Chapter 28 : Losing the Finals??

As Virat and Anushka settled into their cab, heading back to their hotel, Anushka glanced at Virat with a smirk. "Well? What do you think of him?"

Virat leaned back, arms crossed, staring out the window for a moment before replying. "He's different."

Anushka chuckled. "Different how?"

Virat thought for a second before turning toward her. "He's got confidence, but not the arrogant kind. The way he carries himself, it's like… he already knows he belongs at the top. And he's just eighteen."

Anushka nodded, recalling their conversation. "Yeah, and the way he speaks—it doesn't feel like you're talking to someone that young. He's got this… calmness about him. Like nothing fazes him."

Virat exhaled sharply, a small grin forming. "That's what I mean. I've met plenty of young cricketers. Most of them, when they talk to me, they're either nervous or way too eager to impress. But Advay? He wasn't trying to prove anything. He just… was."

Anushka smirked. "And he invited you to his match like it was no big deal."

Virat laughed. "Yeah, that was bold. Most young players would lose their minds just meeting me, and here he is casually asking me to come watch him play."

Anushka turned toward him. "You think he's really that good?"

Virat leaned his head back against the seat, looking thoughtful. "If he's captaining India U-19 and they've made the final, then yeah, he's got to be special. But now, I kind of want to see it for myself."

Anushka smiled. "So we're going to the final?"

Virat glanced at her with a knowing smirk. "I think we are."

Virat scrolled further, his expression turning more impressed by the second. "And it just keeps getting better," he muttered.

Anushka glanced at him. "What now?"

Virat exhaled, shaking his head with a small grin. "Since turning seventeen, he was made the captain of the India U-19 team. And get this—India has been absolutely unstoppable in this World Cup. Five matches in, and they've crushed every opponent in their path."

Anushka raised an eyebrow. "And Advay?"

Virat turned his phone toward her. "598 runs in five matches. Four centuries, one half-century."

Anushka blinked, momentarily speechless. "That's insane. And the final's against Australia?"

Virat nodded. "Yep. We're watching that match for sure."

Anushka chuckled. "I think we just met the next big thing in Indian cricket, and he acted like it was just another day."

Virat smirked. "Yeah… I really want to see what this guy is made of."

As the cab continued down the road, Virat, still intrigued, decided to search Advay Rai's name on Google. His intention was simple—to find some batting highlights and get a better idea of his playing style.

The moment the search results loaded, however, his brows furrowed slightly. Instead of just cricket highlights, there were multiple articles about him.

Anushka noticed the shift in his expression. "What is it?"

Virat didn't respond immediately. His eyes scanned the screen, and then one particular headline caught his attention—a Forbes article.

Without thinking, he clicked on it and began reading. His grip on the phone tightened slightly, and his expression changed from curiosity to something close to shock.

Anushka, noticing his reaction, frowned. "Virat?"

Virat barely heard her. He was too focused on what he was reading.

And then, as he scrolled further, his eyes widened, and he almost dropped his phone.

Virat stared at his phone, his mind racing as he absorbed the information on the screen. He exhaled sharply, still in disbelief.

Anushka, noticing his reaction, frowned. "Virat, what is it? What did you just read?"

Virat slowly turned toward her, his expression still processing the sheer absurdity of what he had just discovered. "Advay… he's a multibillionaire."

Anushka blinked. "What?"

Virat nodded, still glancing at his phone. "And not just that. He's self-made. The craziest part?" He paused for a second, shaking his head in pure disbelief. "He's the founder and CEO of Swiggy."

Anushka's eyes widened. "Wait—what? Swiggy? The Swiggy?"

Virat nodded again. "Yeah. He built Swiggy from the ground up when he was just eleven."

Anushka sat back in her seat, absolutely stunned. "You're telling me that eighteen-year-old kid we were just talking to—who's captaining India U-19, scoring centuries like it's nothing—is also the guy who created Swiggy?"

Virat let out a breathless laugh. "That's not even all of it. His family is also ridiculously rich. They own the Rai Groups. They're billionaires too."

Anushka shook her head, still trying to process everything. "So you're telling me… he's a world-class cricketer, the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, and comes from one of the richest families in India?"

Virat chuckled, locking his phone. "Yeah. And the way he was sitting next to us, talking like it was just another day? Unreal."

