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Author Thought
Hi,
Everyone Sorry for the delay I had exams so I was not able to upload new chapters.
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The final of the North Zone U-16 Championship began under a blazing Jaipur sun. The pitch was flat, the outfield fast, and the crowd louder than ever. Himachal Pradesh won the toss and chose to bat.
Coach Rameshwar leaned toward Nikhil. "They'll go hard. Let them."
Himachal did exactly that.
From the first ball, their openers launched an assault—lofted drives, cheeky scoops, and relentless running. Arjun struggled with rhythm. Manav was tidy but lacked bite. By the 10th over, Himachal was cruising at 82 for 0.
Nikhil adjusted the field, rotated bowlers, and tried to choke the tempo. But Himachal's captain, Raghav, was in sublime touch—flicking, cutting, and sweeping with surgical precision.
By the 30th over, Himachal had posted a daunting 192 for 3.
In the stands, a few state selectors from Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh watched closely—scanning for composure, spark, and match temperament. The final wasn't just about silverware. It was a proving ground.
Inside the UP dressing room, tension hung thick. Viraj was out with injury. Rishi padded up to open with Manav. Nikhil was slotted at number four.
Coach Rameshwar spoke softly. "Don't chase the scoreboard. Chase the moment."
UP's innings began cautiously. Rishi edged one early—gone for 6. Manav scratched around, then mistimed a pull—gone for 9.
By the 6th over, UP was 21 for 2.
Nikhil walked in.
The crowd buzzed. Himachal's fielders chirped. The selectors scribbled.
First ball: dot. Second ball: single. Third ball: full—defended. Fourth ball: short—ducked. Fifth ball: full toss—two. Sixth ball: single.
He wasn't explosive. He was calculating.
He built a partnership with Arjun, rotating strike, absorbing pressure. Himachal's bowlers tightened the screws—leg cutters, off-spin, wide lines. The required rate climbed.
By the 15th over, UP was 64 for 3. Nikhil had 18 off 24 balls.
Then Arjun fell—caught behind trying to cut.
Silence.
Coach Rameshwar stood still, arms folded.
Nikhil tapped Veer, took guard again.
Next over: wide ball. He stepped out—six over extra cover.
The crowd stirred.
Next ball: paddle scoop—four. Next ball: short—pulled for two.
He had flipped the switch.
By the 20th over, he was 42 off 35. The required rate wasn't astronomical, but the pressure was suffocating—66 needed off 10 overs.
Manav returned as a runner. Nikhil began dictating the field—pointing gaps, calling shots.
He lofted a spinner over long-on—six. Then reverse swept—four. Then flicked behind square—three.
By the 25th over, UP was 148 for 5. Nikhil had 71 off 48.
Last five overs: 45 needed.
Himachal brought back their pacer. First ball: bouncer. Nikhil ducked. Second ball: full toss—four. Third ball: yorker—dug out for two. Fourth ball: slower one—six over midwicket.
The crowd erupted. The selectors leaned forward.
Last over: 11 needed. First ball: dot. Second ball: single. Third ball: full—four through cover. Fourth ball: two runs. Fifth ball: dot. Sixth ball: four—cut behind point.
Victory.
Nikhil collapsed to his knees, Veer in hand, sweat pouring, heart pounding.
He had finished on 89 off 55 balls.
The team rushed in. Coach Rameshwar hugged him. "You didn't chase the game. You rewrote it."
That night, Nikhil sat alone in the stadium tunnel, match ball beside him, crowd long gone.
He looked at the scoreboard still glowing in the dark.
"Lesson: Pressure is a forge. Fix: Wait, then strike. Goal: Win when losing feels inevitable. Reminder: Explosions don't need permission."
Tomorrow, the state camp list for the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy would be announced.
Nikhil wasn't chasing both.
He was aiming for the Vijay Hazare Trophy—to balance into the game, to learn more, to build deeper.
And this time, he wasn't just a name.
He was a headline.
And somewhere in the stands, a selector had circled his name.