Chapter 71 :

On January 24, 2020, the much-anticipated first T20I between India and New Zealand kicked off at Eden Park, Auckland. The stadium was packed with fans, a mix of blue and black jerseys, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.

As the two captains walked out for the toss, Virat Kohli flipped the coin, and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson called heads—but it landed tails. India won the toss.

Virat, without hesitation, turned to the presenter. "We'll bowl first."

The Indian players huddled up, and the fielders took their positions as New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro walked to the middle.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had the new ball, running in for the first delivery.

The first few overs saw Guptill taking charge, smashing two back-to-back sixes off Shardul Thakur—one over long-on, the other over midwicket. The ball sailed into the crowd, and the Auckland fans roared in approval.

Harsha Bhogle from the commentary box: "Oh, that's the Guptill we know! He loves playing India, and he's making a statement early!"

At the other end, Colin Munro joined in, stepping out and lofting a beautiful shot over extra cover off Bumrah. The powerplay ended with New Zealand at 58/0, off to a flying start.

Virat made a quick bowling change, tossing the ball to Advay.

He took his mark, rolling his shoulders before running in for his first over.

His first delivery to Munro was a good-length ball on off-stump. Munro, expecting turn, stayed back, but the ball skidded through quicker than expected. It crashed into the stumps!

Ravi Shastri in the box: "GONE! That's the magic of Advay Rai! It looked like it would turn, but it didn't! Munro completely undone!"

Advay raised his arms in celebration as Munro walked back for 27 off 18 balls.

Next in was Kane Williamson, who steadied the innings alongside Guptill, playing beautifully timed shots through the gaps. He danced down the track and lifted Chahal over long-off for six, showcasing his class.

In the 13th over, Advay returned for his second spell, this time facing Ross Taylor.

His first delivery was a slower ball, tossed up on middle and leg. Taylor, eyeing the leg-side boundary, went for the slog sweep.

But he completely mistimed it!

The ball went high but not far, and Shreyas Iyer settled under it at deep midwicket, completing a safe catch.

Harsha Bhogle: "And another one for Advay Rai! He's breaking partnerships just when India needs it!"

Taylor walked off for 13, shaking his head.

The final overs saw New Zealand pushing hard, with Williamson anchoring while Tim Seifert played a cameo, smashing two big sixes off Bumrah.

Bumrah, however, had the last laugh, bowling a perfect yorker to clean up Seifert in the 19th over.

New Zealand finished at 189/6, a strong total but not unbeatable.

As the players walked off, Advay glanced at the scoreboard—2 wickets, an economical spell, and the momentum slightly shifting back to India.

As the players walked off for the innings break, the floodlights at Eden Park shone brightly, illuminating the charged-up atmosphere. 189 was a challenging total, but the short boundaries in Auckland meant the game was far from over.

Advay and Rohit Sharma walked out to open, adjusting their gloves as they stepped onto the field. The crowd roared in excitement, knowing what this duo was capable of.

From the commentary box, Harsha Bhogle's voice carried through the stadium speakers. "Rohit Sharma and Advay Rai—two of the most dangerous white-ball players in world cricket right now. If these two get going, New Zealand could be in serious trouble."

Tim Southee took the new ball, marking his run-up, while Rohit took guard. The first ball was a full-length delivery on off-stump, and Rohit leaned in, driving it beautifully through the covers for four. The ball raced across the fast outfield, setting the tone early.

Ravi Shastri: "Vintage Rohit Sharma! When he plays those, you just sit back and admire."

The second over, bowled by Lockie Ferguson, saw Advay take center stage. The first ball was a short-pitched delivery at 150 km/h, testing his reflexes early.

Advay rocked back and pulled it effortlessly over deep square leg for six!

Shaun Pollock: "Oh, that's a statement shot! Ferguson cranks up the pace, and Advay just dismisses it like a tennis ball!"

New Zealand's bowlers stuck to their aggressive plan, bowling short and fast, but Advay and Rohit were in complete control.

In the fourth over, Southee tried a slower ball, pitching it slightly full. Advay stepped forward and lofted it inside-out over extra cover for a one-bounce four.

Harsha Bhogle: "Grace and power in the same shot! That's the kind of stroke that makes you stop and appreciate pure timing."

With the openers firing on all cylinders, New Zealand was already under pressure.

By the end of the powerplay (6 overs), India had raced to 81/0.

Advay was on 43 off just 22 balls, while Rohit, playing more measured cricket, was on 35 off 18.

Kane Williamson turned to Ish Sodhi, hoping spin could break the rhythm.