Anushka crossed her arms, still in disbelief. "I feel like we just met someone who doesn't even make sense."

Virat smirked. "Yeah. Now I am definitely going to watch that final."

Advay walked into the hotel lobby, the warm lighting casting a soft glow over the space. As he glanced around, he spotted his teammates lounging on the plush sofas, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. They looked relaxed, their beach trip clearly having done its job in helping them unwind before the big final.

With his hands in his pockets, Advay casually strolled up to them, smirking slightly. "So, how was the beach? Or should I say, how was missing out on the rugby match of a lifetime?"

At the sound of his voice, Gill turned around first, raising an eyebrow. "Look who's back. Enjoy your rugby, superstar?"

Parag grinned. "Forget that—tell us, did you actually like it? Or are you just pretending to be into rugby to sound cool?"

Advay let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I liked it. The energy, the aggression—it was definitely something different."

Shaw stretched his arms, leaning back against the sofa. "Yeah, yeah, cool and all, but we had a great time too. Sun, waves, beach volleyball—what's not to love?"

Shivam smirked. "And the best part? No giant dudes slamming into each other at full speed."

The group laughed, but Advay just gave a knowing smile, his fingers casually tapping against his phone.

"Oh, trust me," he said, his tone playful. "You guys are gonna regret not coming with me."

The way he said it made them all pause. Abhishek narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Advay simply chuckled and took a seat among them. "I'll show you in a bit. But first, I want to hear everything—who embarrassed themselves the most at volleyball?"

As the team broke into playful banter about their beach day, Advay leaned back, amused. He could already picture the looks on their faces when they saw the photo he had taken with Virat and Anushka.

Advay walked into the hotel lobby, the warm lighting casting a soft glow over the space. As he glanced around, he spotted his teammates lounging on the plush sofas, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. They looked relaxed, their beach trip clearly having done its job in helping them unwind before the big final.

With his hands in his pockets, Advay casually strolled up to them, smirking slightly. "So, how was the beach? Or should I say, how was missing out on the rugby match of a lifetime?"

At the sound of his voice, Gill turned around first, raising an eyebrow. "Look who's back. Enjoy your rugby, superstar?"

Parag grinned. "Forget that—tell us, did you actually like it? Or are you just pretending to be into rugby to sound cool?"

Advay let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I liked it. The energy, the aggression—it was definitely something different."

Shaw stretched his arms, leaning back against the sofa. "Yeah, yeah, cool and all, but we had a great time too. Sun, waves, beach volleyball—what's not to love?"

Shivam smirked. "And the best part? No giant dudes slamming into each other at full speed."

The group laughed, but Advay just gave a knowing smile, his fingers casually tapping against his phone.

"Oh, trust me," he said, his tone playful. "You guys are gonna regret not coming with me."

The way he said it made them all pause. Abhishek narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Advay simply chuckled and took a seat among them. "I'll show you in a bit. But first, I want to hear everything—who embarrassed themselves the most at volleyball?"

As the team broke into playful banter about their beach day, Advay leaned back, amused. He could already picture the looks on their faces when they saw the photo he had taken with Virat and Anushka.

As the teasing continued, Advay suddenly interrupted the conversation with a mischievous grin. "You know, you guys are all going to regret missing out on that rugby match."

The team stopped mid-conversation and turned toward him, wide-eyed and curious. "What do you mean?" Riyan Parag asked, raising an eyebrow. "You were the one who ditched us for it."

Advay leaned forward, his grin growing even wider. "Yeah, but trust me—none of you would have understood the energy unless you were there. It was... unreal."

The team exchanged looks, and Prithvi Shaw gave him a playful shove. "Don't tell us you're bragging about rugby now," he teased. "We didn't miss anything, right?"

Advay simply raised an eyebrow and pulled out his phone. "Wanna bet?" He started scrolling through his gallery, finally pulling up the picture he had taken with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma earlier in the day.

He turned the phone around to show them, the team falling silent as they stared at the photo of Advay with the two biggest names in Indian cricket and Bollywood.

"What the...?" Riyan's voice trailed off as he stared at the screen, shock spreading across their faces.

"You... met them?" Shubman Gill asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and awe.

Advay just smirked. "Yeah. And I invited them to the final. So, you guys... totally missed out."

There was a long silence as the team took in the weight of what Advay had just said. Then, one by one, the players started laughing, shaking their heads at the unbelievable coincidence.

