Chapter 21 : Debut again

Despite the close loss, the Indian team remained in high spirits. As the New Zealand players celebrated their hard-fought victory, Ishan led the team in shaking hands with each player, exchanging smiles and friendly words.

"Well played, boys," Ishan said as he patted Josh Finnie on the back. "You guys deserved this one."

Josh grinned. "Yeah, but you guys still take the series. We had to make sure we didn't go down without a fight."

Advay exchanged a handshake with Finn Allen, who chuckled. "You're an absolute nightmare to bowl to, man. That scoop shot… ridiculous."

Advay smirked slightly. "I'll take that as a compliment."

With the match done, the Indian team headed back to the hotel, tired but still laughing and chatting about the game. The loss didn't dampen their spirits—it had been a great series, and they had played well.

Once they reached their rooms, the exhaustion from three back-to-back matches finally caught up with them. After a quiet dinner, the players crashed into their beds, resting for the night. The next morning, they would start preparing for their next challenge, but for now, it was time to relax.

The next morning, the Indian U-19 team woke up feeling refreshed, knowing they had a well-deserved rest day ahead. After three back-to-back matches, the break felt like a luxury, and everyone was excited to explore Auckland and unwind.

Breakfast was a relaxed affair, with the players gathering at the dining hall, chatting casually over plates of food. Ishan, ever the energetic one, clapped his hands together and announced, "Alright, boys, no cricket talk today. We're just here to enjoy."

"First stop? Arcade," Rishabh declared, already grinning. "I need to remind all of you who the undisputed king of arcade games is."

"Bhai, you've literally never won against me," Ishan smirked.

"Aaj dekh lena," Rishabh shot back.

Washington chuckled, shaking his head. "This is going to be fun."

After piling into a van, the players joked and teased each other the whole way, pointing out sights through the windows, laughing at random things, and enjoying the rare opportunity to just be teenagers. The atmosphere was light and carefree, a stark contrast to the intensity of their recent matches.

When they arrived at the arcade, the team scattered in all directions, eager to test their skills. The place was alive with flashing lights, the sounds of game machines buzzing, and cheers from other players.

Rishabh made a beeline for the basketball hoop challenge, grabbing a ball and immediately taking shots. "Let's go! High score incoming!" he announced confidently.

Avesh, standing nearby, smirked. "Bhai, your aim is worse than your wicketkeeping against spin."

Rishabh scowled. "Watch and learn."

Just as he started to feel good about his rhythm, Washington stepped in, casually sinking one shot after another, overtaking his score with ease.

"And there it is," Ishan laughed, clapping Rishabh on the back. "Your reign as arcade king lasted approximately two minutes."

Meanwhile, Advay found himself at a racing simulator, where Ishan and Avesh were already battling for first place.

"You should join in, Rai," Avesh called out, gripping the steering wheel as he drifted around a corner.

"Let's see if your racing skills are as good as your batting."

"You'll find out soon," Advay said with a slight smirk as he slid into the seat and grabbed the wheel.

The countdown began, and the race was pure chaos. Ishan was yelling at Avesh for blocking him, Avesh was aggressively turning his wheel, and Advay, calm as ever, maneuvered past them effortlessly.

As the final lap approached, Advay took the perfect racing line, overtaking both of them.

"What the—?" Ishan looked over in shock. "Where did he come from?!"

Avesh groaned. "Bhai, how are you THIS good at everything?"

Advay just shrugged. "Just lucky, I guess."

The group spent hours bouncing from game to game—air hockey, shooting challenges, even an intense dance battle between Ishan and Rishabh that had the entire arcade watching and laughing.

The arcade was filled with their voices—cheering victories, groaning over losses, and endless rounds of playful trash talk. For once, they weren't cricketers under pressure to perform. They were just a bunch of teenagers having the time of their lives.

After hours of non-stop gaming, laughter, and playful trash talk, the team finally left the arcade, still buzzing from the excitement. Their competitive spirits had been on full display—whether it was racing, shooting games, or basketball, everyone had tried to outdo each other. But now, as they checked the time, the realization hit.

"Bhai, I need food," Rishabh groaned dramatically, stretching his arms as if he had just finished a marathon. "I swear I burned a thousand calories at the arcade."

Washington raised an eyebrow. "You literally sat on a chair and pressed buttons. What part of that was exercise?"

