luck or hardwork?🎭

"Some mistakes get made

That's alright, that's okay"

_____________________________________________

It was a bright afternoon as the Indian team prepared for the ODI series opener against a strong opposition.

India had lost an early wicket. The team management decided to send Ishan in at number three—a perfect opportunity for him to anchor the innings and prove his worth yet again.

Hardik place his hands on ishan's shoulder .

Hardik : All the best ishu, we're here for you give your best.

*he said and pressed a kiss on his forhead*

Ishan gave a faint smile, taking a deep breath before walking onto the field.

Ishan played cautiously at first, focusing on building a partnership. Slowly his confidence grew as he found the gaps.

rotating the strike and smashing a couple of boundaries.

Ishan was in full flow. He drove, pulled, The dressing room erupted when he brought up his fifty with a sublime cover drive.

Rohit : *pats his shoulder* Kya shot tha, Ishu! Aaj toh pata nahi kya khaya hai tune

Virat : Class innings, Ishan! Bas yahi intent chahiye. Keep it going

Hardik : aise khelte raha toh mujhe chutti pe jana padega

shubman : ap log ka hogya ho toh main  bhi hug karlu

Rohit : karle bhai bina kare tujhe raha kaha jayega

It was shubman's comment that made  grin the most, and he playfully held out his arms,

Ishu : Aaja

he said.

shubman instantly wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

The locker room burst into laughter, teasing them as the two young players embraced.

Rohit : Chal ab nikal

Rohit said, shooing them off with a grin.

shubman chuckled, ruffling Ishan's hair before letting him go. He gave him a final clap on the back and said,

" aiese hi Khelna"

ishan : Haan haan, ab ja

he said, pushing shubman away with a laugh.

shubman grinned and made a show  letting go, backing away with his hands in surrender.

"Theek hai, theek hai," he teased.

"Jaa, pehle bat ko thama aur kisi ka dil bhi"

"Pagal"

After the post-match celebrations and media obligations, Ishan and Shubman finally retired to their shared room.

Shubman was sprawled on the bed, scrolling through memes, while Ishan sat by the window, lost in thought.

shubman : kya hua ishu? Kya soch raha hai?

shubman : ishu...ishu?

Ishan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Ishan : Bas… ek ajeeb pressure hai. Matlab, fifty maaro, phir bhi lagta hai ki kuch nahi badlega. Har match mein kuch prove karna padta hai. Kabhi kabhi sochta hoon ki yeh sab chhod doon.

shubman : yeh sab sochna normal hai. Pressure sab pe hota hai. Par tune jo kiya hai na aaj, woh proof hai ki tu deserve karta hai. Log kya bolte hain, uski tension mat le. Bas khud ko yaad dila ki tu kyun khelta hai.

Ishan nodded, though the doubt lingered in his eyes. Shubman noticed and leaned forward, giving him a light punch on the shoulder.

shubman : Chal, ab rona mat shuru kar de. Tu meri inspiration hai yaar, Ishu

Shubman teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Ishan smiles with a nod.

It was normal day of match series, around 5 am ishan wakes up, his slight were still burly.

He look beside found shubman sleeping peacefully, he don't disturb him and make his way to washroom.

He looks up in mirror, his eyes were red from crying... He stars at himself remembering the last night memories and ones again his eyes filled with tears

Last night..... The team had arrived in their new city late the previous evening, exhausted from yet another long flight

Ishan He had hoped that scrolling through his phone might distract him, but it ended up doing the opposite.

"Fluke player,"

"Doesn’t deserve a spot in the 11"

“Should stick to IPL,”

His hands tightened around the phone as he read on.

No matter how much he tried to brush it off, it gnawed at him.

Despite his back-to-back fifties in ODIs and IPL performances, here he was again benched.

He felt like a ghost, present but invisible, overshadowed by his teammates  glories.

Shubman entered the room

shubman : tujhe dinner ke liye bula rahe the sab, tu aaya kyu nahi?”

Ishan quickly swiped the screen on his phone to close the comments, and give forced tight smile.

Ishan : Kuch nahi, bhook nahi thi

shubman : Chal, kal breakfast mat miss karna. Teri tarah lightweights ko energy chahiye hoti hai

He excused himself and headed to the washroom.

Once inside, he locked the door and let out a shaky breath.

His chest felt heavy, and his reflection in the mirror seemed foreign. Tears welled up again, and this time, he couldn’t stop them....

Present Morning

Ishan splashed cold water onto his face, forcing himself to breathe deeply.

He stared at himself in the mirror again, as if trying to convince himself of something.

“Tu strong hai, Ishu. Bas ek aur din,”

He grabbed a towel, wiping his face before stepping out into the room. Shubman was still asleep

Shubman was one of the few people who understood him, though Ishan had been careful to hide the darker parts of his mind.

.........................................

The weeks turned into months as the Indian cricket team continued to travel across cities and countries.

playing matches in various formats. While the team celebrated victories and regrouped after losses.,

Ishan found himself in a recurring pattern.

