*Mumbai, India — October 2015*
The air in Mumbai was crisp with anticipation. At the Wankhede Stadium, the crowd trickled in with quiet reverence. This wasn't an international fixture or a celebrity-laden IPL clash. This was the start of the Ranji Trophy — India's grand theatre of domestic cricket — and for Ishaan Verma, it was the stage of destiny.
At just 16, Ishaan had carved a name for himself in U-19 cricket. But this was different. First-class cricket demanded temperament, technique, and unflinching grit. And today, he would open for **Mumbai** in their first Ranji Trophy match of the 2015 season — against the formidable **Karnataka** side.
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### Baptism by Fire
Inside the Mumbai dressing room, padded and helmeted, Ishaan sat silently as Coach Muralidharan briefed the team. Prithvi Sawant, the experienced captain, clapped him on the back. "Nervous?"
"A little," Ishaan admitted.
"Good. Nerves mean you care. Now go turn that into something they won't forget."
Mumbai won the toss and chose to bat first.
As Ishaan walked onto the field, helmet under arm, he looked up at the empty upper stands. He imagined his father seated up there, silently watching, just as he always used to at Shivaji Park.
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### The Innings of Arrival
Karnataka's seamers began with hostility. The first few overs were all about survival — Ishaan ducked under bouncers, left deliveries that seamed late, and was beaten a few times. But he didn't flinch.
With every over, his confidence grew. He began to find gaps — a straight drive here, a flick through midwicket there. By lunch, Ishaan was on 48\*, Mumbai at 91/1.
After lunch, the real transformation began.
He drove with elegance, cut with precision, and rotated strike masterfully. Every now and then, a boundary — not forced, but coaxed gently from the field.
His fifty came with a punch through extra cover.
Then, he batted on. And on.
The partnership with Prithvi soared past 150. He reached his century in the 62nd over — a sharp single to cover. Helmet off. Bat raised. Eyes skyward.
But he wasn't done.
Karnataka's spinners tried everything. The seamers returned with the second new ball. Ishaan adjusted, grinding through spells of reverse swing, occasional cramps, and chirping fielders.
His 150 came with a reverse sweep, met with a stunned silence from the opposition.
Then came his double century — a wristy on-drive off Mithun. 200 off 307 balls.
The crowd stood.
He didn't smile, only closed his eyes, raised his arms, and whispered, "For you, Dada."
He eventually fell for **218** — bowled while attempting to loft the spinner for a six.
Mumbai posted **552/6 declared**.
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### Bowling, Defense, and Destiny
Mumbai's bowlers — Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and the young left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey — dismissed Karnataka cheaply for 228. Asked to follow-on, Karnataka showed resistance.
But on Day 4, under a cloud-covered sky, Dubey picked five, and Mumbai won by an innings and 41 runs.
It was Ishaan's match.
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### The Moment
At the post-match presentation, Ishaan was named **Player of the Match**.
A journalist asked, "Double century on debut — how do you feel?"
Ishaan replied, "This is just the start. I'm building something bigger."
The press went wild. Headlines read:
**"Ishaan Verma — The Prodigy Becomes a Professional"**
Coach Muralidharan told him, "You didn't just make your debut. You made a statement."
Rudra messaged: *"Dude. I watched every ball. You play like you've been here ten years."*
Even Emma Watson had followed him on Instagram.
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### The Ranji Crown
Over the next two months, Ishaan kept delivering — centuries, gritty fifties, sharp fielding.
Mumbai cruised through the group stage. Ishaan ended as the leading run-scorer — 892 runs in the season.
In the **Ranji Trophy Final**, held in Indore, he scored 97 in the first innings and 64 in the second. Mumbai defeated Saurashtra by 121 runs to lift their **42nd Ranji Trophy title**.
In the victory ceremony, Prithvi handed him the trophy to lift first. "You earned this, kid."
As the confetti burst over the players, Ishaan stood on the podium, holding the trophy high.
He wasn't a prodigy anymore.
He was a champion.
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That night, back home, Meera made shrikhand.
He opened his father's letter again.
*"When you win your first trophy, don't forget to look around. See who stood by you. And never forget what it cost."*
He looked up. Meera was watching him from the kitchen.
"Thank you," he said.
She smiled, eyes full.
(Note: After this chapter our MC will make his debut in ipl followed by his international t20I, odi and then test debut)