Chapter 33 : Debut For RCB

The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium was buzzing as Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu walked out to open for Chennai Super Kings. The RCB fielders took their positions, and Virat Kohli clapped his hands. "Let's start strong, boys! Keep it tight!"

Umesh Yadav was handed the new ball. He charged in and bowled the first delivery of the IPL 2019 season—a full-length ball outside off stump. Watson leaned in and creamed it through the covers for four. The CSK crowd erupted in delight.

Harsha Bhogle's voice rang out in the commentary box. "And here we go! IPL 2019 has begun, and Shane Watson gets going in style!"

Matthew Hayden chuckled. "That's pure class from Watson. First ball, and he sends a message!"

Umesh came in again, this time going short at 142 kmph. Watson attempted the pull, but the extra bounce surprised him, and the ball hit high on the bat, falling safely in the infield. The over ended with CSK at 9/0.

A few overs later, Navdeep Saini was introduced into the attack. CSK had moved to 39/0, and Watson was looking dangerous. Saini ran in, bowling at 145 kmph, and sent a sharp short delivery straight at Watson's body. Watson went for the hook shot, but the ball got big on him and took the top edge. The ball soared high into the night sky as Quinton de Kock sprinted forward, keeping his eyes locked on it before settling underneath and taking a safe catch.

Harsha Bhogle's voice rang out. "Gone! Watson falls trying to take on the short ball, and Navdeep Saini draws first blood for RCB!"

"That extra pace did the trick!" Hayden added. "Watson didn't get hold of it, and RCB has their first wicket!"

Watson walked back for 21 off 15 balls, and the momentum briefly shifted.

With CSK at 74/1, Virat tossed the ball to Advay Rai. The young debutant rolled the ball in his hands, his expression unreadable. From the infield, Chahal smirked. "Alright, ₹11 crore boy, let's see what you've got."

Advay took his run-up. His bowling action—a mix of Bumrah's short, explosive stride and Dale Steyn's aggressive follow-through—caught the attention of everyone watching. His first ball was a sharp length delivery at 141 kmph, swinging in late. Suresh Raina barely got his bat down in time, inside-edging it onto his pads.

Next ball—a 144 kmph yorker. Raina dug it out and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

On the fourth ball, Advay ran in, going wide of the crease, and bowled a full-speed delivery at 145 kmph that swung late into Rayudu. Rayudu misread the movement, and the ball snuck through the gate, crashing into the off-stump!

Harsha Bhogle's voice rang out in excitement. "Bowled him! That's an absolute peach from Advay Rai! A dream wicket on IPL debut!"

Hayden was equally impressed. "That's Steyn-like aggression right there! Late swing, perfect seam position, and Rayudu had no clue!"

Rayudu walked back, 31 off 22 balls, as the RCB fielders swarmed Advay in celebration.

Later, with CSK at 153/3, Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav were at the crease, looking to accelerate. Advay returned for his second spell. His first ball was a 143 kmph bouncer, rushing Jadhav, who tried to ramp it over fine leg. The ball, however, climbed too much, and he gloved it straight to Quinton de Kock!

Harsha Bhogle shouted, "Gloves it! Gone! Advay Rai has another one, and he's making a statement in his first IPL match!"

Hayden nodded. "The young man is on fire! He's bowling with serious pace!"

Jadhav walked back for 18 off 14 balls, and RCB had another breakthrough.

As CSK reached 176/5, Advay came back for his final over. On the second ball, he sent in a searing yorker at 146 kmph to Dwayne Bravo, who tried to flick it away. The ball crashed into his boot, and the entire team went up in a massive appeal!

The umpire took a moment before raising his finger!

Bravo reviewed it, but the ball tracking showed three reds—OUT!

Matthew Hayden chuckled. "That's absolutely plumb! Advay Rai gets his third, and what a debut this is turning out to be!"

Advay finished his spell with 3/38 in 4 overs, leaving a lasting impression on both teams.

Despite RCB's strong bowling performance, MS Dhoni (47 off 28) and Ravindra Jadeja (21 off 12) finished well for CSK, pushing them to a competitive 198/6.

Harsha Bhogle analyzed the total. "198 on this wicket… that's a good total, but not impossible. It's all up to RCB's batting lineup now."

As the players walked off the field, Virat patted Advay's back. "Brilliant spell, kid. Now let's go chase this down."

Advay nodded, smirking. His job with the ball was done.

Now, it was time to bat.