Despite his strong performances in the IPL and ODIs, he was frequently benched in favor of other players.

The constant travel, combined with the lack of consistent opportunities, began to weigh on him.

Every day, Ishan put on a brave face, joking with his teammates, but the cracks beneath the surface grew deeper.

It was another intense practice session ahead of a series-deciding ODI.

Ishan worked harder than most, pushing himself to hit the ball cleaner, run faster, and prove his worth. Shubman, who had been observing him closely, walked over.

Shubman : ishu ek break lele

ishan : Nahi, bas soch raha hoon ki har din improvement hona chahiye. Warna… pata nahi

Shubman sensing the deeper meaning behind his words.

shubman : Ishu, tu bas apne game pe focus rakh. Baaki sab chhodo.

Ishan nodded but didn’t respond.

The weight of expectations— his own doubts— a battle he had to fight alone.

Day by day, it's getting harder and harder for ishan to bare.

He cheerful self who use to love traveling and talking...now smile rarely in a day.

His mental health was getting worse too. Everything was looking totally meaningless for him.

Just a normal human who wants to prove his worth.

Everything looks disappointing in his eyes.

And the day finally arrived.

The big match finally arrived. To everyone’s surprise, Ishan was included in the playing 11.

It was a rare opportunity, and he knew he couldn’t let it slip.

It was a match that would be remembered for decades—a day when Ishan Kishan reminded the world why he belonged on the biggest stage.

For Ishan, this match wasn’t just about the runs; it was about fighting the self-doubt that had crept into his mind over the past year.

shubman : kya hua ishu?

Ishan : dar lag raha hai

shubman : huh? Kyu?

Ishan : main kar bhi pauga ya nhi

Shubman : Tension mat le. Tera din hai aaj. Main guarantee deta hoon.

Ishan nods softly as shubman side hugged him.

India lost an early wicket, and Ishan was sent out to bat. As he walked onto the field his heartbeats get faster.

adjusted his gloves and took his stance, reminding himself to stay calm and play his natural game.

The first few overs were tricky.

The opposition bowlers tested him with swing and pace, and he responded perfectly, focusing on  building his confidence.

By the tenth over, Ishan began finding his rhythm.

As Ishan grew more confident, the boundaries came with ease.

A pull shot, a cover drive, and a delicate late cut—all hitten  perfectly

The crowd roared with every stroke.

In the dressing room, his teammates watched intently.

Virat : ishu century toh banti haii

Rohit : rukna mat, aaj tera din hai

Hardik : bhout seh liya bachhe neh

Shubman, standing near the boundary line, clapped after every boundary.

Shubman : Ishu! Shot khelte reh bas.”

When Ishan reached his hundred with a fierce pull shot to the boundary.

he raised his bat to the sky. The stadium get louder , and the players in the dressing room stood up, clapping and cheering.

Shubman yelled,

Shubman : Kya baat hai, ishu ,

mujhe laga tha century aayegi, par itni jaldi

Ishan acknowledged the gratitude with a smile, but he knew his job wasn’t done.

As the innings progressed, Ishan went into overdrive.

Every ball seemed like a scoring opportunity.

He danced down the track to spinners, smashed pacers over mid-off.

When he crossed 150, the dressing room was getting excited.

Virat leaned forward, clapping vigorously.

Virat : Yeh ladka legend ban raha hai aaj

Hardik, unable to sit still,

Hardik : Double century toh banta hai! Ishu, rukna mat

The moment finally came. On 199, Ishan glanced at the field, took a deep breath, and pulled a short delivery to the boundary.

He raised his arms in sky, his face lighting up with pure joy.

As Ishan walked back after his dismissal, the entire team stood at the boundary line, clapping him in.

Hardik hugged him tightly.

Virat Tujhe dekh ke lagta hai ki main batting karna chhod doon. Kya innings thi, ishu

Rohit : Ishu Aise hi khelte reh, aur duniya tere naam se darne lagegi.

Shubman : autograph sir

Ishan laughed for the first time in weeks, punching Shubman lightly on the arm.

Back in their hotel room, Shubman ordered a special dessert for Ishan, placing it on the table with a flourish.

Ishan : Yeh kya hai?

Ishan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shubman : Celebration cake. Double century ke baad toh treat banti hai Shubman said,

cutting a piece and handing it to him.

Ishan took a bite, smiling.

Ishan : Tu mera sabse bada fan hai, kya?

Shubman : fan? Aj main tera manager man jata hu

As the night went on, they shared stories, teased each other, and reveled in the joy of the moment. For Ishan.

it was more than just a milestone—it was a reminder of why he played the game.

The weeks after his double century were a blur of endless travel, endless practice sessions, and the unrelenting frustration of being constantly benched.

Ishan thought he had earned his place, but the harsh reality of cricket's  nature began to weigh on him.

