India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mohali

4th March, 2022

The Indian team dugout was in hysterics as Rishabh stepped out and hit yet another 6, taking him into the 80s.

His last 8 balls read 6, 6, 4, dot, 2, 4, 4, 6.

"You might call this a Test century," Jaddu assured Rishabh mid-pitch. "But we know better."

Rishabh laughed, and caught Virat bhaiya in the dugout laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach, which made him laugh harder.

"C'mon, get there before the second new ball," said Jaddu, rolling his eyes at the giant scoreboard, which showed 2 overs to go for the 80-over mark.

"Ok," said Rishabh, who had been intending to try for that anyway.

He hit a four to enter the 90s, and crept through the 90s, Jaddu trying to relinquish his hold on the strike as much as possible.

But when on 96, Rishabh missed the line of the ball completely and it crashed into the stumps.

There was a sudden silence in the stadium of Mohali, who—like the rest of India and Rishabh's own team as well as the opponents—had taken the century as inevitable.

Jaddu, having the closest view, saw Rishabh's face crumpling like he was about to cry.

"Good knock, Rishu," said Jaddu, clapping with his bat and one hand.

Rishabh gave him a glum look as he started to walk off, dragging his feet. Jaddu intercepted him and patted his back, murmuring whatever encouragements he could think of, like, "You played really well, unbelievably well, it's all right, don't worry—"

"It wasn't that good," said Rishabh, the picture of misery.

"—you've as good as won us the match on the first day itself—" Jaddu tried a different angle. "I'm proud of you, Rishu."

"Thank you, Jaddu bhaiya..."

Jaddu stared after the poor kid walking off slowly to the dugout, which was on their feet, applauding. The entire stadium, in fact, was on their feet, clapping.

Rishabh's disappointment was, Jaddu thought, contagious.

************

"The poor kid," breathed Virat as Rishabh was trudging towards them.

Virat never felt disappointed at his own missed landmarks—in fact, as anyone would remember, he had infamously declared the innings once in the upper 260s—so it was ironical how he could not bear his teammates missing out on landmarks, famously having forcefully taken a review for Jassi's hat-trick once the same year.

Everyone in the dugout murmured in agreement.

Ash, who'd stood up to walk out to the field, told them hastily, "Don't make it that obvious how disappointed we are for him—or he'll think we're disappointed in him."

"Come again, Ashley?" asked Mayank, trying to figure out the meaning of that statement.

Ash rolled his eyes in disgust and gave Rishabh's head a pat as they crossed over.

"Quick," whispered Rohit, "let's treat him like an absolute VIP."

That was easier to understand than Ash's tangled words, and easy to comply with.

So when Rishabh reached them—

Mayank eased his bat and gloves away from his arms and set them down carefully. Rohit scooted over to make space for him to sit in the front and Virat, sitting in the row directly behind, gave his shoulders a squeeze. Jassi offered him a chilled bottle of Limca the same moment as Shreyas thrust a chilled one of Mountain Dew into his hands.

Rishabh looked at the bottles under his nose, bemused at the attention.

Jassi withdrew his Limca, choosing wisely to avoid getting into a tussle with Shreyas and patted Rishabh's head instead as he chugged down the Mountain Dew.

"You could teach us a thing or two, kiddo," said Virat cheerfully.

"About what?" said Rishabh plaintively. "About getting out in the 90s?"

"No." Virat appeared shocked. "About being so proactive that you take the game away from the opposition on the very first day."

Rishabh grunted half-heartedly.

"Look at the demeanour of the fielders!" Shreyas shook Rishabh's shoulder. "They're all beaten down. They're wondering if they mistook in thinking it's a Test match!"

"Jaddu bhaiya said the same," said Rishabh, a little mollified, but switched tones immediately. "But he also told me to get there before the second new ball."

"And not slowing down when nearing personal milestones," said Rohit quietly. "Not everyone can do that, Rishu, but that's what I would envision our team trying."

"I thought you'd scold me for being reckless, Rohit bhaiya," said Rishabh.

"How does he, of all people, reserve the right to scold people for being reckless?" said Virat.

"Because you suddenly made me the captain," said Rohit, eyes narrowed.

"But preaching against recklessness? You?"

Rishabh and Shreyas sniggered. Jassi, out of loyalty, kept himself restricted to a tight-lipped smile.

"Don't listen to anything our captain says, Rishu," said Virat. "You're the best when you play your way."

"I support his way fully," said Rohit. "So does Rahul bhai, just like Shastri sir."

"And the opposition is terrified of his way," said Mayank, winking at Rishabh.

"I would be, too," said Jassi. "I'm glad you're on my side, Rishu and I don't have to bowl to you."

"Except during IPL," said Kuldeep. "I'll be on your side all the time from now!"

He offered Rishabh a hand to high-five. Rishabh obliged.

"You can have the front window seat in the bus that was supposed to be mine," said Shreyas, which was the highest sacrifice he could make.

Rishabh's jaw dropped. "Really?"

"Yes," said Shreyas firmly.

"Why was it supposed to be yours again, Yas?" asked Rohit cautiously.

"I won today's round of Rubber-Duffer-Cougher," said Shreyas.

"What?"

"He did," admitted Rishabh. "We play a round every matchday morning to decide who gets priority in seating."

Everyone tried to look like this made perfect sense. Most of them failed.

"How do you play Rubber-Duffer-Cougher?" Axar asked avidly from the side.

"You need a rubber before you start--" began Shreyas.

"Not you," said Axar. "I want Rishabh to teach me!"

Rishabh appeared gratified. "Get an eraser, I'll show you..."

Axar got off immediately in search of an eraser.

"And I almost forgot—Rishu, you made my first day as Test captain very memorable." Rohit ruffled his hair and squeezed his cheek. "I bet no captain has seen a knock like this on their very first day."

Rishabh's face broke into a delighted smile, and then so did Rohit's and everyone's who saw that smile.

Because Rishabh was their golden boy, the apple of their eyes, all of theirs, and they could never see him sad and do nothing about it.

*************

A/N from a day long, long back (because I'm clearing my drafts): I'm horribly disappointed; I know we all are. Even more so because Rishu walked off so droopily, the poor kid.

But still, well played, Rishu. Missing those 4 runs doesn't make the knock any less great.