India, May 27 -- There is a number that does not appear on any scorecard. It will not trend on social media. No broadcaster will flash it on screen between overs. But it may be the most precise measure of what Rajat Patidar did to the Gujarat Titans on the night of May 26 in Dharamsala, and what he did, in the cold language of value, was generate a profit of Rs.11.02 crore in 33 balls.

That is not a metaphor. It is an output. And understanding it requires understanding the weight of everything that preceded it.

GT had finished the league stage with the tournament's best bowling attack. They won the toss at a venue renowned for favouring the side batting second, chose to bowl first, and set their field accordingly. On paper, this was the...