The team was back in Bijnor.
After a narrow win against Rohilkhand, the Western UP squad returned to their home base for a brief breather. But rest was a luxury they couldn't afford. The schedule for the next two weeks was brutal—five matches, three away, two at home, and barely any time to reset.
Still, Nikhil insisted on a recovery day.
Not for laziness.
For clarity.
Recovery, Not Rest
The morning was light. No nets. No sprints. No bowling machines.
Instead, the team gathered at the local sports complex for a light jog, stretching routines, and physiotherapy checkups. Ice packs, foam rollers, and protein shakes replaced bats and pads.
Nikhil moved quietly among his teammates, checking on sore shoulders, tight hamstrings, and bruised fingers.
He wasn't just managing a squad.
He was managing a system.
Internal Feedback
After lunch, they sat in a circle under the neem trees behind the pavilion. No coaches. No formalities. Just players talking cricket.
Mahesh Yadav spoke first. "We're losing momentum in the middle overs. We need better rotation."
Ritesh added, "Our fielding's improved, but we're still slow on the second run pickups."
Siddharth Rawal said, "We need clearer roles. Who's finishing? Who's anchoring?"
Nikhil listened.
Then he spoke.
"We're not here to be perfect," he said. "We're here to be aware. If we know our gaps, we can patch them. If we know our strengths, we can lean on them."
He assigned micro-goals for the next match—fielding zones, batting tempo, bowling spells.
No one argued.
They trusted him.
Vijay Hazare Begins
That evening, Nikhil sat alone in the common room, watching the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener on a small TV mounted in the corner.
UP vs Delhi.
The Delhi squad was stacked—national players, IPL stars, and a bowling attack that could dismantle any lineup.
Nikhil watched as UP's top order collapsed under pressure. He saw Delhi's bowlers choke the middle overs with tight lines and aggressive fielding. He noted how the Delhi captain rotated his bowlers—short spells, constant pressure, no rhythm for the batters.
UP lost by 67 runs.
Nikhil didn't flinch.
He took notes.
Reflections Under Pressure
Later that night, Nikhil walked to the empty nets, Veer in hand.
He didn't speak.
He just batted.
Fifty balls. Thirty drives. Ten sweeps. Five mistimed shots. One perfect cover drive.
He wasn't chasing form.
He was chasing rhythm.
Leadership wasn't about being loud.
It was about being clear.
The Night Before
Back in his room, Nikhil checked the schedule.
Next match: Western UP vs Terai Region. Away game. Early start.
He closed his notebook, placed Veer beside his bed, and whispered to himself:
"One game at a time. One decision at a time."