His second delivery was tossed up outside off, Rohit took a step forward and launched it high over long-on—the ball soared into the night sky and landed deep into the crowd.

Ravi Shastri: "That is a monster hit! Rohit Sharma doesn't just hit sixes; he launches them into orbit!"

In the 9th over, Ferguson returned, trying to intimidate with pace. He bowled a back-of-a-length delivery on middle, and Advay just opened the bat face slightly, guiding it past third man for a cheeky four.

Shaun Pollock: "That's the intelligence of Advay Rai. He doesn't just muscle the ball; he knows exactly where the gaps are!"

At the end of the 10th over, India was 119/0.

Advay had stormed his way to 64 off 32 balls, and Rohit was on 50 off 27.

The Eden Park crowd was witnessing a masterclass, and New Zealand had no answers for the Indian openers.

The tension at Eden Park was at its peak as India needed 18 runs off the final over. The crowd was roaring, half in anticipation, half in nervousness. Advay Rai stood at the striker's end, calm and composed, his score at 82 off 49 balls.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson tossed the ball to Tim Southee, their most experienced death bowler. The field was spread out, every fielder positioned to cut off the boundaries, but everyone knew—this was Advay's moment.

First ball – SIX!

Southee ran in, delivered a full ball on middle and leg, hoping to get a yorker. Advay stepped forward, got under it, and flicked it nonchalantly over deep square leg. The ball soared into the stands, disappearing into the Auckland night.

The Indian dugout was on its feet.

Harsha Bhogle: "Oh, what a shot! Flicked for SIX! This man is unreal!"

Second ball – SIX!

Southee, feeling the pressure, went for a slower bouncer. But Advay was ready. He waited on the back foot and pulled it flat and hard over deep midwicket.

The ball crashed into the advertising boards, and the Indian fans erupted in celebration.

Shaun Pollock: "Back-to-back sixes! Advay Rai is taking India home in style!"

Now, the equation was 6 needed off 4 balls. Southee wiped his face, clearly rattled. The New Zealand fielders were silent, sensing the inevitable.

Third ball – SIX! GAME OVER! HUNDRED UP!

Southee ran in, this time going full and straight at the stumps, but Advay stepped across, got underneath it, and launched it high over long-on!

Harsha Bhogle: "That's it! That's the game! That's the hundred! Advay Rai has done it in the grandest way possible!"

Ravi Shastri: "Remember the name! Advay Rai—100 off 52 balls! India wins in style!"*

"INDIA WINS BY 6 WICKETS!"

But in the middle of all the chaos, Advay remained unfazed.

He took a deep breath, then calmly put his bat down on the pitch.

With the entire stadium watching, he removed his gloves, then his helmet, setting them down beside his bat.

Then, as the cameras zoomed in, he looked straight into the lens… and shrugged.

No wild celebrations. No jumping around. Just the same cold, effortless shrug—as if he expected it all along.

Harsha Bhogle, laughing in disbelief: "Oh, there it is! The ice-cold shrug! This man doesn't just win matches, he owns moments!"

Shaun Pollock: "That's not confidence, that's inevitability. Advay Rai knew this was his night!"

The Indian dugout erupted in cheers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shaking their heads, smiling, while Chahal, already running onto the field, mimicked the shrug in celebration.

The Auckland crowd, whether Indian fans or Kiwi supporters, stood in appreciation of the sheer brilliance they had just witnessed.

Advay, finally cracking a small smirk, picked up his bat again and walked back toward his celebrating teammates, knowing he had just left another unforgettable mark on the game.

As the team bus made its way back to the hotel, most of the players were fast asleep, worn out after an intense game. Rohit was slumped against the window, Virat had his headphones in, and Chahal was snoring lightly in the back.

But Advay was still awake, sitting near the window, phone in hand, scrolling through the reactions to the match.

Social media was flooded with clips of his last-over heroics, the three consecutive sixes, and, of course, his signature shrug celebration.

One post had a screenshot of him placing his bat down, removing his gloves and helmet, and shrugging—captioned:

"Advay Rai isn't surprised. He's just letting the world catch up."

Another had a meme of New Zealand bowlers looking helpless, with the caption:

"Step 1: Get Advay Rai on strike. Step 2: Regret everything."

On Reddit, a thread was gaining traction:

"The match was over the moment he stayed at the crease. What a beast."

A comment under it read:

"The guy doesn't just win matches. He finishes them in style."

Advay smirked slightly, shaking his head at the madness. He had seen this before—after his IPL dominance, after his double century in Tests—but the reactions never got old.

His phone buzzed with a message. Ananya.

"Saw your match. Call me when you reach the hotel."