Avesh laughed, shaking his head. "Leave it, Washi. Rishabh thinks playing video games is a full-body workout."

"It is!" Rishabh defended, placing a hand over his stomach. "And right now, I need food more than I need air."

Ishan, already ahead of them, turned back. "Relax, I know just the place. There's a local pizzeria down the street. It's supposed to be one of the best in Auckland."

With no arguments, they walked down the busy Auckland streets, the cool afternoon breeze making the stroll even more enjoyable. The city had a laid-back charm to it, with people going about their day, some stopping to glance at the group of young cricketers, who—despite being visitors—blended into the lively city atmosphere.

After about ten minutes of walking, they finally reached the pizzeria. From the moment they stepped in, the warm aroma of freshly baked dough, melted cheese, and rich tomato sauce filled the air.

"Ohhh, this smells like heaven," Rishabh exhaled dramatically, eyes scanning the place.

The pizzeria wasn't a huge chain or a fancy restaurant—it had a cozy, rustic vibe with wooden tables, warm lighting, and the sound of light chatter from other customers enjoying their meals. It felt inviting, like the kind of place you stumbled upon and instantly knew the food would be amazing.

They settled at a large corner table, flipping through the menu. But it didn't take long to decide—multiple large pizzas, garlic bread, sodas, and some extra sides to keep everyone happy.

As they waited for their food, the conversation continued.

"So, who was the best at the arcade?" Ishan smirked, looking around.

"Me, obviously," Rishabh said, leaning back smugly.

Avesh scoffed. "Bro, you lost every single racing game. And let's not forget how Washington destroyed you in basketball."

"That was a warm-up!" Rishabh shot back, pointing a finger at Avesh. "If we had stayed longer, I would've made a comeback."

"Sure, sure." Washington smirked. "Keep telling yourself that."

Just as they were mid-argument, the first round of pizzas arrived, and everything else was forgotten. The moment the hot, cheesy slices were placed in front of them, conversation stopped.

"Oh man, this looks insane," Avesh muttered, grabbing the first slice.

The first bite was all it took. The crust was perfectly crisp, the cheese melted just right, and the flavors blended beautifully. Within seconds, they were all digging in, the table going silent except for the occasional murmurs of appreciation.

"This is amazing," Advay said between bites. "Way better than hotel food."

"See, I told you," Ishan grinned, taking another bite. "Local places always have the best food."

"Agreed," Washington added. "This crust is perfect. Not too thick, not too thin. Just right."

Rishabh, already on his third slice, looked up and sighed happily. "This is top-tier pizza. If I could, I'd live here."

The team ate like they had been starving for days, going through multiple pizzas in record time. Between bites, they continued chatting—about the arcade, their games, random things about cricket, and even arguing about which pizza flavor was the best.

"Margherita is elite," Advay said.

"No chance," Avesh shook his head. "Anything with pepperoni is top-tier."

"You guys don't appreciate simplicity," Washington added, picking up another slice. "A classic cheese pizza with good crust is unbeatable."

"Man, forget the flavors. If the cheese is good, I don't care what's on it," Rishabh said, already reaching for another slice.

Laughter and conversation filled the air, blending with the warm ambiance of the pizzeria. After days of intense cricket, this was exactly what they needed—good food, good company, and a chance to just relax.

The morning of March 29, 2015, arrived with a bright, clear sky over Eden Park, the stage set for the first ODI between India U-19 and New Zealand U-19. The atmosphere was lively, with a decent crowd gathered, consisting of local fans and Indian supporters who had come to watch their young team in action.

The two captains, Ishan Kishan and Josh Finnie, walked confidently to the center for the toss. The referee flipped the coin into the air.

"Heads," Ishan called.

The coin landed, and the referee nodded toward him. "Heads it is. India wins the toss."

The commentator turned to Ishan. "Ishan, congratulations on the toss. What's the decision?"

Ishan, smiling, responded, "We'll bowl first. It's a fresh wicket, and we feel there might be something in it for our bowlers early on. We want to take advantage of that and try to restrict New Zealand to a chaseable total."

"That's an interesting choice. Would you have batted first if you lost the toss?"

Ishan chuckled. "Probably not. We backed ourselves to chase in T20s, and we're confident doing that in ODIs as well. We've got a solid bowling unit, and if we execute well, we should be in a good position later."

