A Victory which Matters (Dedicated to 27 and 45)

Part 2

"Jinks! Shift the screen a bit to the left, will you?" called Ishant, as he got ready to bowl to Rohit

"God, don't they have any tact?" muttered Kohli, groaning, as he watched the practice session.

"You can't expect all of them to feel about this the way you do, Virat," said a quiet voice in his ear.

It was Bhuvi.

"The way we feel about it. Some of us have known the two of them for years, Virat...but others haven't. They don't feel it so hard."

It reminded Kohli once again that their child-like innocent Bhuvi had grown up a lot in the last year. No longer the adorable kid, who was always playing video games; the perfect target of all pranks, Bhuvi was now one of the most sensible and level-headed people in the team--someone to always depend on.

Likely that they--the team which had grown from Champions Trophy 2013-- would always hold Bhuvi in hopeless affection, but now he was beginning to demand respect too.

Kohli flopped down on the ground, gesturing Bhuvi to join him.

"I wish everyone took the team's decision as well as you do, Bhuvi," said Kohli. "You don't mind sitting out for this match, do you?" he added anxiously.

"Not a bit, Virat. Don't worry yourself about it. We've got more pressing problems," said Bhuvi, waving his hand at Rohit, batting, and Rahane, standing near the side screens, his arms crossed.

"And that Hardik wouldn't stop being a goof," added Bhuvi, sounding annoyed.

"What did he do now?" asked Virat, brightening, as he generally enjoyed Hardik's idiotic antics.

"Don't look so eager. He was actually laughing and reading out loud some of those tweets..."

Virat turned sharply. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously. Some of those 'funny' tweets, making fun of Rohit--"

"Was Rohit in the room?" asked Virat, dreading the answer.

"Mercifully, no."

"Oh!" said Virat, his face clearing. "Then what's the problem?"

"You don't know him like I do," said Bhuvi darkly. "Once he starts, he doesn't stop."