Raju sat cross-legged on the edge of his bed, the ceiling fan above him spinning with a dull hum. His phone screen glowed in the dim room, showing the lineup for tonight’s IPL match: India vs. England. But this wasn’t just another game for him—it was the last straw.
At sixteen, Raju was like any other cricket-crazy boy in Hyderabad. His walls were plastered with posters of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. He could recite match stats like poetry and mimic bowling actions with uncanny precision. But lately, his obsession had taken a darker turn.
He had discovered a fantasy cricket app called CrickChamp, where users could create virtual teams and win money based on real match performances. It started innocently—₹50 here, ₹100 there. But soon, he was pouring all his pocket money into it, chasing wins that never came. He scrapped more than ₹4,00,000 amount.
Now, he was down to his last ₹500.
And worse—he hadn’t told his parents. They thought he was saving for a new cricket bat. The guilt gnawed at him like termites in wood. He had even considered ending it all. But tonight, he decided to give it one final shot.
“If I win,” he whispered, staring at the small idol of Lord Ganesha on his desk, “I swear I’ll never gamble again.”
Raju wasn’t reckless by nature. He was methodical, analytical, and cautious—traits inherited from his father, a lab technician who had taught him to measure twice and act once. But life had cornered him. His mother’s tailoring business was failing, their rent overdue, and the coaching institute he dreamed of joining had just raised its fees.
He chose his eleven carefully:
Captain: Virat Kohli – the master chaser.
Vice-Captain: Ben Stokes – England’s fiery all-rounder.
Other picks included Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah.
He stared at the screen for a long moment before hitting “Submit.” His heart thudded like a drumline. This was it.
The match began with England batting first. The crowd roared as Buttler and Bairstow walked to the crease. Raju sat glued to the TV, his fingers clenched around the remote.
England started strong. Bairstow smashed Bumrah for back-to-back boundaries. Buttler danced down the pitch and lofted Chahal over long-on for six. The scoreboard ticked relentlessly.
By the 15th over, England had crossed 150. Raju’s stomach churned.
Ben Stokes walked in at No. 5, greeted by a mix of cheers and anticipation. He wasn’t explosive with the bat this time, but he anchored the innings with smart singles and a couple of boundaries. His presence stabilized England’s momentum after Buttler’s dismissal.
England ended at 193/5, a formidable total on a batting-friendly pitch.
India’s chase began under floodlights. Rohit Sharma fell early. Then Shubman Gill fell early to Archer’s pace. Raju winced. Panic rippled through the crowd—and through Raju’s chest.
Kohli walked in at No. 3, calm as ever. The fantasy app updated: “Kohli – 0 runs.”
Raju’s hopes now rested on Kohli’s bat—and ironically, on Stokes’ performance with the ball. If both delivered, his fantasy team would surge.
Raju whispered, “Come on, Virat. This is it.”
Kohli started slow. Dot balls. A single. Then a boundary—classic cover drive. Raju’s heart lifted. But wickets kept tumbling. India was 31/4. The required run rate climbed. Kohli was on 12.
Raju’s fantasy rank dropped.
By the 10th over, India was 99/6.
Raju’s heart fluttered. Kohli had 35 runs. He needed more.
Then came the twist.
Rohit mistimed a pull shot and was caught at deep square. Pandya came in but struggled. The run rate climbed. Kohli, now on 50, began to accelerate.
He danced down to Rashid and lofted him for six. Then came a flick off his pads for four. The crowd chanted his name.
“Virat! Virat!”
Raju’s phone buzzed—his fantasy points were climbing. Kohli was delivering.
But wickets kept falling. Jadeja was run out. Pandya edged one to the keeper.
India needed 28 off the last 2 overs.
19th over: Kohli took charge. He smashed Woakes for a six and a four. India now needed 10 runs off the final over.
Raju could barely breathe.
Ben Stokes was handed the ball.
The irony wasn’t lost on Raju—his vice-captain was now bowling to his captain. Every ball mattered.
Ball 1: Kohli flicked for two.
Ball 2: Dot ball. Stokes roared.
Ball 3: Kohli pulled for four. The crowd exploded.
Ball 4: Single. Kohli now on 80.
Ball 5: New batsman, Axar Patel, edged for two.
Ball 6: Axar lofted over mid-off—FOUR!
India won.
Raju screamed, tears streaming down his face. The Fantasy App exploded with confetti. His winnings: ₹5,00,000.
Raju didn’t sleep that night. He stared at the ceiling, heart full. Not with joy, but with clarity.
He had danced too close to the edge. The thrill, the addiction—it wasn’t worth it.
Next morning, he deleted CrickChamp.
He walked to the temple near his house and placed ₹500 in the donation box.
“I’m done,” he whispered.
Within a Month, Raju joined a local cricket academy. He used his winnings to buy a proper kit. He trained hard, channeling his passion into the game itself—not its shadow.
He still watched matches, still admired Kohli. But now, he dreamed of playing—not betting.
And every time he stepped onto the pitch, he remembered that night—the tension, the roar, the final over.
It was the match that saved his life.
Weeks later, Raju stood on a turf pitch, padded up, bat in hand. His coach watched silently as he faced the first delivery. He leaned into it and played a crisp cover drive—fluid, confident, precise.
In the distance, his mother watched from the sidelines, her eyes filled with quiet pride. The sun was setting behind the nets, casting a golden glow across the field.
Raju didn’t smile. He didn’t celebrate. He simply adjusted his grip, took his stance again, and waited for the next ball.
This wasn’t the end of a story. It was the beginning.
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