Super Sunday here we come - Season 22 !!

 Season 22.

What a journey it has been.

Fifteen games down, and here we stand—two teams unwilling to blink, two teams that have emptied the tank. The series reads 14–13 in favour of the Pacers, but make no mistake: this is a dead heat. Everything now funnels into a Super Sunday finale where nothing is left in reserve.

If you have other plans—cancel them.
We already have people dodging holidays, PTMs, church, and even the mother of all family weddings just to be there tomorrow. For those still wavering, here’s my tried-and-tested advice: dial the wife. It always works.

So how did we get here?

The Raptors burst out of the blocks, leading for most of the season, setting the pace and the tone. Then, just as it seemed they might have peaked too early, the Pacers found their second wind—stringing together wins, revealing their hand at precisely the right moment. Momentum shifted, nerves tightened, and suddenly the season had a pulse of its own.

Today’s game was a gripping prelude to what promises to be an unforgettable finale.

The Raptors lost the toss—again—and the Pacers wasted no time in asking them to bat. Batting first has been a season-long challenge, though I’ve never quite understood why. What followed, however, was a statement.

Anantha and the ever-consistent Kings laid the foundation—two master technicians, calm, composed, and relentlessly ticking the scoreboard along. With Harsha’s return strengthening an already deep batting lineup, the Raptors looked loaded. And Harsha… the man is something else. KG chipped in, Chaitanya found rhythm, and the middle order ensured the early momentum was not squandered.

The Pacers fought back hard with the ball. HK led the charge with fire and venom. That over—where he shattered Chaitanya’s stumps with raw pace, outfoxed Harsha, and removed Aashish—was pure theatre. Satya kept rolling out the change-ups, Apoorv was miserly as ever, but a strong finish—highlighted by Vicky timing the ball to perfection—pushed the Raptors to 90 runs. Competitive. Defiant.

The Pacers believed they had the chase under control, though Satya had more than cricket to manage—half his side seemed distracted by life beyond the maidaan. Any early jitters were swiftly erased as Dinesh went ballistic and Hari pierced the field with ease. 27 without loss in three overs and suddenly, there was no scoreboard pressure at all.

And then… the game turned.

The Raptors knew this was their moment—the game they had to win to keep the season alive. They lifted. The Pacers, just slightly, dropped off the boil. Aashish delivered a priceless maidaan, slamming the brakes on a runaway train and flipping the match on its head. What followed was a cascade of wickets. HK battled on, finding ways to keep the score moving, but Chaitanya’s brilliant over forced the issue—and with that, HK’s resistance ended.

Dhruv—who wasn’t even meant to play today (thanks, Anulipi)—made an immediate impact up front. Vikram bowled with fire and intent, striking at crucial moments. And the Raptors in the field? Electric. The easy singles that had kept the Pacers ticking were suddenly gone.

In the end, 11 runs separated the two sides—but by then, the message was clear. This season refuses to fade quietly.

The stage is set.
The script is written.

Bring on the blockbuster finale, boys!!