Retiring Gautam Gambhir remained unbeaten on 92 at the end of Day 2's play of Delhi's Ranji Trophy, Elite Group B match against Andhra at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi Friday.
The former captain lived a charmed life but the famous grit was displayed in abundance in his final knock in competitive cricket guiding Delhi to 190 for one. Andhra scored 390 in the first innings thanks to Ricky Bhui's 187.
But, everything else became a footnote once Gambhir entered the field. It was a Feroz Shah Kotla hosting a Ranji match, for which a few hundred faithfuls from Old Delhi turned up.
The stage was set and there were little elements that the handful of people would remember in his last hurrah.
There was a customary security breach (synonymous with Kotla) with a fan trying to click a selfie before being hauled up, the Guard of Honour by teammates at every break and his wife turning up with two adorable daughters just after the husband completed a fifty.
There was the artist Saif splashing his canvas with colours to capture for posterity his final on-field exploits.
Gambhir had it all and even the Almighty wouldn't have wanted the fairytale script to go awry.
So no one complained when an Andhra fielder dropped a sitter at mid-off, a regulation catch which would have been otherwise gobbled "11 out of 10 times".
He was twice dropped in the slips but it didn't matter during the 152 balls that he played.
They wanted to see Gambhir bat like Gambhir. Ugly but effective with some pleasant drives sprinkled in between and scrappy at other times.
The tuck of the hips, the jabs and the dabs with a quick rush and that occasional cover drive were all there to see.
Once into his 70s, he slowed down as the milestone approached.
The photographers got edgy, elder daughter Azeen and toddler Anaiza wanted to run into the ground, but Gambhir didn't want to ruin it.
He was ready to grind it one last time.
It's his last chance to lift his bat, open his helmet and acknowledge whoever will be present at the Kotla on Saturday.
He needs eight runs more and probably wouldn't mind if a few more cricket fans turn up for that probable moment.
Gambhir, and his fans, know he deserves that last hurrah.