As the RCB openers walked out to chase 199, the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium was buzzing. The sea of yellow roared in support of Chennai Super Kings, while pockets of red-clad RCB fans tried to match their energy. The floodlights shone brightly, illuminating the two batters at the crease—Virat Kohli and Advay Rai.

Virat stood calm, tapping his bat on the pitch, his eyes scanning the field. He turned toward Advay, who was adjusting his gloves, his expression focused but relaxed.

"Ready?" Virat asked, his voice steady but filled with competitive fire.

Advay rolled his shoulders and gripped his bat tighter. "Let's light this place up."

The CSK players took their positions, with MS Dhoni standing behind the stumps, as calm as ever, his eyes sharp and calculating. The bowlers huddled for a final discussion, their game plan clear: get an early wicket and break RCB's momentum before it even starts.

The umpire signaled. "Play!"

Deepak Chahar, Chennai's most dependable powerplay bowler, took the new ball and marked his run-up. He knew the first over was crucial. If RCB got off to a flying start, it would be difficult to pull them back. He had seen what Advay Rai was capable of with the ball, and now, he was about to see what he could do with the bat.

The first ball was a full-length delivery outside off stump, swinging slightly away. Virat stepped forward with soft hands, guiding it toward third man for a single. A simple, risk-free start.

Now, it was Advay Rai's turn to face his first IPL delivery.

The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath. Fans, players, commentators—everyone wanted to see how the ₹11 crore prodigy handled the moment.

Chahar steamed in, bowling a full ball on off-stump, looking for some swing. Advay stepped into the shot and drove it through extra cover with perfect timing! The ball raced to the boundary, splitting the fielders effortlessly.

A roar erupted from the RCB dugout as Chahal smirked from the sidelines. "Well, that didn't take long, did it?"

The next ball was different. Chahar pulled his length back, going short at the body, trying to rush Advay. But the young batter was already waiting for it. He swiveled on his back foot and pulled it with a snap of his wrists, sending it sailing over midwicket for a huge SIX!

The crowd erupted, and even the Chennai fans had to appreciate the sheer confidence in that shot.

Harsha Bhogle's voice filled the commentary box. "Oh, that's just brute power! His first over in IPL cricket, and he's already sending the ball into the stands!"

Matthew Hayden chuckled. "And against a quality bowler like Chahar, too! This kid is special!"

Chahar finished the over cautiously, keeping the ball away from Advay's hitting arc, but the damage was already done. RCB had started with 12 runs in the first over.

While Advay was going all-out from one end, Virat Kohli anchored the innings perfectly. He focused on finding the gaps, rotating the strike, and taking calculated risks whenever the opportunity arose.

In the fourth over, Harbhajan Singh tossed up a full and wide delivery, hoping to lure Virat into a mistimed shot. Instead, Virat stepped out, extended his arms, and lofted the ball cleanly over extra cover for four.

A few deliveries later, Ravindra Jadeja darted one in, quick and flat on the middle stump. Virat, anticipating it, moved deep into the crease and punched it past point for another boundary.

He was playing a masterful supporting role, ensuring that Advay kept getting the strike while keeping the scoreboard ticking. The partnership was building beautifully.

At the other end, Advay was ruthlessly dismantling CSK's bowling attack.

Dwayne Bravo was brought into the attack in the seventh over, looking to slow things down with his famous variations. His first ball was a slower one at 128 kmph, but Advay read it early and launched it straight over long-on for a massive six!

The next ball was full and straight, aimed at the stumps. Advay shuffled across and whipped it behind square for four!

Bravo, now under pressure, tried another off-cutter. Advay, fully aware of his plan, opened the face of his bat and guided the ball over third man—SIX more!

Harsha Bhogle laughed in disbelief. "Oh my goodness, this is outrageous! He's treating Bravo like a net bowler!"

Dhoni, seeing the match slipping, walked up to Bravo and Harbhajan, whispering something. The field was adjusted, the plans changed, but nothing seemed to work.

In the very next over, Shardul Thakur bowled a back-of-a-length delivery outside off. Advay stayed back and cut it late, the ball racing past backward point for four.

The crowd was on its feet as RCB dominated the powerplay.

As the tenth over ended, the scoreboard flashed:

RCB – 112/0 (10 Overs)

Advay Rai – 78(36) [9 fours, 5 sixes]*Virat Kohli – 42(24) [4 fours, 1 six]*

The CSK players looked frustrated, and Dhoni stood at the back, arms folded, analyzing the situation with an unreadable expression.

Virat walked up to Advay, still smiling as he adjusted his gloves. "You're making this look too easy."

