*Bengaluru, India — February 2016*
The ITC Gardenia Hotel in Bengaluru hummed with controlled chaos. Journalists whispered into recorders. Franchise owners leaned in over laptops. And in the middle of it all, a massive LED screen lit up the names and faces of dreams being auctioned off to the highest bidder.
In Mumbai, far from the flashbulbs and paddles, Ishaan Verma sat in a modest living room. The TV flickered with the auction feed. Next to him, Meera Verma folded laundry in silence, but her eyes were fixed on the screen.
"Coming up next," the auctioneer's voice boomed, "a promising young top-order batsman who recently scored a double century on his Ranji Trophy debut — Ishaan Verma. Base price: 20 lakhs."
The silence was deafening.
"Twenty lakhs — Mumbai Indians."
"Twenty-five — Royal Challengers Bangalore."
"Thirty — Chennai Super Kings."
"Forty — RCB again."
The bids rose like the heartbeat in Ishaan's chest. Meera stopped folding laundry, clutching the edge of the sofa.
"Eighty-five lakhs to Mumbai."
A pause. A long one.
"Ninety lakhs — RCB. Any more bids? Going once… twice… sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore!"
Ishaan leaned back, stunned.
"RCB," he murmured. "I'm going to play with Kohli."
---
### Welcome to Chinnaswamy
Two weeks later, the southern sun glared off the red seats of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ishaan stepped through the gates with a kit bag over his shoulder and butterflies in his gut.
He paused at the dressing room door. The nameplate read: *Royal Challengers Bangalore*.
Inside, music played. Laughter echoed.
Chris Gayle lounged with sunglasses on.
AB de Villiers tied his shoelaces.
Shane Watson adjusted his wristbands.
And at the center — Virat Kohli, all intensity and swagger.
Kohli looked up. Walked over.
"So you're the Mumbai kid who tore Delhi apart?"
"Yes… I mean… yeah," Ishaan stammered.
"Don't call me sir," Kohli said, smiling. "Just don't mess up the playlist."
The room erupted in laughter.
---
### Net Session: Baptism by Fire
The net session was brutal. The sun baked the pitch till it steamed.
Varun Aaron pounded in, testing him with sharp bouncers.
Adam Milne bowled toe-crushing yorkers.
Karthik Naidu, a leggie with a devilish googly, spun it past his edge more than once.
"Eyes on the ball, Ishaan!" yelled coach Daniel Vettori.
But slowly, rhythm came.
**\[Commentary Style]**
**Net Cam — Coach's Microphone:**
Vettori: "That's better, kid. Compact. Watch your head!"
**Stump Mic:**
Milne (after a yorker): "How'd that one taste, rookie?"
Ishaan (grinning): "Ask your wicket next time."
**Team Dugout — Whispered:**
AB: "He's got something. Doesn't flinch. Doesn't freeze."
When Ishaan drove one past cover with crisp timing, even Gayle muttered, "That'll do."
---
April arrived quickly.
Match 1: RCB vs Srh
Ishaan wasn't in the starting eleven.
But he warned up, fielded with intensity and listened.
Match 2. Then 3. He ran drinks, gave throwdowns, sat next to coaches.
Kohli offered fielding tips. AB shared mental routine. But still, no cap.
Then, in Match 4, RCB lost a tight chase. Their middle order crumbled under pressure. Post match, coach vettori called a huddle.
"We need calm heads. Kohli, de villiers, Watson... But we need fresh legs too. Someone who reads spin well, someone who's not afraid."
He looked at Ishaan.
"Ready kid? You're debuting next game. At Eden Gardens."
-----
### Match Day: Eden Gardens
*April 2016 — RCB vs KKR — Kolkata*
The cauldron roared. Over 60,000 fans chanted, waved flags, and painted the evening with color. Eden Gardens pulsed with life.
RCB Playing XI:
1. Chris Gayle
2. Virat Kohli (C)
3. AB de Villiers
4. Shane Watson
5. Sarfaraz Khan
6. Ishaan Verma (Debut)
7. Kedar Jadhav (WK)
8. Stuart Binny
9. Adam Milne
10. Yuzvendra Chahal
11. Sreenath Aravind
Batting first, RCB began with a blaze. Kohli and Gayle raced to 60 in 6 overs. Then AB departed. Then Watson. Then Sarfaraz.
102/4. 12 overs gone.
Coach Vettori turned. "You're in, Ishaan."
**\[Live Commentary Begins]**
**Commentator 1 (Harsha Bhogle):** "And here comes young Ishaan Verma. Just 18. Debut match. Big stage. Bigger pressure."
**Commentator 2 (Sanjay Manjrekar):** "This lad made waves in Ranji, Harsha. But this… this is Eden. And Narine is bowling."
**Ball 1 — Narine to Ishaan.**
Quicker one. Ishaan defends. Solid.
**Ball 2.**
Wider. Cut late — FOUR through point!
**Stump Mic:**
Jadhav: "Shot! You've arrived!"
**Ball 3.**
Darted in. Soft hands, single.
One ball at a time, he grew.
Shakib floated one. Ishaan danced down — SIX over long-on.
Andre Russell charged in. Ishaan flicked him behind square — FOUR.
19 balls. 50 runs.
**Commentator 1:** "What a statement! Ishaan Verma — you beauty!"
**Crowd:** "RCB! RCB!"
He eventually fell — 53 off 21 balls — trying to loft Narine again.
Applause from the dugout. Kohli clapped, smiling wide.
RCB made 192/7. KKR fell short by 14 runs.
---
### Aftermath
Back in the dressing room, the celebration was subdued but proud.
AB de Villiers walked over. "That wasn't a debut, Ishaan. That was a storm."
**Commentator Recap:**
"A 19-ball fifty on IPL debut. Eden Gardens won't forget this night."
Next morning's headlines:
**"Verma's Arrival: The Lion Cub Roars"**
At breakfast, Ishaan called home.
"Ma, I did it. Nineteen balls."
Meera didn't speak immediately.
"Your Dada would've danced," she finally said.
Ishaan looked out at the Kolkata skyline. The weight of the jersey settled on him. He took a deep breath.
*One game down. One dream alive.*