The commentator then turned toward Josh Finnie. "Josh, you've been asked to bat first. Happy with that?"

Josh nodded. "Yeah, honestly, we would've batted first anyway. The wicket looks good, and if we can put up a strong total, we'll have something to defend. We've learned from the T20 series, and I think we're better prepared today."

"Any key changes in your approach now that it's a 50-over game?"

Josh Finnie smiled. "It's a different format, so we'll have to pace ourselves better. But the intent remains the same—build partnerships, keep wickets in hand, and take the game deep."

The toss interview wrapped up, and the two captains shook hands before heading back to their teams.

With India choosing to bowl first, the Indian fielders gathered near the boundary, doing their final stretches, while the New Zealand openers prepared to walk out to bat. The first ODI was officially underway.

As the Indian players took their positions on the field, the New Zealand openers, Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips, walked out to the middle, determined to set a strong foundation for their team. The Indian bowlers stretched near the boundary, with Ishan Kishan and the coaching staff discussing field placements.

Commentator 1: "So here we go, the first ODI of the series! India has won the toss and chosen to bowl first. A bold call, but with the firepower in their bowling attack, it makes sense."

Commentator 2: "Yes, but this is a 50-over game, a different challenge. New Zealand will look to settle in and bat deep. If they can get a solid start, they'll back themselves to put up a big total."

The new ball was handed to Avesh Khan, who came steaming in for the first over. The first few overs were all about tight lines and testing the batters, as Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips played cautiously, respecting the new ball movement. The outfield was quick, and even a slight misjudgment from the fielders resulted in twos turning into threes.

In the sixth over, Glenn Phillips got the first boundary of the match—a beautifully timed flick past midwicket, using Avesh's pace.

Commentator 1: "Oh, that's classy! Just a slight whip of the wrists, and it races away to the boundary!"

Finn Allen followed up in the next over with a square drive off Khaleel Ahmed, piercing the gap perfectly.

Commentator 2: "That's a lovely shot! Got into position early and found the gap. New Zealand looking confident now."

India's first breakthrough came in the 12th over. Avesh Khan, who had been building up pressure, banged in a short ball that hurried Glenn Phillips, who mistimed a flick straight to midwicket.

Commentator 1: "Got him! Phillips tried to take it on, but he couldn't get enough on it. That's the first wicket for India!"

Commentator 2: "Avesh Khan has been troubling them, and he finally gets his reward! India needed that breakthrough."

Josh Finnie, the New Zealand captain, walked in at No. 3, looking calm as he took guard. The partnership between Finnie and Finn Allen began to take shape. While Allen rotated the strike well, Finnie started playing attacking strokes, not allowing the spinners to settle.

Washington Sundar was introduced in the 16th over, and Finnie wasted no time, stepping down the track and lofting him over long-on for six.

Commentator 1: "Oh, that's gone a long way! What a hit from the skipper!"

New Zealand continued building steadily, reaching 121/2 at the halfway mark (25 overs). Advay was brought into the attack for some tight middle-overs bowling, and he delivered by restricting runs, bowling with great control.

In the 32nd over, Rachin Ravindra, who had been playing fluently, brought up his half-century, cutting a delivery past point for four.

Commentator 2: "That's a well-made fifty! He's played a key role in steadying this innings."

However, Washington Sundar struck back soon after, getting Ravindra caught at deep square leg, breaking a crucial stand.

With New Zealand at 186/4 after 35 overs, the Indian bowlers knew they had to pull things back in the final phase.

A crucial moment came in the 42nd over, when Advay, in his final spell, bowled a tight over and almost trapped Nathan Smith LBW. The appeal was turned down, but the pressure was mounting.

Despite wickets falling, New Zealand accelerated in the last 10 overs. Dale Phillips and Nathan Smith added quick runs, smashing boundaries in the death overs, ensuring their team got past 280.

By the end of 50 overs, New Zealand had posted a competitive total of 283/8.

Commentator 1: "And that's the innings done! New Zealand finishes with 283 on the board. A well-compiled total, but will it be enough?"

Commentator 2: "India will have to bat well, but given the way their openers have played this tour, they'll be confident going into the chase."

The New Zealand players walked off to applause from their dugout, while the Indian fielders gathered in a huddle, discussing their approach for the chase. Ishan and Advay were already preparing their bats, knowing they had a big job ahead.