Advay smirked, rolling his shoulders. "We're just getting started."

As Advay and Virat walked off the field, the entire RCB section of the stadium rose to their feet. A wave of red jerseys, scarves, and flags filled the stands as thousands of fans clapped their hands in unison, roaring the chant that shook the night sky—

"RCB! RCB! RCB!"

The sound was deafening. The sheer energy, the emotion in the crowd, was something that even the CSK fans couldn't ignore. Even in Chennai, the home of their greatest rivals, RCB had stolen the night.

Advay, still gripping his bat, looked up at the stands, taking in the sight. This was his first match, his first century, and already, the crowd was treating him like a hero.

Virat, walking beside him, nudged him slightly. "That sound? That's for you."

Advay smirked, exhaling deeply. "Not just me. That's for RCB."

As they reached the dugout, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle were the first to greet them, clapping and shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Kid, that was unreal," AB said, pulling Advay into a quick hug. "That was something special."

Chris Gayle grinned. "Damn, man! First match and you're already playing like a king."

Chahal, ever the mischief-maker, jumped in. "₹11 crore? Bro, after that performance, you're worth ₹111 crore now!"

The whole team burst into laughter, patting Advay on the back as they made their way into the dressing room.

But even as they stepped inside, the chants outside continued to roar through the stadium.

"RCB! RCB! RCB!"

And for the first time in years, it felt like this could finally be their season.

After a few minutes of rest in the dressing room, Advay was called back onto the field for the post-match presentation. The crowd was still buzzing, the energy of the night refusing to die down. As he walked toward the stage, the massive screen inside M. A. Chidambaram Stadium flashed his incredible match performance:

Advay Rai – 123(61) & 3/38 (4)*

The presenter smiled, turning toward him. "And now, the Player of the Match award goes to… Advay Rai for his outstanding all-round performance!"

The stadium erupted in cheers. RCB fans, still in full voice, roared his name. Advay took the trophy, running a hand over the golden surface before stepping up to the mic, where Harsha Bhogle stood waiting with his signature warm smile.

Harsha adjusted his mic, his eyes filled with curiosity and amusement. "Advay, first of all, congratulations! A dream debut—three wickets with the ball and a century in your very first IPL match. You couldn't have scripted this better."

Advay, still catching his breath, chuckled. "Thank you, Harsha. Yeah, it was a special night, for sure."

Harsha smirked. "Special? That's an understatement! Let's start with the batting. 123 not out—what was your mindset when you walked in to chase 199?"

Advay shrugged slightly, gripping the mic. "Honestly? It was simple. We didn't want to overthink it. Virat bhai and I just wanted to stay out there as long as possible, rotate strike, and put away the bad balls. The wicket was good, the ball was coming on nicely, so I just played my shots."

Harsha raised an eyebrow. "Played your shots? My friend, you tore apart one of the most experienced bowling attacks in the IPL. At any point, did you feel the pressure?"

Advay smirked. "Pressure? No. I've always believed that pressure is something you apply, not something you feel."

The crowd erupted in cheers again, and even Harsha had to smile at that response.

"Oh, I love that answer," Harsha chuckled. "Alright, let's talk about that century celebration. We saw you tap the side of your head, a very familiar gesture. Any meaning behind that?"

Advay exhaled slightly, his smirk softening. "Yeah… it's something I saw growing up. A small tribute, I guess."

Harsha nodded, not pushing further, but the knowing glint in his eyes suggested he had caught onto something.

"Now, let's not forget the bowling," Harsha continued. "Three wickets, including Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo. You looked just as lethal with the ball as you did with the bat. What's your approach as an all-rounder? How do you balance both disciplines?"

Advay leaned on the podium, thinking for a second before replying. "For me, it's about adapting. When I'm batting, my mindset is aggressive but calculated. When I'm bowling, it's about execution and patience. I've worked hard on both aspects, and I'm still learning. But yeah, today, things just clicked."

Harsha smiled. "Well, clicked is an understatement. Final question—first IPL match, first century, first Man of the Match award. What's next for Advay Rai?"

Advay glanced at the RCB dugout, where Virat and the rest of the team were watching, waiting for him to return. He turned back to the mic, smirking.

"Next? We win the IPL."

The RCB crowd went wild, their chants echoing through the stadium once again.

Harsha grinned, nodding. "That's the confidence of a champion. Ladies and gentlemen, your Player of the Match—Advay Rai!"

Advay lifted the trophy once more before walking off the stage, soaking in the night. This was just the beginning. He hadn't come to participate. He had come to dominate.