A/N: I felt the void AB left behind in the team last year but Faf gelled really well with the boys and it was fine, DK was doing good as well, but this year after the Unbox, watching Vi look so so happy with Gayle and AB and now watching this non existent middle order woes of RCB, I miss him so much.
5 times Virat missed his Biscuit + 1 time he told him he missed him
(I) 6th April 2023
RCB VS KKR- Eden Gardens
KKR had set a mammoth total of 204. Should be easy especially with the form Maxi, Faffy and Vi were in. They did well against MI, they should be able to chase this down easily. When do things ever go their way now.
Virat and Faf being the dominant opening pair that they are got off to a wonderful start, they had a good score of 44 by just the 5th over but then Sunil Narine got the best of Virat and he got bowled out for 21(18) and not even a full over later Faf walked back for 23(12). Virat started to panic he remembers 49 all out like it was yesterday. But then Maxi was still there and Mike too there was hope but god the middle order crumbled faster than sandcastles on a beach shore.
Faf looked at a pale Virat next to him when RCB were at 86/8 he heard him say,
"AB could have finished this off Faffy. I miss him."
"Me too Vi, me too"
When they reached the hotel, Viri's phone pinged with a message,
'It's just one game, I know you'll do better in the next.'
Virat smiled at the message, he started typing,
'I miss you, I wish you still played for us, I wish you still played with me, this could have been our year'
but then he deleted it all and instead sent, 'Thanks biscuit, we will come back stronger!'
(II) 17th April 2023
RCB VS CSK- Chinnaswamy Stadium
'You only miss the sun when it starts to snow, you only love her when you let her go'
Virat had fun with Mahi bhai after the match, he loved spending time with his Mahi bhai but he felt so guilty watching Faf look wistfully at Devon and Rutu who were talking to him about CSK camp stories. The way Rutu looked at Faf was the same way he used to look at AB. AB, god he missed him so much, he wanted AB to hug him and say those kind of dismissals happen, it's okay and Vi would have later spent time by the pool just looking at the stars or they'd watch the video of the Nigerian man with the accent and laugh for the 350th time. Anushka looked at the lost look on her husband's face as he hovered his finger over the call icon on 'Biscuit' contact.
The phone vibrated with a text and Vi eagerly clicked it open,
'You and weird dismissals are a never ending love story Little Biscuit. But you showed control in the 2 balls you did face. Faffy and Maxi did well, tell them I told them that. Just touched down at Pretoria btw. Love you my brother. Stay strong, you'll come back stronger the next match.'
'LOL just my luck that I gifted it to a debutee. Thank you for your support Biscotti, ILY2. Oh and I might have a surprise for you in the next match. Tell Yente and the boys I miss them and love them.'
Virat gave a wan grin to Nush who squeezed his shoulder in silent support. She knows how bad he took it when AB retired. Virat missed running to AB's room with even the tiniest of tiniest announcement.