It wasn’t just the cricketing world; it was the endless flights, long hours in airports, the hotel rooms that all looked the same, the constant pressure to perform.

and the haunting thought that no matter what he did, he would never be given a chance when it mattered.

Ishan could feel the exhaustion deep in his bones.

The early mornings, the back-to-back series, and the constant travel had taken a toll on him.

His body was worn out, but it wasn’t just physical fatigue that drained him—it was the mental toll of knowing that no matter how hard he tried.

he couldn’t secure a spot in the playing 11.

The same pattern repeated. Practice, travel, bench.

It felt like a cruel cycle.

Even when he was on the field, it felt like he was just going through the motions.

It was another flight—another long torture for him to the

Ishan sat in the aisle seat, staring out of the window.

His earbuds were in, but the music didn’t help block out the thoughts that were clouding his mind.

His hands were shaking and a headache had begun to form behind his eyes.

Shubman notice him, He knew something was wrong.

Without saying a word, he got up and quietly walked over to Ishan’s seat, sitting next to him.

Shubman : Ishu, kya hua? Shubman asked softly,

Ishan : kuch nhi sar Dard ho raha hai.

Shubman pats his shoulder allowing him to sleep on it.

Ishan, without saying anything place his head on it, he knew Shubman's presences can make him feel batter.

After the match, the team returned to the hotel.

Everyone was in high spirits after a good game, but Ishan excused himself early, claiming he was tired.

In truth, he wanted to be alone.

As the hours passed, Ishan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

His chest felt heavy, his mind a storm of doubts.

He thought about the endless travel, the pressure, the social media comments that still echoed in his mind.

“Maybe I’m not good enough.”

“Double century tha, bas ek lucky day.”

“Team ke liye main sirf backup hoon.”

His thoughts spiraled until his eyes burned with unshed tears.

He turned to his side, his back facing Shubman, who was scrolling through his phone on the other bed.

Ishan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the tears, but a quiet sob escaped him.

Shubman immediately looked up

Shubman : Ishu?

Shubman : ishu..ishu? Kya hua

Shubman set his phone aside and moved closer.

Shubman : Ishu, tu theek hai? Neend nahi aa rahi?

Ishan : Hmm… bas aise hi,

Shubman : Teri awaaz kyu crack ho rahi hai? Tu ro raha hai kya?

When Ishan didn’t answer, Shubman got out of bed and gently turned him over.

His heart broke at the sight of Ishan’s glossy, tear-filled eyes.

Shubman : Arre, kya hua, Ishu? Bata na

Shubman said softly, pulling Ishan into a hug.

Ishan resisted at first, his body stiff, but the warmth of Shubman’s hold broke down his defenses.

He clutched Shubman’s shirt tightly and sobbed uncontrollably.

Ishan : Bas… main thak gaya hoon, Shubhi. Har baar prove karna padta hai. Kitna aur? Kab tak? Mujhe lagta hai ki… ki shayad main deserve nahi karta,

Ishan choked out between sobs.

Shubman’s arms tightened around him.

Shubman : Ishu, aise baatein mat bol. Tu cricket kyu khelta hai? Dusre logon ke liye ya khud ke liye?

Ishan Pata nahi ab. Sab kuch meaningless lag raha hai

Ishan whispered.

Shubman cupped Ishan’s face, gently wiping away his tears.

Shubman : Dekho, Ishu. Cricket tera passion hai. Yeh duniya unfair ho sakti hai, par tu apne talent pe kabhi doubt mat kar. Tera jo double century tha, woh lucky nahi tha. Tera hard work tha.”

Ishan : Par kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki main bas… ek option hoon. Mujhe kabhi priority nahi milti

Shubman :  main itna samajhta hoon ki yeh sab unfair lagta hai. Par tu isse haar mat maane. Main hamesha tere saath hoon. Tujhe jab bhi lage ki sab kuch khatam ho raha hai, bas mujhe yaad kar.”

Ishan nodded, his tears slowing but still taking deep, shaky breaths

Shubman : chalo face wash karlo kal practice bhi hai nahh

Shubman guided Ishan to the bathroom and turned on the tap.

Shubman : Chal, apna face dho. Teri aankhein jal rahi hongi.

Ishan : Headache ho raha hai

Shubman : Rona bandh kar, phir headache thik ho jayega

He sat beside Ishan, massaging his forehead, temples, and scalp with gentle hands.

Shubman : Ab better lag raha hai?

Ishan : Hmm… thoda better

Shubman : Bas, ab aur tension nahi. Sirf rest kar. Kal naya din hoga

Shubman said softly, running his fingers through Ishan’s hair.

As Ishan’s breathing steadied, Shubman leaned down and kissed his forehead.

Shubman : Goodnight, Ishu. Aur kabhi itna stress mat lena.

Shubman continued rubbing Ishan’s back until he finally fall sleep.

That's it....

Thank you so much for

reading ;-)

Byee take care!!!!