The 2024 IPL mega auction was the biggest in years, with fans glued to their screens, eagerly awaiting each bid. But when Ishan Kishan's name hit the auction block, the bidding war that followed became legendary. In the end, it was Gujarat Titans that secured him for a jaw-dropping price, making Ishan the highest-paid player of the season.
Now, the cricket world couldn't stop buzzing. Gujarat Titans' new opening pair—Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan—was already being hailed as the dream combo. And as practice sessions ramped up, so did the rumors.
At the Stadium
The sun was shining down on the Gujarat Titans' practice ground, with fans swarming the stands, eagerly watching their heroes prepare for the upcoming IPL season. Among the players, Shubman and Ishan were the stars everyone had come to see.
As the duo jogged out onto the field, warming up for the day's session, the fans erupted in excitement. But amidst the cheers, a few cheeky fans started a chant that had the whole stadium laughing.
"Ishan bhai, Shubman ko kab haan bolega?!"
Ishan, mid-jog, nearly tripped over his own feet. He turned toward the crowd, wide-eyed and laughing, but his cheeks had flushed red. He shot a mock glare at Shubman, who was smirking, clearly loving the attention.
Shubman casually strolled over to Ishan, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Suna? Ab toh fans bhi humare liye shaadi ka plan bana rahe hain."
Ishan groaned, shaking his head. "Bhai, yeh log mujhe ab practice karne bhi nahi denge."
The teasing continued as the two started batting practice. Every boundary Ishan hit was met with more chants from the fans.
"Shubman bhai, Ishan ko kab propose karoge?"
Shubman, never one to shy away from a little public fun, waved at the fans and then turned toward Ishan with a playful grin. "Lagta hai, mujhe sab ke saamne kuch karna padega."
Ishan rolled his eyes, but the grin on his face betrayed how much he was enjoying the banter. "Tu bas overacting mat kar, match ke liye bacha ke rakh apne drama skills."
As the session progressed, Shubman decided to up the ante. During a break, when they were standing near the boundary, Shubman casually threw an arm around Ishan's shoulder.
"Tu toh lagta hai, thoda sharma raha hai," Shubman teased, looking at Ishan's still-blushing face.
Ishan chuckled and shrugged him off, but Shubman wasn't done yet. He leaned in closer and, loud enough for the fans to hear, said, "Public ko toh bata de, kab haan bolega?"
Ishan, trying to maintain his cool, shot back, "Pehle IPL trophy jeetne de, phir baat karenge."
The fans, now fully invested in the teasing, erupted into cheers. One bold fan shouted, "Shubman bhai, usko abhi propose kar do!"
Not missing a beat, Shubman turned toward the crowd and dramatically dropped down to one knee, raising his bat in the air as if proposing. The entire stadium erupted in laughter and applause, while Ishan, caught completely off guard, doubled over in laughter.
"Bhai, tu seriously pagal hai!" Ishan managed to say between laughs, pushing Shubman away as he tried to regain his composure.
The playful antics between Ishan and Shubman didn't stop there. Clips of the practice session flooded social media within minutes.
"OMG, Shubman just fake proposed to Ishan at practice! IshMan confirmed? 😂 #IPL2024 #IshMan" "Shubman ko Ishan se trophy bhi chahiye aur haan bhi! These two are killing me 😍" "Gujarat Titans have the best opening pair AND the best chemistry. Trophy incoming? 😉 #GT" "Bhai, ye IPL hai ya love story banane aaye ho? I'm living for this! #shubish"
As practice resumed, the fans didn't let up. Every time Ishan and Shubman came near the boundary, more chants rang out.
"Shubman bhai, haath thaam lo Ishan ka!" "IshMan ki shaadi kab hogi?" "Ishan bhai, trophy ke saath Shubman ko bhi jeet lo!"
Shubman, always quick with a comeback, called out to the crowd, "Trophy toh jeetenge hi. Baaki ka tum log decide kar lo!"
Ishan laughed and shook his head, shooting Shubman a playful glare. "Tu public ka favorite ban gaya hai, dekh raha hoon."
Shubman winked at him. "Kya karein, natural talent hai."
As they walked back to the middle of the field, Shubman added, in a low voice meant just for Ishan, "Trophy jeetne ke baad tumhaari haan bhi sun lenge."
Ishan snorted and gave him a light shove. "Bas yeh shadi ke jokes bandh kar aur ball pe focus kar."
The season unfolded exactly as the fans hoped. Gujarat Titans, led by their dynamic opening duo, smashed through their competition. In the final, Shubman and Ishan put on a masterclass, their partnership at the crease nothing short of perfection. Every run they scored felt like a nod to the teasing chants and jokes that had followed them all season.
When the final run was hit, and Gujarat Titans lifted the IPL trophy, the crowd's chants shifted from "GT! GT!" to "IshMan! IshMan!" Shubman, holding the trophy, looked at Ishan with a knowing grin.
"Trophy aa gayi, ab... baaki kya bacha?"
Ishan, shaking his head and laughing, grabbed the mic from the host. "Trophy aa gayi... aur haan bhi aa jayegi! Sabr rakho, public!"
The stadium exploded in laughter and applause, as the cameras captured the pure joy on Ishan and Shubman's faces.
