, Kohli slices it off to the third man- it's a four for sure! Oh wait, that's some brilliant fielding from Sam Curran, which saves valuable runs for his team. He throws it back and Buttler hits the stumps, Kohli dives, and oh my God, is it a runout??!?!!?"

Virat and Rohit met halfway, with Rohit shouting, "If it's a runout, I swear to God, Virat, I will kill you!!"

Virat nodded nervously as they watched the replay.

The third umpire checked the replay multiple choice before coming to the conclusion.

Virat could practically hear his heart throbbing, while he and Rohit stood arm in arm, waiting for the big screen to display the decision.

"And it's not out!!! A century for Kohli after a drought of two years in a winning cause!! India is the new T20 Champion!!"

Virat and Rohit stood there stupefied in the centre, not registering anything around them.

Wild cheers rang out in the stadium and the Indian dressing room, as everyone came out running.

Virat stared into Rohit's eyes, as he fell, happy tears rolling down his cheeks.

Rohit engulfed Virat into a fierce hug as the rest of the team came toppling over them.

"We did it, captain, we did it for you!!!" yelled Hardik the loudest, who was jumping on the pile, like a crazy monkey.

"We did it Bhaiya, we did it", whispered Jassi tearfully, who lied closest to Rohit and Virat.

And when they couldn't hold Hardik jumping on them any longer, Rohit yelled at him to get off. Hardik finally relented, though he was still jumping like crazy.

While the patch cleared up, Virat could still be seen clinging onto Rohit, as the world saw yet again, why were they known as the most destructive pair in the world of cricket.

Mahi Bhai came out with Ravi Bhai, beaming at his kiddos, who were relinquishing the joy of finally winning the World Cup.

Virat made a mad dash, as soon as he saw Bhai, threw his arms around him, and hid his face into the crook of his neck. Mahi Bhai patted his back and smiled at the rest of them. 

The sky was lit up with fireworks, reflecting in the eyes of each and every Indian, their orbs, shining with pride at those fifteen men, who had given out their heart and soul, toiled day and night, were abused for seven years, had finally got what they deserved.

Hardik was jumping on poor Bhuvi and Jassi, Yuzi, for the first time looked speechless, Rahul was smiling tenderly at Virat, as he stood with Rohit, hugging him mercilessly.

Finally, after sobbing to his heart's content on Mahi Bhai's shoulder, Virat let go of him as the others climbed on Mahi Bhai, who somehow held them all, without falling.

Rohit looked around. He had won a T20 world cup before. What could make you possibly happier than starting your career like that? But somehow, for a reason, he felt happier than he did that day.

Maybe, it was because you don't realise the value of a thing until it is stripped away from you. You fight hard for it, you fail; but when you finally get it, the joy you feel is indescribable and immeasurable. Maybe, that was the case, when you lose for straight seven years, the win following it makes you ecstatic.