CHAPTER 103: THE IPL FINAL – THE ULTIMATE BATTLE FOR GLORY

The tension was unlike anything Raj had ever felt. RCB had made it to the IPL Final, and now they stood one match away from lifting the coveted trophy. The entire journey—from league battles to playoff pressure—had led to this single moment.

But this wasn’t just another cricket match.

This was about legacy. This was about RCB proving that they were more than just contenders—they were champions. And as Raj tightened his gloves, stepping into the final pre-match team huddle, he knew that what came next would define his career.

The opposition? Mumbai Indians.

A team known for dominating finals, thriving under pressure, and dismantling opponents with calculated precision. If RCB wanted to win, they had to play the perfect game.

For years, RCB had been labeled a team that played beautifully but struggled to finish tournaments. They had seen seasons where they started strong but faltered when it mattered most. They had fought through near-misses, heartbreaks, and moments where victory seemed within reach—but was taken away at the last second.

This final was more than just a match. It was about changing a narrative that had existed for far too long.

Winning meant breaking the past curse of missed opportunities.

Victory would cement RCB’s place in history as one of IPL’s greatest teams.

It would validate every strategy, every adjustment, and every calculated risk Raj had taken throughout the tournament.

"We have never been this close. And we won’t let it slip now."

Mumbai wasn’t a team that crumbled in big matches. They lived for these moments. Their squad was built for high-stakes encounters, and they had historically dominated IPL finals, turning pressure into their greatest weapon.

Their key strengths included:

Power-hitters who accelerated in the death overs – Mumbai relied on their last five overs to unleash chaos, turning modest totals into near-impossible targets.

Masterful bowling setups that forced opponents into mistakes – Their bowlers didn’t just aim for wickets; they constructed psychological traps that made batters second-guess every shot.

Proven final experience – Mumbai had players who had lifted the trophy multiple times before. They understood what it took to win, and that experience could be dangerous.

RCB had prepared for this exact scenario—they weren’t walking into the final blind. Every decision, every tactical plan had been fine-tuned to counter Mumbai’s playstyle.

Raj studied his teammates—Kohli, Maxwell, Siraj, Hazlewood—all locked in mentally.

"This isn’t just any opponent. This is a champion team. And we beat champions by playing like champions."

Raj had spent hours analyzing every possible game scenario. The plan was built on three key pillars:

Breaking Mumbai’s batting rhythm early – If RCB allowed Mumbai’s batters to settle, they would become unbreakable in the death overs. Early wickets were mandatory.

Pacing the chase with absolute discipline – Mumbai’s bowlers were experts at trapping teams into reckless shots. RCB had to ensure strike rotation, precision, and avoiding forced mistakes.

Matching intensity with composure – Mumbai would bring aggression; RCB had to counter it with calm execution.

"They expect teams to crack under pressure. We don’t crack. We dominate."

As Raj walked out of the stadium tunnel toward the practice nets, he spotted two familiar faces in the stands—his mother and father, proudly watching from the VIP section.

He smiled.

They had supported him through every stage of his career—every childhood match, every painful defeat, every moment where doubt could have consumed him. Now, they were here for the grandest match of them all.

His father gave a subtle nod of approval, and his mother waved enthusiastically, holding up his old cricket jersey—the same one he had worn when he played his first-ever professional match.

"This is more than just a final. This is the dream they raised me for."

The stadium was vibrating with anticipation, fans chanting as both teams took their positions. This was the grandest stage of them all—the IPL Final. The floodlights illuminated the pitch, and the commentary box buzzed with excitement.

Raj adjusted his gloves, breathing deeply, centering himself before the battle commenced. The moment had arrived. The toss was about to be conducted.

RCB had prepared extensively, ensuring every possible scenario was accounted for. But the unpredictability of Mumbai Indians meant that they had to stay adaptable.

"We don’t just play our own game. We play to break theirs."

The umpires stepped forward, the coin was tossed high into the air, and Mumbai Indians won the toss.

They elected to bat first.

Mumbai had always favored batting first in crucial matches. Their reasoning was simple:

Set a high target to pile pressure on RCB’s chase setup – Mumbai relied on forcing opponents into desperate decision-making rather than giving them early control.

Explosive acceleration in the last five overs – Their finishers could turn a respectable score into an unchaseable total within minutes.

Structured bowling defense in second innings – Instead of hunting wickets early, they contained run flow first and created pressure situations later.

RCB had studied their patterns closely.

