Chapter 90 :

Back in his hotel room, Advay had just sat down when his phone buzzed with a video call from his sister, Aditi. He answered it, expecting casual banter, but instead, the entire screen was filled with familiar faces.

His whole family was there—his parents, Arjun Rai and Alina Rai, Aditi, some relatives—along with Ananya and her parents, Bhavana Pandey and Chunky Pandey, all gathered in one place.

"Oh boy," Advay muttered, leaning back. "What's going on? This looks serious."

Aditi smirked. "Bhai, we're planning a wedding. Your wedding. So obviously, it's serious."

Alina Rai nodded. "We need to finalize the venue, guest list, food, and décor. And since you're always busy breaking records, we decided to call you instead of waiting for you to come back."

Bhavana Pandey smiled. "We figured it would be easier this way."

Advay ran a hand through his hair, smirking. "So, I don't even get to make these decisions in my own wedding?"

Ananya, sitting next to Aditi, rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh please, we all know you'll just say, 'Do whatever you want, I'll just show up.'"

The family laughed, while Advay shrugged. "Well… she's not wrong."

Arjun Rai cleared his throat. "Still, at least pretend to be involved. We've shortlisted some options for the venue. We'll run them by you."

Advay sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, let's do this."

The discussion officially began, with the families excitedly throwing out ideas while Advay listened, a small smile playing on his lips. It was happening.

The discussion quickly picked up pace as the families started talking about the venue.

"Alright, we've narrowed down a few locations," Arjun Rai said, looking at a list. "Since this isn't going to be an ordinary wedding, we need a place that fits the scale."

Chunky Pandey chuckled. "Ordinary? Arjun, your family owns Rai Groups, Advay owns Swiggy and Liverpool FC, and my daughter is a Bollywood actress. This wedding is already the biggest event of the year!"

Bhavana Pandey nodded. "The media will be all over it. We need a venue that's grand but also private enough to keep things under control."

Alina Rai smiled. "We were thinking about a destination wedding. A palace in Rajasthan, a luxury resort in Europe, or maybe somewhere completely unexpected."

Aditi grinned. "I vote for Europe. Imagine an Italian villa, or maybe a castle in France!"

Ananya looked at Advay through the screen. "What do you think?"

Advay leaned back, smirking. "Honestly? I'm good with anything, as long as you're there."

Aditi and Bhavana groaned, while Chunky clapped his hands. "Arre wah, hero! You're already in full Bollywood mode."

The room erupted in laughter as Ananya playfully rolled her eyes. "Okay, Mr. Romantic. But we do need to decide."

The conversation moved on to the guest list.

"Obviously, all our close friends and family will be there," Alina said. "But this isn't just any wedding—it's bound to have high-profile guests."

Chunky nodded. "The biggest business tycoons, Bollywood celebrities, cricketers… This is going to be massive."

Bhavana smiled. "We'll need to invite your Liverpool FC team as well, Advay."

Advay chuckled. "Yeah, I think they'll be disappointed if I don't."

Aditi added, "And since bhai is a billionaire, we should expect some big names from the corporate world too. Probably some of the richest people in the world."

Ananya's eyes widened. "This is sounding less like a wedding and more like a global summit!"

They all laughed before moving on to food.

"It has to be a mix of everything," Bhavana said. "Traditional Indian dishes, gourmet international cuisine—something for everyone."

Chunky grinned. "Just make sure there's a huge dessert section. I don't care about anything else."

Aditi laughed. "I second that!"

After over an hour of discussion, they had a rough idea of what they wanted. The venue would be grand, the guest list filled with VIPs, and the food a mix of Indian and international delicacies.

Alina finally smiled. "Alright, we'll finalize the details soon. Advay, make sure you're available for the final decisions."

Advay smirked. "I'll try. You know, cricket and all."

Ananya shook her head, smiling. "You better be available, or I'm making all the decisions myself."

Advay chuckled. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Advay stretched his arms, leaning back against the pillows. "Alright, listen. You guys can pick the exact location in France, and for the food, just go with whatever Ananya likes."

Ananya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, you're just handing over all the decisions to me?"

Advay smirked sleepily. "I trust your choices… and I'm exhausted. I just played a match, took wickets, and now I've sat through a full wedding planning session. I need sleep."

Aditi smirked. "You make it sound like we made you run another marathon, Advay."

Bhavana smiled. "Alright, we'll take care of the details. You get some rest."

