A collective gasp resonated throughout Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Those who were unable to hear Suryakumar Yadav's remarks during the toss were fortunate; those who did were not as lucky. They quickly turned to their devices, seeking confirmation of the unexpected news. Confused expressions filled the crowd, all searching for clarity.

"Shami khelchhe na? (Is Shami not playing?)" inquired a young man in his thirties in Bengali. "Surya toh bolo khelchhe na (Surya said he isn't)," responded a middle-aged man beside him. Although they were strangers, the shock of Mohammed Shami's absence from India's playing XI for the series opener against England served as an awkward icebreaker. They were not alone in their disbelief; Shami's anticipated return had been the focal point leading up to this T20I series. Just twenty minutes prior, he had received the loudest cheers during the warm-up sessions. While the heavy strapping on his knees raised concerns, Shami had exhibited every indication of a long-awaited comeback after a 14-month hiatus. These five T20Is were intended to provide him with essential match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy.

However, the Indian management, led by coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, chose to postpone Shami's return, leaving cricket enthusiasts bewildered.

The initial disbelief over not witnessing their local hero in action soon transformed into frustration. "The pitch has some grass. How can they not play Shami and opt for just one pacer?" questioned a school student clad in an Indian jersey emblazoned with Surya's name.

His assessment was as valid as any expert's. The atmosphere at Eden Gardens remained tense for approximately 25 minutes until Arshdeep Singh bowled the first delivery of the match. Arshdeep, the sole specialist pacer in India's XI for the match on Wednesday, delivered a ball that shaped in towards England opener Phil Salt, resulting in an awkward bounce that struck Salt on the thigh pad.

Arshdeep then adjusted his approach, angling his next delivery away from Salt, which was met with a clean punch straight to the point fielder.

Nabarun Chatterjee exclaimed, “What a remarkable delivery!” as he took a half day off to attend the match. Arshdeep was determined to make his presence felt, and in his third over, he delivered another ball that bounced from a good length, prompting Ben Duckett to play a false shot, thus securing India's second wicket.

A young girl remarked to her father, “Arshdeep is saying, ‘So what if Bumrah isn’t playing? I am here!’” Her enthusiasm was palpable, rivaling even Arshdeep's energy. Shortly thereafter, the DJ announced that Arshdeep had surpassed Yuzvendra Chahal's record, becoming India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is with a total of 97 wickets.

Arshdeep makes Eden his own

The individual from Punjab has become the favourite among the Bengalis.

As the audience erupted in excitement, the 25-year-old spontaneously began performing bhangra following three remarkable overs with the new ball. The spectators in the K and J blocks joined in the celebration. The earlier disappointment of not witnessing Bumrah's performance and the uncertainty surrounding Shami's absence faded into memory. Arshdeep had successfully awakened the enthusiastic crowd.

For seven-year-old Dhruv (name changed) and his two siblings, the excitement was just beginning. They shouted Arshdeep's name at the top of their lungs, attempting to capture the attention of the left-arm pacer. Their cheers persisted for the next two overs. "Please turn around just once, Arshdeep," they implored. Meanwhile, Arshdeep was focused on gaining the attention of Captain Surya. Moments later, Buttler struck a ball off his hips, prompting Arshdeep to swiftly dash to his right, diving to prevent a boundary.

The cheers continued to resonate from the K and J blocks, with members of the Bharat Army energetically playing the dhol. Was this an attempt to inspire Arshdeep to dance once more? One could only speculate.

In the meantime, Varun Chakarvarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi were determined not to let Arshdeep bask in the glory alone. They effectively subdued the English team, restricting them to a mere 132 all out in 20 overs.

"Looks like the match will conclude early. Can we catch the last metro?" conversations during the break shifted in tone. The final metro on the blue line passes Esplanade—the closest station to the stadium—around 10:50 pm. While Abhishek Sharma may have been unaware of this, his explosive 20-ball half-century not only provided the Kolkata crowd with another reason to celebrate an early Diwali but also ensured that many would return home before midnight.

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