5th January 2023.

Mumbai.

BCCI Office.

The Indian Captain, Rohit Sharma has just reached the BCCI Office for the selection of the team for the upcoming T20 series against South Africa. The ever-so-calm and composed Rohit has now a permanent frown on his face. For the last 2 years, he has only seen the downfall of the Indian Cricket Team. He has tried and experimented with everything he could but nothing was able to stabilize and bring back the old charm to the ICT. He has even gone as far as to experiment by removing old members and adding new ones but still got the same result. The Indian Team's ranking has seen a rapid decline from No.1 to No.5 in the last 2 years. The BCCI and The ICT have been bashed and trolled. The fans have not even left the kids of the ICT Members with their blame, trolls, and giving names. Rohit Sharma was seen as accountable and has been trolled severely along with his family. Many fans have still not left trolling Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma for the sudden break of the Star Cricketer but getting no reactions and having not seen them or their family members in India for the last 2 years they slowly died down. Just a few days after the announcement of Break by Virat Kohli a very similar announcement was made from the social media accounts of the Bollywood Actress and Producer Anushka Sharma. Ever since no one has seen anyone from Kohli or Sharma Family in India. It feels as if they have disappeared in thin air.

Rohit reached the meeting room and after the initial greetings. After the greetings, all the selectors along with Rohit Sharma, And BCCI President Saurav Ganguly settled down for the discussion. Before Rohit could start giving his opinions, one of the selectors cut him off and said.

Rajeev ( Selector ) - See Mr. Sharma we have agreed with all your suggestions and let you have the freedom for the last 2 years but still we can't see any results. With the upcoming World Cup, now it's high time we take matters into our hands.

Sumit ( Selector ) - Yes Mr. Sharma, we now need a stable team that can help us win the upcoming World Cup. We have had enough of your experiments and therefore we have already decided on the team. And you have no say in it.

Rohit - But Sir this is My Team, how can I as a Captain not have any say in it?

Saurav - I have been by your side throughout Rohit. But sorry to say even I can't help you with this we are under intense pressure. And whatever decisions we have taken it's only for the betterment of the team. We hope that this team will emerge as the Champions in the upcoming World Cup.

Saying so, he forwarded an envelope to Rohit and left along with other selectors. Rohit frustrated with the whole conversation didn't even open the list and left the BCCI Office. Reaching his home he sat on the sofa in the living room and threw his head back. Ritika came and settled beside him and passed him a glass of water. Once he had the water, he looked toward her to find her already staring at him.

Rohit - What?

Ritika - Oh, you don't get to use that tone on me, Mr. Sharma. Always make sure that you leave your Captain self outside my house before entering here.

Rohit's face palmed himself. How could he forget that a lot has changed in these 2 years, his relationship with Ritika being one of them? Ritika from the very beginning of Virat's Paternity Leave fiasco kept telling him to talk to Virat once without anger, ego, and arrogance but he didn't listen to her. After some time it became a reason for their disagreements. Rohit thought that Virat was being selfish leaving them in between for the birth of his child a month before the actual date while Ritika concluded that there was a bigger reason for it. These disagreements later on changed into fights after the sudden Break taken by Virat. Rohit along with other ICT Members believing the news reports had started blaming Anushka and their newly born kid for Virat's sudden decision to take a break while Ritika's gut feeling became stronger about missing something in the whole fiasco. Ever since both try to avoid talking about cricket or anything that would lead to a fight. However, this has become Ritika's reaction whenever she receives calls from any ICT Member. She has become formal with them and not only her he has even seen similar changes in all the WAGs of ICT including Sakshi. They are their original selves with each other ( WAGs ) while have become completely formal with the members of the ICT.

Rohit - Who?

Ritika - Oh that I need to tell you to never keep your phone silent. My phone has been ringing constantly for the last 30 mins. from the calls of your team members. Kindly call them and let me live in peace.

Rohit took out his phone and saw missed calls from all the ICT Members including Mahi bhai, Yuvi Pa, and Sach Pa.

He called Mahi Bhai first.

Rohit - Hello Mahi Bhai.

Mahi bhai - Ro, what is this? Do you know about it?

Rohit ( confused ) - About what Bhai??

Mahi bhai - Didn't you go to the meeting at the BCCI Office?

Rohit - Gaya tha bhai. Par is baari wo log meri koi baat sunne ko taiyaar hi nahi hai. Unhone already team select kar li hai aur mujhe Ek list de di hai, I do not have any say in the team selection. I was so frustrated that I haven't even seen the list yet. Kyu kya hua?

Rohit asked as he put the call on speaker and opened the list to have a look at the Team.

Mahi bhai - Ro Vi-virat is back. He is making a comeback.

Mahi bhai said it at the same time as his eyes found Virat's name on the list.

Rohit - What??

Rohit looked at the list in disbelief.

January 2023.

Team of the T20 series against South Africa.

Venue - London.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni ( Head Coach )

Rohit Sharma ( Captain )

KL Rahul ( Vice-Captain )

Rishabh Pant ( Wicket-keeper)

Virat Kohli

Shubman Gill

Ajinkya Rahane

Shreyas Iyer

Hardik Pandya

Ravindra Jadeja

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

Jasprit Bumrah

Yuzvendra Chahal

Kuldeep Yadav

Manish Pandey

Mayank Agarwal

Mahi bhai was still confused about the whole ordeal while Ritika looked relieved that she could finally meet her bestie Nush..and friend cum Brother Vi along with their cute little munchkin.

Thanks for Reading.

Love.

Niharika.