Chunky laughed. "Sleep well, beta. Your wedding will be perfect—whether you decide anything or not!"

Ananya rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine, I'll handle it. But no complaints later!"

Advay grinned. "No complaints. Just wake me up when it's time to say 'I do'."

The family laughed, and with that, Advay ended the call, tossed his phone aside, and finally closed his eyes, letting sleep take over.

On December 8, 2020, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The stadium was packed, with over 90,000 fans creating a roaring mix of Indian and Australian chants. The Indian supporters, draped in blue, waved flags and sang loudly, making the MCG feel like a home ground.

As the captains walked out for the toss, the anticipation was palpable. Virat Kohli flipped the coin, Finch called it… and lost.

"We'll bowl first," Kohli announced, a confident smirk on his face.

Harsha Bhogle (commentary): "India wants to chase! With the way they've been playing, it's no surprise. But the bigger question is—can Australia even put up a fight today?"

Ricky Ponting: "They need a big total, or else this could get ugly fast."

The Australian openers, Aaron Finch and David Warner, strode out, determined to put up a fight. Bumrah had the new ball, and the crowd roared as he charged in for the first delivery.

First ball—full, swinging in at 146 km/h. Finch tried to flick it but got pinned on the pads! A huge appeal! Given out!

LBW! Australia 0/1!

The MCG erupted, and Finch shook his head, reviewing it in desperation. But ball tracking showed three reds—he had to walk back.

Harsha Bhogle: "Oh dear! First ball, and Aaron Finch is already gone! This is the worst possible start for Australia!"

Warner, now under pressure, counter-attacked, smashing Shardul Thakur for back-to-back boundaries in the 3rd over.

By the 5th over, Australia had recovered to 45/1, with Warner leading the charge.

Then came Advay Rai, brought into the attack in the 6th over, and the entire stadium buzzed with excitement.

First ball—a beautifully flighted off-break. Warner stepped out, looking to launch it over long-on. But the ball dipped viciously, turned past his bat, and Pant whipped off the bails in a flash!

STUMPED! WARNER GONE FOR 33!

Advay pumped his fist, while Warner stood there in disbelief.

By the 10th over, Australia was at 84/3, struggling to build momentum.

Advay struck again in the 12th over!

A quick, skidding off-break to Steve Smith, who tried to cut it but only managed an edge straight to Pant!

OUT! Smith walked back for 26!

Harsha Bhogle: "Advay Rai is weaving his magic again! This is absolute carnage!"

The Australian middle order collapsed under pressure.

In the 14th over, Advay bowled a quicker one to Maxwell, who tried to reverse sweep but completely missed!

BOWLED HIM! Maxwell OUT for 12!

The Indian players surrounded Advay in celebration, the crowd going wild.

By the 16th over, Australia had stumbled to 139/5.

Advay wasn't done. In his final over, the 18th, he delivered the killer blows.

First ball—a deceptive arm ball to Labuschagne. The batter tried to sweep but was trapped plumb in front!

LBW! LABUSCHAGNE OUT!

Next ball—a tossed-up beauty to Cummins. The ball gripped, turned away, took the edge, and flew to Kohli at slip!

GONE! Two in two!

The crowd went insane, chanting Advay's name as he stood there calmly, his job done.

Harsha Bhogle: "Six wickets in a T20I. Are we even surprised anymore? Advay Rai is on another level!"

Australia crawled to 176/9 by the end of 20 overs, a total that looked far too small against this dominant Indian team.

As the Indian openers, Advay Rai and Rohit Sharma, walked out to chase 176, the MCG crowd was electric, with Indian fans chanting Advay's name louder than ever.

Mitchell Starc ran in for the first delivery—a full, swinging yorker at 149 km/h.

Advay casually flicked it off his pads, sending it racing to the boundary. Four runs to start!

The next over, Josh Hazlewood pitched it short, and Advay rocked back and pulled it flat into the stands at deep midwicket!

Harsha Bhogle: "Oh my goodness! That's gone like a tracer bullet! This man is unstoppable!"

By the 5th over, India had already reached 65/0.

Advay brought up his fifty off just 21 balls, playing with complete domination.

Rohit played the anchor role, rotating strike, and smashing occasional boundaries.

By the 10th over, India was cruising at 110/0, and the result was all but certain.

Advay continued his onslaught, smacking Zampa for two consecutive sixes over long-off in the 12th over, closing in on another century.