He exhaled, tossing his phone onto his lap, leaning back against his seat. The crowd's chants of his name still echoed in his mind.

After arriving at the team hotel, most of the players groggily made their way to their rooms, too exhausted to do anything else. Rohit barely mumbled a goodnight before disappearing, Virat just gave a nod, and Chahal was still half-asleep as he walked off.

Advay, however, wasn't tired. As soon as he entered his room, he took off his jacket, grabbed his phone, and dialed Ananya.

The phone rang twice before she picked up.

"Took you long enough," she said, her voice slightly teasing but warm.

Advay smirked. "Just got to the hotel. You watched the match?"

"Obviously," she scoffed. "Three sixes in a row? And that shrug again? You just love making people go crazy, don't you?"

He chuckled. "Not my fault they bowl in my slot."

She sighed dramatically. "Ugh, of course, it's not your fault. Meanwhile, poor New Zealand fans are probably still recovering from the trauma."

He leaned back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "It was a good game."

"For you, maybe," she teased. "For them? Not so much."

A pause. Then, in a softer tone, she added, "I'm proud of you, you know?"

Advay didn't respond immediately, but his smirk faded into something more genuine. "I know."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, just listening to each other breathe.

Then, Ananya's voice broke the silence. "Go sleep, superstar. You've got more matches to win."

He exhaled, closing his eyes. "Yeah. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Advay."

He ended the call, placed his phone on the side table, and finally let himself relax. The crowd's cheers, the flashing cameras, the tension of the final over—all of it faded away.

Before sleeping, Advay unlocked his phone again, scrolling through his gallery. As he flicked through the pictures from his UK trip, he stopped at one—

A selfie of him and Ananya on top of the London Eye.

He was sitting next to her, calm as ever, while Ananya was holding onto his arm, both of them smiling at the camera. The city skyline stretched out behind them, a perfect snapshot of that moment.

Without overthinking, he uploaded it to Instagram, captioning it simply:

"Good view. Great company."

After posting it, he set his phone aside, stretched his arms, and finally lay down on the bed. His eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion from the game finally catching up.

As he drifted off, the phone buzzed with notifications, but he didn't check.

Tomorrow would bring another day, another match, another moment. But for now, he slept—content, relaxed, and maybe, just a little happier than usual.

The onslaught continued as Advay and Shubman Gill showed no mercy to the New Zealand bowlers. The next ten overs became a spectacle of sheer dominance, with the Indian openers racing toward their centuries in stunning fashion.

Lockie Ferguson, returning for his second spell, charged in with a fiery 153 km/h delivery aimed at Advay's body. Advay simply swayed back and ramped it over the wicketkeeper for four!

Harsha Bhogle: "Oh, that's outrageous! A fast bowler steaming in at 150-plus, and Advay Rai just ramps him like it's nothing!"

Santner, desperate for a breakthrough, tried slowing it down, tossing one up outside off. But Advay took two quick steps forward and launched it over long-off—six more!

Shaun Pollock: "Advay Rai is just toying with the bowlers now! You can't keep him quiet!"

At the other end, Shubman Gill was matching him shot for shot. Southee pitched one short, and Gill swiveled onto the back foot, pulling it in front of square for a flat six.

Ravi Shastri: "Gill is making this debut one to remember! This is extraordinary hitting from the youngster!"

By the 15th over, India had rocketed to 203/0.

Advay was on 97 off 46 balls, one hit away from yet another century.

In the 16th over, Southee bowled a low full toss on leg stump. Advay picked it up beautifully, flicking it over deep square leg. The ball soared into the stands—a towering six!

Hundred up for Advay Rai!

The Indian fans erupted, and the dressing room stood up, applauding.

Advay, as usual, kept it simple. No wild celebrations. No jumping around. He simply raised his bat, acknowledging the cheers. But instead of taking it all in, he simply waited at the non-striker's end, his eyes fixed on Gill.

Two balls later, Gill danced down the track and hammered Santner inside-out over extra cover. The ball sailed over the ropes.

Shubman Gill, on debut, had scored his maiden T20I century!

The stadium roared again, and now, with both openers standing tall at the crease, Advay walked toward Gill, meeting him at the middle.

They looked at each other. No words. Just a smirk.

Then, in perfect sync, they both shrugged.

The cameras zoomed in, capturing the moment—two batters who had completely obliterated the opposition, standing in the middle of the pitch, shrugging as if it was inevitable.

Harsha Bhogle: "Oh, what a moment! These two are owning this game, and that shrug—this is what confidence looks like!"

The onslaught didn't stop. The final overs saw more fireworks—Advay smashing back-to-back fours off Ferguson through midwicket, Gill slicing a six over deep point.

