Cricket Stories™

Third year of college. Annual fest. Us versus the professors. Honestly? We weren't worried. We'd put up 160+ in 15 overs and spent the innings break absolutely convinced this was going to be a stroll. They were professors. We were young, fit and hungry. Simple math. Except nobody told that one professor. He walked in and just... didn't move. While wickets fell around him he stood there like he'd done this a thousand times. Calm, measured, infuriatingly composed. I'd taken two wickets in the powerplay and thought I was having a good day. He made me feel ordinary. Suddenly 160 didn't look so big. 13th over. 22 runs needed off 2 overs. I was up to bowl the penultimate one. I had the ball. I was ready. That's when my friend came sprinting from long on like the ground was on fire. He grabbed my arm, completely out of breath, and whispered four words. "Your crush is watching." I didn't even think. I just turned, found her in the stands, and every sensible thought I had evaporated. I did what any logical 21-year-old would do — I gave the over to a junior, stepped back, and silently prayed he'd be expensive so I could ride in and save the day. He gave away 14. Bless him. Eight needed off the last over. Ball back in my hand. I ran in harder than I had all day. The professor who had been unshakeable all afternoon finally got one he couldn't handle. We won. Then — as I'm standing there trying to look calm — my classmate on the mic announced to the entire ground that Kalyan had bowled that over with extra fuel because someone special was watching. Half the crowd turned to look at the stands. The professor walked over first. Shook my hand. "You were the game changer today." I said thank you. Then I turned toward the stands. She was still there. Still watching. Clapping. Some matches you win with skill. Some with tactics. That one I won with a crush watching from the stands. And honestly? That's my favourite kind.