In the 15th over, needing just five runs for his hundred, Advay stepped forward and lofted Cummins inside-out over extra cover for four!

99 off 45 balls.*

The very next ball, a quick single to mid-off, and there it was—ANOTHER HUNDRED!

Advay removed his helmet, raised his bat, and gave his signature shrug towards the camera as the crowd roared his name.

By the 16th over, India had chased down 176 with ease, winning by 9 wickets.

Advay remained unbeaten on 104 off 48 balls*, another masterclass in T20 batting, sealing the series 3-0 for India in absolute domination.

At the post-match presentation, Ravi Shastri stood at the center, microphone in hand, as the crowd buzzed with excitement.

"And the Man of the Match award goes to... no surprises here—Advay Rai for his outstanding 6-wicket haul and a breathtaking 104 off 48 balls!"*

The Indian fans erupted, chanting his name, as Advay walked up, shaking hands with Ravi Shastri before taking the mic.

Ravi Shastri, grinning: "Advay, another hundred, six wickets, and a 3-0 series win. Is there anything you can't do?"

Advay chuckled, adjusting his cap. "Yeah, I still can't sing. So, I guess that's something."

The crowd laughed, and Ravi Shastri smirked.

"You've made it look so easy again tonight. Was there any pressure chasing 176?"

Advay shook his head. "Not really. It was a good wicket, the target wasn't too big, and once we got a strong start, it was just about finishing it off."

"Six wickets as well. Was it part of the plan, or did you just decide to ruin Australia's night completely?"

Advay grinned. "I just bowled normally, stuck to my strengths, and let the pitch do the work. The wickets just kept coming."

Ravi nodded, then smirked. "That shrug celebration after your hundred—it's becoming iconic. What's the story behind it?"

Advay smirked slightly. "Nothing much. Just means... what did you expect?"

The crowd roared, loving every second of it.

Ravi Shastri, laughing: "Fair enough! One last thing, you've dominated this T20I series—what's next for Advay Rai?"

Advay tilted his head slightly, smirking. "The Test series."

The crowd erupted again, as Ravi Shastri laughed and shook his hand.

"Well, we can't wait to see what you do next. Congratulations, Advay, on another phenomenal performance!"

Back in his hotel room, Advay lay on his bed, scrolling through Twitter and Instagram, watching the world react to yet another dominant performance.

@CricFever: "Advay Rai just took 6 wickets AND smashed a century in the same match. At this point, he might as well open the bowling, keep wickets, and captain the team too."

One meme showed an Australian bowler staring helplessly, with the caption:

"Captain: 'Have you figured out how to stop Advay Rai?' Bowler: 'Sir, I am tired.'"

Another edit had Advay shrugging after his hundred, photoshopped onto a superhero poster, with the text:

"Advay Rai – the final boss of cricket."

His Instagram was just as chaotic.

Rishabh Pant: "Bhai, please tell us—are you a cricketing cheat code?" 😂

Virat Kohli: "Bro, take a break, let us score some runs too." 💀

Even international players joined in.

Jofra Archer: "Mate, save some records for the rest of us!"

Trent Boult: "Requesting ICC to introduce a 'No Advay Rai' rule in T20s."

He chuckled, shaking his head, enjoying the madness. The world was still trying to figure out how to stop him.

Just as Advay was about to set his phone down, a video call popped up—Aditi. He sighed, already knowing what this was about, and picked up the call.

The moment the screen loaded, he was greeted by a full house.

Aditi, Arjun Rai, Alina Rai, Chunky Pandey, Bhavana Pandey, Ananya, and some relatives were all sitting together, clearly excited.

"You guys again?" Advay smirked, leaning back. "Didn't we just do this yesterday?"

Aditi rolled her eyes. "Yes, but we made all the final decisions now, so listen up."

His mother, Alina, smiled. "We've booked a private château in France for the wedding. It's beautiful, exclusive, and perfect for the guest list we have."

Bhavana nodded. "Speaking of guests, we've locked it in—family, Bollywood celebrities, your RCB and Indian team teammates, the Liverpool squad, and some influential people from the business world."

Chunky grinned. "Basically, a guest list that looks like a Forbes and Filmfare crossover event."

Advay chuckled. "Yeah, sounds like it."

Aditi continued. "For food, we're doing a mix—traditional Indian cuisine, gourmet French dishes, and a whole spread of international flavors. And yes, there's an entire dessert section, before Chunky uncle asks again."