"They play final cricket like chess. But we’ve been studying their moves all season."

Raj gathered his teammates in the final huddle before stepping onto the field. This match wouldn’t be won in a single moment—it would be an accumulation of pressure, execution, and responding faster than Mumbai could adjust.

Early wickets within the first six overs – Mumbai’s openers were their backbone. Removing them early would dismantle their carefully planned innings.

Spin rotations before Mumbai’s acceleration overs – RCB had noticed that Mumbai’s hitters preferred fast bowling for late hitting—meaning the key was introducing spin before they could build momentum.

Death-over precision bowling – They couldn’t afford errors in the last five overs. Yorkers had to be flawless, field setups airtight.

Raj turned toward Siraj, signaling that the opening ball of the IPL Final was about to be bowled.

The stadium pulsed with anticipation as RCB took their fielding positions. Every fan in the stands knew what was at stake—this was not just an IPL final, but a war for legacy.

Mumbai’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, walked onto the pitch, exuding confidence. They were experienced in handling pressure—finals were where they thrived. But Raj had studied their batting patterns. He knew that if RCB could break their rhythm within the powerplay, Mumbai’s well-oiled batting setup would unravel faster than they expected.

Raj adjusted his gloves, standing near the circle, giving final instructions to his bowlers.

"Don’t let them settle. We force them into difficult decisions early."

The umpire signaled readiness. Mohammad Siraj took his mark. The IPL Final had officially begun.

RCB’s goal wasn’t just taking wickets—it was about breaking Mumbai’s comfort zone as quickly as possible. Their strategy was built around:

Aggressive pace within the first three overs – RCB’s fast bowlers would attack immediately, forcing Mumbai’s batters onto the back foot.

Cutting off boundary angles – Field setups would be tight, preventing easy drives and cutting Mumbai’s free-flowing strokes.

Early introduction of tactical swing – Siraj would deploy deceptive movement, ensuring Mumbai’s openers didn’t settle early.

Raj stood near Kohli at slip. This was the first test of the night.

"Make them uncomfortable before they make themselves comfortable."

Siraj charged in, delivering a full-length outswinger, aimed perfectly outside off-stump.

Rohit tracked the movement carefully, adjusting his bat angle and guiding the ball toward deep third man.

Single taken.

Mumbai had started cautiously, but RCB wasn’t giving them room to breathe.

Next ball—short, rising quickly toward Ishan Kishan’s chest.

Ishan hesitated but managed to tap it down toward mid-off.

Dot ball.

Commentary:"Siraj is attacking early! RCB knows breaking Mumbai’s start is crucial!"

Third delivery—sharp seam movement, angling inward toward the pads.

Ishan reacted late—MISSED! LBW appeal!

The umpire paused. RCB held their breath.

Not Out!

Raj clenched his fists. Close, but not enough. The pressure was building.

Mumbai was playing cautiously, absorbing RCB’s opening pressure. Rohit relied on strike rotation, ensuring RCB didn’t build dot-ball momentum.

Commentary:"Mumbai knows this phase is dangerous! They’re waiting for RCB to make a mistake!"

Siraj adjusted his lengths, sending back-to-back deliveries with subtle swing variation.

Ishan stepped forward—driven through covers! Four runs!

RCB regrouped. This was expected—Mumbai wouldn’t allow themselves to be squeezed without resistance.

Powerplay Score Update – Who Holds the Advantage?

Mumbai Indians – 41/0 (6 overs)

Rohith Shurma – 19(14), cautious but effective*

Ishan Kishawn – 22(20), handling early movement carefully*

RCB had prevented wild acceleration, but they hadn’t taken a wicket yet.

Raj signaled to Maxwell. Time to bring spin into the equation.

The powerplay had ended, and Mumbai stood at 41 for no loss after six overs, their openers successfully surviving RCB’s aggressive pace attack. But now, with the field spreading and the middle overs beginning, Raj knew this was the moment to tighten control.

Mumbai wasn’t a reckless batting unit—they preferred structured acceleration rather than explosive hitting from the start. That meant they wouldn’t attack RCB’s spinners outright. Instead, they would try to rotate strike, control run flow, and gradually build toward their death-over acceleration phase.

Raj stood near the boundary, carefully observing the Mumbai dugout. He could see their captain signaling toward the batters—"Settle in, adapt to spin, don’t take unnecessary risks."

"They want stability. We force mistakes before they get comfortable."

The next battle was about to unfold.

To be continued...