Chapter 44: The First Test
The vast, concrete bowl of Nehru Stadium felt hollow. The cheers of the two dozen teammates from each side were the only sounds, echoing in the 9 AM stillness.
Raghav jogged to his position at Deep Fine Leg. His new Fielding stat of 11.0 was not just a number; it was a feeling. He felt lighter on his feet. He felt his perception change. His experienced mind, the one that had watched thousands of hours of cricket, was no longer trapped in a clumsy, slow body. The 12-year-old's hardware was starting to catch up. He crouched, his eyes on the batsmen.
At the crease, the two Sivasagar openers, Akhil (the captain) and Bikash, looked exactly as Sarma had described. They were "scrappers." They weren't wearing new, pristine pads. Their equipment was worn, their bats were old, and they looked tough.
Rohan, Kamrup's captain, set his field. It was an aggressive, opening field.
Aakash, the wicketkeeper, took his position, his movements precise and quiet.
