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The sun was barely up when Ajay jogged into the Shivaji Park ground. The dew still clung to the grass, soaking through his shoes, and the crisp morning air carried the smell of wet earth. This was his favourite time of day—the world still waking up, the pitch empty, silence broken only by the rhythmic thud of his steps.
But today, he wasn't here to bat. He was here to fix a weakness that had haunted him all through his first life—fielding.
A Bitter Memory
The memory came uninvited. It was from 2001, a Ranji quarter-final. Ajay, in his first life, had already been struggling with fitness. A thick edge from the opposition's best batsman flew towards him at point. It was a simple catch—chest-high, straight at him. But his reaction was slow. The ball burst through his fingers, trickling to the boundary.
The batsman went on to score a match-winning century. Ajay had walked back to the dressing room after the loss, avoiding the glares of teammates. The coach hadn't shouted—he'd just said, "Catches win matches. You can't win if you can't hold on." Those words had cut deeper than any public scolding.
The Decision
Now, in this second life, Ajay refused to let that weakness define him again. The system's Fielding bar stared back at him in his mind:
Fielding – 22/100
He wanted it at Level 5 one day, but for now, he'd focus on steady growth. He knew from experience that the bar moved fastest when drills were focused and repetitive. Random catches in matches weren't enough—he needed hundreds of deliberate, high-intensity reps.
The Morning Drill
Coach Sharma arrived a little after sunrise, carrying a bucket of balls. "You're here early again," he said with a smile.
"Need to work on my hands, Coach," Ajay replied.
They began with high catches. Coach lobbed balls straight into the air, making them drop from a great height. Ajay positioned himself early, eyes never leaving the ball, softening his hands at the moment of impact. Over and over, the sound of leather hitting palm echoed in the empty ground.
Then came slip catches. Coach stood twenty feet away, using a thin bat to edge the ball off a throwdown. Ajay crouched low, hands ready, body weight forward. The key was quick reflexes and staying balanced. His palms began to sting, but he didn't stop.
Pushing Past the Pain
By the 200th catch, his fingers throbbed. By the 250th, they burned. In his old life, he would have stopped here, muttering something about saving himself for batting. But now, he pushed on.
Each successful catch triggered a faint system ping:
Fielding +0.2Fielding +0.3
The numbers were small, but they were steady.
Ground Fielding and Throws
After catching practice, they moved on to ground fielding. Coach hit the ball hard along the turf, forcing Ajay to dive, scoop, and throw in one motion. His trousers became streaked with dirt, elbows scraped, but his release speed improved.
The throwing drills were next. Ajay aimed at the single stump from thirty yards, over and over. The clang of the ball hitting wood became addictive.
Helping the Younger Players
Around mid-morning, the younger boys from the academy began to trickle in. Ajay noticed a boy of about twelve fumbling every third catch. The kid's technique was wrong—hands too rigid, body stiff.
Between his own drills, Ajay walked over. "Keep your elbows loose. Let the ball come to you, not the other way around."
The boy tried again. This time, the ball stuck. His grin said it all.
"Good," Ajay said, tossing another ball. "Now do it a hundred more times."
The boy laughed, thinking it was a joke. Ajay's serious look told him it wasn't.
Coach Notices the Change
By the time they wrapped up, Ajay's shirt clung to his back with sweat. His palms were red, but his grip on the ball felt stronger.
Coach Sharma nodded approvingly. "Most players hate fielding practice. You're starting to enjoy it. That's rare."
Ajay shrugged. "I wasted too many chances last time. Not again."
"Last time?" the coach asked, puzzled.
"Last… season," Ajay corrected quickly.
The System Reward
Walking home, Ajay checked the system:
Fielding – 37/100
A fifteen-point jump in one morning. He felt the improvement already—faster reactions, cleaner takes, smoother throws.
Evening Reflection
That night, lying in bed, Ajay thought about the game as a whole. People remembered the batsmen who scored centuries and the bowlers who took five-fors, but in tight matches, one catch or one run-out could decide everything. If he could become not just a reliable fielder but one of the best, it would add a whole new weapon to his arsenal.
And the thought struck him—fielding was also fitness. Every dive, every sprint, every throw kept his body sharp. This wasn't just about avoiding past mistakes; it was about building the complete cricketer he'd never been before.
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If you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a review or send some powerstones! It really helps boost my confidence and motivates me to write more and make the story even better.