T20 Mumbai

Shouldering the responsibility of a team’s fortune can be overwhelming for some, but the onus of leadership can also usher the best out of those who thrive under pressure. But even for these bravehearts, the dread of having to hit a boundary on the final ball of a match to win the game for their team would fill them with terror. However, for Akash Parkar, that opportunity was something that he had been waiting for his entire cricketing journey.

“It was one of my dreams to hit a last-ball and win the match for my team,” revealed Parkar. His date with destiny would finally come in Season 1 of T20 Mumbai, but like every triumphant story, the premise was that of disappointment and vexation.

“I had a good start to the T20 Mumbai season but in the game against ARCS Andheri, I had a ligament injury in my elbow. The physio evaluated and informed me that I’d likely miss the rest of the tournament owing to this injury. It was disheartening,” recalled the all-rounder.

While Parkar was dejected and had lost hope, but Triumph Knights North East coach Atul Ranade had other ideas. “The coach told me that he planned me to play in the upcoming fixture. We reached a compromise that I would forgo my bowling duties and fill in only as a batsman. That was reassuring,” he pointed out.

As decided, in the forthcoming fixture against NaMo Bandra Blasters, Parkar did not bowl for his team and his absence in the attack was evident, as the Triumph Knights ended up leaking 183 runs in their bowling effort. During the run chase, Parkar came in to bat at no. 5 with his team needing 67 off 33, but with captain Suryakumar Yadav still out in the center, Parkar bided his time to get his eye in before he could get going as well.

But two quick wickets towards the backend of the innings left Triumph Knights needing a daunting 44 runs in just 12 deliveries, but Parkar was up for the challenge. He smashed 21 runs in the five deliveries that he faced in the over reducing the equation down to 21 off the final over. Two lusty blows over the long on fence followed by just three runs in the next three delivers from Vinayak Bhoir left Triumph Knights needing a maximum on the final delivery of the match to complete the run chase.

While most players in his team’s dugout were visibly a nervous wreck, Parkar exhumed confidence. He stood tall, as if he almost expecting this exact scenario. The nerves of the game’s ultimate pressure situation probably got to the bowler as he ended up bowling a shin-high fulltoss and with one swing on the bat, Parkar sent his team in delirium and achieved his ultimate cricketing dream.

“I couldn’t believe it. For the next two days, I was in shock. It was a dream come true for me,” reminisced Parkar. The all-rounder continued to play a crucial role for his team for the remainder of the season in what a triumphant campaign for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East. But for Akash Parkar, that six off the last ball remains the crowning moment from the first season of T20 Mumbai.