By the end of 20 overs, India had posted a staggering 278/0!

Advay remained unbeaten on 128 off 58 balls, while Gill, in a dream debut, finished with 112 off 52 balls.

The New Zealand players walked off in stunned silence, while the Indian fans in the stadium were on their feet, chanting their names.

This was dominance. This was history.

Back at the team hotel, the players were relaxed, celebrating yet another dominant performance. Some were chatting in the lounge, others had already gone to their rooms, winding down after the match.

Advay, still in his team tracksuit, walked into his room, shut the door, and picked up his phone. Without thinking twice, he dialed Ananya.

She picked up after the first ring.

"You're really making this a habit now, huh?" she teased, her voice carrying the hint of a smile.

Advay smirked. "You're the one who told me to call after matches."

She sighed. "Fair. But seriously, 278 for zero? That's not a match, that's a massacre."

He chuckled. "Yeah, we batted well."

"Oh, 'batted well' he says," she scoffed. "You and Gill both got hundreds, shrugged at each other, and basically made New Zealand question their life choices."

Advay leaned back against the headboard, his smirk widening. "You liked the shrug, huh?"

She groaned. "The whole internet is talking about it! The clip is everywhere! You two looked like you just finished a casual net session!"

He exhaled, shaking his head. "It was a good moment."

A pause. Then, softer, she said, "I saw you smiling when Gill got his hundred. You looked… happy."

He didn't reply immediately. "He deserved it."

She smiled. "And you deserved yours. I'm proud of you, Advay."

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting her words settle. "I know."

As the conversation settled into a comfortable silence, Ananya hesitated for a second before softly saying, "I miss you."

Advay, still leaning back against the headboard, closed his eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in.

Without any hesitation, he responded in a low, steady voice, "I love you."

Ananya froze for a second, caught off guard. He had never said it so directly, so effortlessly.

She let out a small breath, a smile creeping onto her face. "I love you too."

Neither of them needed to say anything more. The moment hung between them, unspoken yet completely understood.

After a pause, she whispered, "Now go sleep, match-winner."

He smirked. "Goodnight, Ananya."

"Goodnight, Advay."

He ended the call, set his phone aside, and finally let his eyes close, a rare sense of peace washing over him.

As the Indian team geared up for the 3rd T20I against New Zealand in Hamilton on January 29, 2020, Advay wasn't there. He had been rested for the match, a strategic decision to manage his workload after two back-to-back centuries.

But while his teammates were preparing for cricket, Advay was handling business—big business.

He now sat in an exclusive conference room in Liverpool, high above the city, in a glass-walled office overlooking the River Mersey. Across from him were John W. Henry, Tom Werner, and Mike Gordon—the principal owners of Liverpool FC, alongside the club's CEO, Peter Moore.

The atmosphere was calm, yet weighty, as they discussed the final details of a deal that would shake the sports world.

John W. Henry leaned back in his chair, fingers clasped together, as he studied Advay with measured curiosity.

"You're about to make history, Mr. Rai," he said, his voice smooth yet serious. "The youngest owner of a Premier League club. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Advay, sitting back in his chair, completely unfazed, gave a slight smirk. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

Peter Moore chuckled, shaking his head. "That's quite an answer. But you do realize what you're stepping into, don't you? Football is a different beast compared to cricket or business. The fans, the culture, the expectations—it's not just about ownership, it's about legacy."

Advay nodded. "I know exactly what Liverpool means. It's not just a club, it's an institution. And I have no intention of changing that—only making sure it stays at the top where it belongs."

Tom Werner glanced at the papers in front of him before speaking. "You've moved fast with this. Most investors take months, even years, to get through due diligence. You've been at it for what—weeks?"

"I don't waste time," Advay replied simply, his tone calm. "I've done my research, I know the financials, I understand the sporting side of things. And most importantly, I know what this club means to its people. This isn't just another investment for me."

Mike Gordon, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "Then tell us, Advay—what's your vision for Liverpool?"

Advay looked at all of them, his eyes steady. "Sustained dominance. Financial stability without losing the club's identity. Smarter recruitment, better contract management, global expansion—without ever forgetting that Liverpool is built on its fans."

There was a brief silence. The men across the table exchanged glances.

Then, John W. Henry gave a small nod, a slight smile forming. "Well, you certainly don't lack conviction."

Peter Moore pushed a thick document toward him, along with a pen. "If you're sure, then let's make it official."

Advay reached forward, picked up the pen, and poised it over the signature line.

At that moment, he wasn't just a cricketer or a businessman. He was about to become a part of football history.