Smriti Mandhana, India's opening southpaw, is often portrayed as shy, introverted, modest, and humble, shining brightly as one of the top batters in women's cricket. In contrast, Ellyse Perry dazzles with her bubbly, vibrant, and exuberant nature, e...
Smriti and Ellyse walked back to the team room, their recent private practice session still fresh in their minds. Ellyse, her face flushed with excitement and a hint of nervousness, held the door open for Smriti with a graceful gesture. “After you, Captain.”
Smriti’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Thanks, Perry. I’m starting to think you’re better at opening doors than scoring runs.” Her light-hearted comment was met with a hearty laugh from Ellyse. As they entered, Smriti playfully placed a hand on Ellyse’s shoulder, causing her to laugh even harder. The room’s atmosphere shifted slightly as Smriti’s infectious laughter filled the space.
Sophie and Wareham, already in the room, observed the exchange with raised eyebrows. Sophie leaned towards Wareham, whispering, “What’s going on with Smriti? She’s glowing.”
Wareham’s gaze followed Smriti’s and Ellyse’s retreating figures. “Looks like someone’s got a little more than just a friendly connection with Perry.”
Ellyse, still blushing from Smriti’s comment, tried to regain her composure. She’d been caught off guard by her own reaction and couldn’t quite shake the fluttering feeling in her chest. When Molineux approached her, she was at a loss for words. “I... I don’t know what to say.”
Molineux, with a knowing look, added, “It’s okay if you’re feeling something. We all see the way you look at her. It’s pretty clear there’s something there.”
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Wareham nodded in agreement. “We kind of figured. You were practically radiating warmth at breakfast the first day.”
Ellyse’s face turned a deeper shade of red. She remembered the intense eye contact between her and Smriti during the India vs Australia match—a moment that felt charged and personal. She was grateful that nobody had seen that particular exchange.
The conversation was cut short as the coach called everyone together for a team game. The mood lifted as excitement replaced earlier concerns. Teams were formed by drawing chits, and in an ironic twist, Smriti and Ellyse ended up as partners.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
As the game began, Smriti and Ellyse’s teamwork proved to be exceptional. They communicated effortlessly, their chemistry evident in every move. At one point, they found themselves lost in each other, completely absorbed in their playful competition. Smriti’s eyes met Ellyse’s, and for a brief moment, the world around them faded away. Ellyse’s heart raced, and she could see the same recognition in Smriti’s eyes.
Their connection was undeniable. They worked seamlessly, their shared laughter and unspoken understanding adding to their performance. They eventually won the game, and as they celebrated, Sophie remarked to Ellyse, “God damn, what was that chemistry? This isn’t just infatuation, Pez. You definitely have something more for her.”
Ellyse blushed furiously, her emotions in turmoil. “But I don’t know if it’s mutual. I mean, what does Smriti even feel about me? And I’m not sure about her sexuality either.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Do you think she’s straight?”
Ellyse chuckled, though her voice was tinged with uncertainty. “By the way she carries herself, she seems so reserved. Sometimes she comes across as almost... asexual. But I’m determined to find out.”
Later, as the team dispersed for the evening, Smriti found herself alone by the pool. The moonlight cast a soft glow on the water, and she sat on the edge, her thoughts a tangled mess of recent events. She replayed the moments she had shared with Ellyse—their interaction by the pool, the charged touch during practice, and their romantic chemistry in the game.
*What is happening to me?* she wondered, feeling a sense of dread mixed with yearning. *I can’t afford to fall for someone, especially not someone I can’t be with.*
The tranquility of the night did little to soothe her turbulent thoughts. Each memory brought its own set of conflicting emotions, and she struggled to reconcile them. Smriti knew that while she might be able to manage her feelings, she couldn’t ignore the growing attachment and desire to explore what was between them.
*I can’t ignore this,* she thought, *but I also can’t let it take over. Not now, not when there’s so much at stake.*
As she stared into the shimmering pool, Smriti felt a pang of frustration mixed with longing. The night was filled with unanswered questions and the promise of something more. Yet, for now, all she could do was sit in the silence of her own thoughts, hoping that clarity would come with time.
Smriti’s heart heavy, caught between the excitement of new feelings and the weight of her own reservations. The journey ahead was uncertain, but it was clear that both she and Ellyse were standing at the edge of something profound, their paths intertwined in ways neither fully understood.
