Bittersweet

3.

Virat decided to stay with the team for the night even though he knew that Anushka would really help him cope with the loss. And as they reached the hotel, he realised that Rohit had done the same. They both needed one last night with the team. They needed a proper closure to the tournament.

Virat as usual went on to knock on Rohit's door as he had promised to do. But this time there was no answer. If it was any other day, Virat would've assumed that he was sleeping but he knew that today wasn't just any day. So he knocked again, and again until the door was opened to a grumpy Rohit.

"Can't you just let me sleep in peace?" he grumbled.

"Who do you think you are fooling with that, Ro?" Virat immediately embraced Rohit. "Your eyes are all red and puffy like you're at a funeral, idiot. If you want to lie, you should at least try to do it a bit better."

And that's when Rohit started crying again like he had been doing all the while until Virat got there. "We didn't win the Cup. I am a failed captain, Virat. I failed everyone."

"I was the RCB captain for years, what should I say then?" joked Virat as always turning to humour to lighten the mood.

"That's different. This time everyone played so well, everything was going so well and yet we failed at the last leap, all because of me. I shouldn't have gotten out like that at 47. It always is the damn 40's, always the same. I try to play a risky shot and I get out, putting all the pressure on you guys. I am supposed to be a better captain." Rohit slowly allowed Virat into his room and shut the door behind him, no one needed to see him in this state.

"If it wasn't for all the attacking starts you provided in every single match, we wouldn't have come so far, Ro. You have led the team so well and so far. Your strategies always worked out and really helped the team more than what you realise." Virat reassured him.

"But what is the use and what example am I setting for all the kids in the team? They've all worked so hard. They deserved the cup. This team is so special to me, we've all made such beautiful memories together from not just winning matches but also behind the scenes. Everyone has enjoyed this world cup so much. Even the fans. They must be so disappointed in me. And even you, you always get the player of the tournament and yet not the title."

"Ro, we all deserved the cup. All of us. And as for the kids in the team, they have always been looking up to you and especially now they are going to do that even more. You've led your team to a world cup final thrashing everyone who has ever doubted you and your team, you're an excellent captain. The real fans will continue to support you no matter what. Neither am I disappointed in you and nor is anyone else." Virat hugged him tighter to prove his point. They stayed in the embrace for a while, neither of them wanting to let go of each other, not wanting to let go of the moment and especially not wanting to let go of this tournament.

The World Cup didn't give the result that both the players and the fans were hoping for, but it is going to be the most memorable one for many. It might be the last tournament with both of them playing together in one team so Virat and Rohit knew that better than anyone else. They still loved every single part of the tournament to bits, however bittersweet it was.

A/N: So that was Bittersweet, accompanied by a tiny bonus chapter along with a long author's note. I can't believe I'm on Wattpad, writing ICT fanfiction again and it's all thanks to Kushi137 for whom this fic was written for.