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Author Thought
Hi,
As you journey through the pages of this book, I would love to know—how has the experience been for you so far? Your thoughts, emotions, and even criticisms mean a lot and help me grow as a writer. It's been a meaningful and illuminating journey for me too, each chapter teaching me something new both about the story and myself. I look forward to hearing your reflections!
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The first week of March had begun, and with it came the second fixture of the zonal championship for Western UP. The match was scheduled for 2nd March, and the team had arrived early to get a feel for the ground.
The venue was a dry, open field in Rampur, known for its unpredictable bounce and swirling winds. The pitch looked deceptively flat, but Nikhil Srivatam knew better. He had played here before. The surface was a trap—low bounce, uneven grip, and a graveyard for spinners.
Pre-Match Prep
Western UP trained hard the day before.
Nikhil ran intense fielding drills, focused on low catches and quick pickups. He also spent time observing the Rohilkhand squad, who were warming up on the adjacent nets.
Their batters were aggressive—stepping out to spinners, sweeping with confidence, and lofting with ease. Their bowlers were sharp—two left-arm quicks and a tall off-spinner who bowled with a flatter trajectory.
Nikhil took notes.
He didn't just want to win.
He wanted to outthink.
The Toss
Match day arrived with a dry breeze and a cloudless sky.
Both captains walked to the center.
Nikhil Srivatam, leading Western UP, calm and focused. Devansh Tyagi, captain of Rohilkhand, confident and chatty.
The coin went up.
Nikhil lost the toss—again.
Rohilkhand chose to bowl first.
Nikhil nodded. He didn't flinch.
He turned to his team and said, "We've done this before. Let's do it better."
First Innings – Western UP Batting
Western UP's openers walked out: Mahesh Yadav, fresh off a century in the last match, and Ravi Chauhan, steady and reliable.
The pitch played tricks early on. The ball kept low, and timing was difficult. But Mahesh adjusted quickly, playing late and using the pace of the bowlers. Ravi rotated strike, absorbing pressure.
The pair put up a solid 78-run partnership in the first 12 overs.
But Rohilkhand's bowlers fought back.
A sharp inswinger bowled Ravi. Mahesh was caught at deep midwicket trying to accelerate.
The middle order chipped in—Siddharth Rawal scored a gritty 34, and Karan Bhagat added a quick 22.
Western UP finished at 198 for 7 in 35 overs.
Not dominant.
But defendable.
Second Innings – Tactical Defense
Nikhil gathered his bowlers.
"This pitch is hell for spin," he said. "Fast and medium pace only. Spinners get two overs max."
He didn't bowl himself.
Instead, he focused entirely on field placements, bowler rotation, and reading the opposition's intent.
He opened with Ritesh Yadav and Imran Khan, both medium-fast bowlers who could hit the deck hard.
The plan worked.
Rohilkhand's openers struggled to time the ball. Edges flew, but fielders were sharp. The outfield was fast, but Western UP's positioning was tighter than ever.
Nikhil used his spinners sparingly—just 6 overs total between two bowlers. But those overs were costly—38 runs, including two sixes and four boundaries.
Rohilkhand clawed back.
Their No. 3 batter, Aryan Saxena, played a brilliant knock of 62, mixing caution with aggression.
By the 30th over, they needed 40 runs from 30 balls.
Nikhil brought back Ritesh and Imran.
They bowled tight lines, mixed slower balls, and forced errors.
A run-out in the 33rd over shifted momentum.
Rohilkhand finished at 193 for 8.
Western UP won by just 5 runs.
The Aftermath
A sigh of relief.
Nikhil shook hands with Devansh Tyagi, who smiled and said, "You read the pitch better. That was the difference."
Nikhil nodded. "And we held our nerve."