"Man, you really know how to make a simple rest day seem like a lifetime," Arshdeep said, laughing. "We're going to be hearing about this for a long time, huh?"

Advay shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? I have good taste in plans."

The team erupted into laughter, and for the first time, Advay let himself join in fully, feeling the camaraderie and fun of the moment.

The evening before the U-19 World Cup final was an electric one for the Indian team. The locker room was filled with a mixture of excitement, nerves, and the kind of quiet energy that comes before a huge moment. Everyone knew what tomorrow would bring. The match against Australia U-19 would be the culmination of months of training, preparation, and effort. It was the one moment they had all been waiting for—the opportunity to make history.

As the players sat in their spots, some stretching, others mentally preparing, Advay stood by the wall, staring at the floor for a few moments. He could feel the tension in the air. This wasn't just another match. This was the final. The moment they'd all dreamed of, but now they had to live up to it.

Advay walked into the center of the room, his calm, steady presence demanding attention. The noise faded, and all eyes were on him. He wasn't the loudest in the room, but when he spoke, it was always with such certainty and conviction that it pulled everyone in.

"Alright, guys," Advay began, his voice calm but firm. "Tomorrow is the moment we've been working for. All the hard work, the late nights, the sacrifices—all of it leads to this. We're standing here, ready to take on Australia, and I know we've got what it takes to win."

The room was silent except for the sounds of Advay's steady voice, each word sinking into the hearts of his teammates.

"I know there's pressure," he continued, "and I know some of you might be feeling it more than others. But I'm telling you right now, we've earned this. Every match we've played so far, we've come out on top because we played as a team. And tomorrow won't be any different. We're not playing to survive; we're playing to dominate, to win, to make a statement."

His words weren't just motivational; they were grounded in truth. Advay had led them through thick and thin, through victories, and the few close calls, but they had always bounced back stronger.

He glanced around the room, looking at each of his teammates, letting them feel the confidence radiating from him. "This is our moment," he said, his voice quiet but full of emotion. "The world will be watching us tomorrow. And they'll see us give everything we've got. Not for glory, not for fame, but for each other. We fight together, as a team, as a family. And that's why we'll win."

The room had gone completely still, everyone hanging on his words. There was no doubt in anyone's mind now. They were ready. Advay had reminded them of their strength, their unity, and most importantly, their purpose.

"Tomorrow, we don't hold anything back," Advay said, his voice steady and sure. "We leave everything on that field, and we walk off with no regrets. Together, as one team, we will take this win."

For a few moments, the team stood in silence, the weight of his words sinking in. And then, almost as if on cue, the applause began. It wasn't loud or boisterous, but it was real, heartfelt, and full of belief. They were ready. They were a family. And tomorrow, they would give everything for that final victory.

"We've got this," Advay finished, his words leaving no room for doubt. "Let's do it."

The team stood, their spirits lifted, their confidence bolstered, and their resolve solidified. There was no turning back now. Tomorrow, they would face Australia. Tomorrow, they would make history.

On February 17, 2018, the Eden Park Stadium in Auckland was completely packed, with seas of yellow and blue filling the stands. The energy was unmatched, with the crowd buzzing in anticipation for the U-19 World Cup Final. The air was thick with excitement, and everyone knew this was the moment of a lifetime for the young cricketers.

The two teams lined up at the center for the toss. Advay Rai, the captain of India, and Josh Philippe, the captain of Australia, stood across from each other. The tension was palpable, but both captains maintained their usual calm demeanor, ready for the biggest match of their careers.

As the coin was tossed, the entire stadium fell silent. The coin landed, and the result was clear—Australia won the toss.

Josh Philippe turned toward Advay, giving him a respectful nod before announcing his decision. "We'll bat first," he said.

Advay, standing tall as always, nodded in response. There was no sign of disappointment or frustration in his eyes, just an unwavering focus on what lay ahead.

The toss interview followed, with the microphone handed to the two captains.

Interviewer: "Josh, you've won the toss and decided to bat first. What's your reasoning behind that?"

Josh Philippe: "We've been chasing well throughout the tournament, but we know we can set a strong total and put pressure on India's chase. We'll focus on building partnerships and making sure we set a competitive total."

Interviewer: "Advay, your thoughts on the decision to bat first?"