Chunky pretended to wipe a tear. "Finally, someone understands me."

Ananya rolled her eyes playfully before turning to Advay. "And before you ask, yes, I made sure all your favorite dishes are included."

Advay smirked. "Good. Otherwise, I'd have had to rethink this wedding."

Aditi laughed. "Too late, you're locked in."

Advay shook his head, amused. "Fine, fine. Looks like you guys planned everything without me anyway."

His father, Arjun, smiled. "We just wanted to update you. You focus on the Test series—we've got this handled."

Ananya leaned closer to the camera. "But you better be there for the final fittings and rehearsals, Mr. Cricket Superstar."

Advay grinned. "Yes, ma'am. Wouldn't miss it."

The family laughed, the excitement clear in their voices, before ending the call.

Advay set his phone down, staring at the ceiling for a moment. This was really happening. Test series first… then his wedding.

On December 9, 2020, the Indian team gathered for dinner at a luxurious restaurant in Melbourne, celebrating their dominant performances in the ODI and T20I series against Australia. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter, banter, and the occasional clinking of glasses as the players relaxed before shifting their focus to the Test series.

Rohit Sharma leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. "Man, what a tour so far. We've completely bossed them in white-ball cricket."

KL Rahul smirked. "Bhai, after 252 in a T20 game, I don't think they'll ever recover."

Virat Kohli chuckled, looking at Advay. "You've given them PTSD. I swear, they might start preparing special anti-Advay bowling plans after this."

Advay, who was casually sipping his drink, shrugged. "What did they expect?"

The table erupted in laughter, the team now fully embracing Advay's iconic celebration as a catchphrase.

Chahal grinned. "Arre, forget the T20s, even in the ODIs, it was complete destruction! We won the first match by 156 runs, the second by 6 wickets, and the third comfortably as well. A clean sweep!"

Shami nodded, smiling. "And all three matches, we barely even let them breathe."

Shardul Thakur shook his head. "Bhai, Australia ki halat dekh ke lag raha hai ki ab hum Test series bhi easily jeet lenge." (Looking at Australia's condition, it feels like we'll win the Test series easily too.)

Ravi Ashwin leaned forward, smirking. "Test cricket is different, Shardul. They'll come at us hard."

Rishabh Pant laughed. "Bhai, humse zyada hard kaise aayenge? Humne inke T20 bowlers ko retire karwane ki naubat la di hai." (How much harder can they come at us? We've nearly forced their T20 bowlers into retirement!)

Everyone burst out laughing, while Bumrah grinned. "Don't jinx it, Pant. Let's take them seriously in the Tests."

Rohit looked around and smirked. "Bhai, bas ek sawal hai. Advay, tu Test series me bhi wahi karne wala hai jo T20 aur ODI me kiya?" (Advay, are you going to do the same thing in the Test series that you did in ODIs and T20s?)

Advay smirked slightly, leaning back. "Mujhe nahi pata… par agar ball mere zone me aayi toh…" (I don't know… but if the ball comes into my zone…)

The team roared with laughter, while Kohli shook his head. "Yeh banda kuch aur hi level ka hai." (This guy is just on another level.)

As the laughter settled, Advay stood up, tapping his glass lightly to get everyone's attention. The players looked up, curious.

"Alright, listen up," he began, smirking. "You guys already know my wedding date—March 15, 2021."

There was a brief pause before the room erupted with cheers and whistles.

"Oye, shaadi ka invitation finally aa raha hai!" (Finally, the wedding invitation is coming!) Chahal grinned.

Advay chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, and now I'm telling you the place—it's happening at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a private château in France."

Some of the players whistled, others looked impressed.

KL Rahul smirked. "Bhai, you didn't just pick a venue, you picked a castle!"

Rohit laughed. "Of course, billionaire style. Anything less would've been shocking."

Kohli grinned. "So, this means the entire team is invited, right?"

Advay nodded. "Obviously. All of you have to come. No excuses."

Pant leaned forward. "Bhai, will there be food at this level too?"

Advay smirked. "Pant, the food alone will be better than anything you've ever had in your life."

The room burst into laughter, while Bumrah shook his head. "Bas Pant ko khane ka confirmation mil gaya, ab yeh sabse pehle pahuchega." (Now that Pant has confirmed the food, he'll be the first one to reach.)

The team cheered, raising their glasses, as the excitement grew for what was going to be an unforgettable wedding.