"India's pace quadret flying to new heights."

"The Shami-Bumrah show—with the bat."

"Mohammed Siraj lords it at the mecca of cricket."

"Put in to bat on a cloudy green pitch, Indian openers' powerful statement."

"From 2014 Lord's to 2021 Lord's—Ishant Sharma's journey in Test cricket."

Yes, yes, Jassi knew they weren't supposed to riffle through social media or newspapers or Google feed. They were supposed to stay cut off. But today it felt nice. Super nice.

Which person in the universe would have a go at their team today, of all days?

He remembered the day after MCG, he had taken a bunch of newspapers singing their praises into Jinks bhaiya's room.

"You shouldn't get into the habit of reading newspapers, Jassi," Jinks bhaiya had said.

"Today. Just today," Jassi had promised.

And they had read through the articles singing their victory songs.

So, today, i.e, 16th August, 2021 was also fine for reading newspapers. In our shallow human hearts, Jassi thought everyone needed a bit of recognition, a bit of validation.

"Virat Kohli's stunning record in overseas Tests brings to light a multitude of debates."

"Not 'tail' any longer, India's 'lower-middle order' helps register thumping victory."

"Dhoni Review System? Rishabh Pant's immaculate judgement of the DRS."

"The return of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul."

Ok, now this was beginning to get on Jassi's nerves. He was on the 14th page, and hadn't found a single mention of the pair who was the real architect behind the nearly-300 in the second innings.

Shami, Bumrah, Siraj, everywhere. Ishant. The Rohit-Rahul pair. The captain, the keeper.

Where was Jinks bhaiya and Pujji bhaiya? Was this a joke?

They'd been at 55/3, hadn't they, when Virat bhaiya trudged back to the pavilion, white-faced with shame, having edged the ball to slips again. Leaving Pujji bhaiya standing on the hostile field alone, as he patted Jinks bhaiya on the shoulder dejectedly, even the eternal optimist Virat Kohli had begun to—yes, give up.

And the under-flak duo had put up a 100-run partnership, hadn't they, batting almost 4 hours, bolstering their hopes of avoiding a defeat?

Jassi changed the page and glanced at his phone a last time.

"Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah guides India to historic victory."

Huh.

Then he was striding down the corridors with purpose.

____________

Aditi was throwing a howler of a tantrum in Pujji bhaiya's room, which could be heard three floors below.

"What's wrong?" asked Jassi in horror—Aditi was a good kid, she didn't throw too many tantrums ordinarily.

"Ask her," said Pujji, who was trying to pacify her.

"She thinks her father doesn't spend time with her like Sammy's and Aarya's do," Puja whispered to Jassi. "He's been sleeping since you guys came back, you see."

"But Rohit bhaiya has been sleeping too," said Jassi.

Pujji smiled at Jassi tiredly and heroically, one of long suffering.

"I don't suppose going out now would be wise for you?" said Jassi.

"Where are you all going?" asked Pujji.

"Arun sir's taking us out. Dunno where."

"Bowlers' stuff, then."

"No," said Jassi, "the point isn't the bowlers. Jaddu bhaiya and Ishant bhaiya decided the credit always goes to the batsmen, so this outing is a statement of our grievance."

Pujji stared at him.

"Jaddu bhaiya said this, not me," said Jassi hastily.

"Makes sense."

"But we've been given enough credit." Jassi tried to approach obtusely. "You know, Pujji bhaiya..."

"Yes?" said Pujji, bemused.

"Some people are always undercredited. Because they never look for glory."

"Um, ok...are you in a philosophical mood, Jass?" asked Pujji nicely.

"No, just stating a truth. People like..."

Pujji waited.

"You and Jinks bhaiya..."

"What about me and Jinks?"

Jassi sighed inside his head. Somehow Jinks bhaiya seemed to pick up his thoughts better than others. He wished he'd explained to him first, then he could've explained Pujji bhaiya.

He started in another roundabout way, but then Aditi started howling again that dad was still ignoring her, and Jassi gave her a pat on the head and fled.

____________

Thankfully, Aarya was not throwing a tantrum when Jassi entered; she was sleeping.

"Jinks bhaiya, come with me."

Jinks stood up. "Where?"

"I'll explain on the way."

Jinks got quite the feeling of a mystery thriller as they tiptoed out, so that Aarya didn't wake up.

"Where are we going?" he whispered.

"Arun sir is taking the bowlers out because Ishant bhaiya thinks they never get the credit they deserve..."

"Er."

"...but it's actually you and Pujji bhaiya who never get the credit you deserve."

"What? But it's not like that," said Jinks.

Jassi felt relieved—he knew Jinks bhaiya would catch his point in a heartbeat.

"Yes, it is," he said. "I was scrolling down articles about this victory, and they seemed to just ignore your contribution."

Jinks looked baffled.

"I know it's the victory that matters, not individual contributions," said Jassi. "But it's not fair."

"I think you're worrying unnecessarily, Jass," began Jinks.

"I'm not worrying! Only it's annoying."

Jinks put an arm around Jassi's shoulders, grinning. "Haven't you been told not to venture into articles, ever?"

"I thought since it's a historic victory, the articles would be fun to read."

"Now you've learnt your lesson. Media articles are mostly never fun to read. They'd also find a way to upset you."

They were walking down the stairs now.

"Even if you've just won a World Cup, they'd show you something about rifts or politics that makes you want to tear your hair out. The Mahi bhai-Gauti bhai stuff after WC 2011, remember?"

"Jinks bhaiya," said Jassi, struck. "I think you're right."

Jinks did not laugh.

"I know," he said gravely.

Jassi's phone rang: Jaddu bhaiya calling.

"WILL WE LEAVE WITHOUT YOU, PACER?" he yelled on the other end.

"Why is he calling you pacer?" asked Jinks, jaw dropping.

"Because the bowlers are going out," explained Jassi in a whisper. "So he's calling people pacer and spinner." Then he spoke loudly into the phone to make Jaddu hear. "Jinks bhaiya is going with us, Jaddu bhaiya."

"Why is batsman going with us? Can you let me talk to batsman please, so I may judge his intention?"

Jinks dissolved into laughter then, he couldn't help it. Keeping a striaght face around Jaddu more than 2 minutes would be an achievement.

"No, he's going, spinner," said Jassi.

Then all three of them were howling with laughter; it turned out the spinner had been only only floor down, because he joined pacer and batsman within seconds.

"You can come. We're making an exception for you, batsman," said Jaddu. "Because pacer is insisting."

are.