Advay Rai: "It's a good decision. Australia is a strong team, and we know they'll come out aggressive. Our focus will be on executing our plans, bowling well, and keeping the pressure on them. We've been good at chasing, and I trust my team to do what's needed."

The interview ended, and both captains turned to their respective teams, ready to begin the final battle.

Australia would bat first, and India had their work cut out for them. The players gathered in their huddles, strategizing for the challenge ahead. It was time to make history.

For the first 25 overs, Australia had been completely schooling India, their batsmen in full control and finding boundaries with ease. Max Bryant and Jack Edwards played solidly, accumulating runs at a steady rate. India, on the other hand, was making costly mistakes in the field, letting Australia take full advantage.

Bryant came out firing from the start, hitting a beautiful cover drive off Mavi in the third over for a four. He followed it up with a pull shot over midwicket in the seventh over, sending the ball to the boundary once again. Commentator 1: "Bryant is taking full control here—what a strong start!"

Edwards, at the other end, was calm and focused on rotating the strike. He played some fine shots to the offside and rotated the strike well. In the sixth over, Edwards punched a delivery through cover for another boundary. Commentator 2: "Edwards is playing a steady role here, picking off the easy runs and finding the gaps in the field."

However, India's fielding was far from sharp. In the fifth over, Mavi bowled a good length delivery, and Edwards hit it straight to Vishal at extra cover. But Vishal misjudged the ball, and it went through his hands for a boundary. Commentator 1: "What a costly mistake! A sitter gone begging—India really can't afford to make these kinds of mistakes."

A few overs later, in the 13th over, Bryant pulled a short ball from Nagarkoti, and it went straight into the hands of Shubman Gill at point. He had a chance for a simple catch, but Shubman couldn't hold on to it, and the ball dropped on the turf. Commentator 2: "And there's another one! India is really feeling the pressure with these fielding lapses."

By the time Australia reached 120/0 at the 20-over mark, India had dropped at least two key catches and missed a number of easy stops in the field. In the 19th over, Bryant went for a big shot off Riyan Parag but found the deep point fielder, Shubman, again. Unfortunately, Shubman dropped the catch, and the ball flew over the boundary for another four. Commentator 1: "India's fielding mistakes are really adding up. They can't afford this many chances."

At the halfway point of the innings, Australia was on 120/0, and India was desperate for a breakthrough. The mistakes in the field were starting to pile up, and Australia was comfortably in control, with Bryant and Edwards still at the crease and scoring freely.

Commentator 2: "India has to regroup here. They've had a bad run in the field, but they still have time to pull it back. They need a breakthrough soon, or Australia will set a huge target."

With the score at 200 after 25 overs, India needed to regain composure and start putting pressure on the Australian batsmen. The task was tough, but not impossible. The team huddled together, knowing they couldn't afford to give any more free runs.

In the huddle, Advay stood in the middle, his usually composed demeanor replaced by a fire that matched the intensity of the moment. His eyes were blazing, and there was a powerful urgency in his voice.

"This is not us!" he roared, the words cutting through the tension like a sharp blade. "We're playing horribly in the finals, in front of our fans, with the world watching us! This is the moment we've all worked for, and we're letting it slip because of careless mistakes!"

The team stood in stunned silence, the weight of Advay's words sinking in. The mistakes they had made—the dropped catches, the misfields, the missed opportunities—had been piling up, and now they were standing on the verge of something much bigger than just one match.

"We've come too far for this," Advay continued, his voice steady but filled with an undeniable rage. "You've all been phenomenal throughout this tournament. But if we want to win this, we need to wake up. NOW."

He took a step closer to his teammates, his eyes sweeping over each of them. "We can still turn this around, but we have to give everything we've got. No more mistakes, no more excuses. This is OUR game. We're playing for each other, for this jersey, for the millions watching back home."

The fire in his voice was contagious. Slowly, his teammates began nodding, the spark of determination returning to their eyes. They knew Advay was right. They had everything to lose and everything to gain in these next few overs.

"This is it, guys," Advay finished, his voice calm but full of resolve. "We've fought so hard to get here. We owe it to ourselves to finish strong. Let's do it."

The team, now fired up and focused, broke the huddle. Advay's words had reignited their spirit, and they walked back to their positions with newfound purpose, ready to take on the challenge ahead.