The fifth match of the zonal championship was unlike any Western UP had faced so far. The venue: Kanpur District Stadium, home turf of Central UP. The crowd was massive, the atmosphere electric, and the stakes higher than ever.
Western UP had won four out of four. But Kanpur wasn't just another ground—it was a crucible of noise, pride, and tactical warfare. The locals called it "The Furnace" for a reason.
As the team bus pulled into the stadium gates, Nikhil Srivatam looked out at the sea of blue and gold flags. The chants had already begun.
"Mehta! Mehta!" "Central UP zindabad!" "Break the streak!"
The Toss and the Trap
At 9:00 AM, the captains met at the center.
Raghav Mehta, Central UP's captain, was all swagger and smiles. Nikhil Srivatam, Western UP's captain, was composed, unreadable.
The coin went up.
"Central UP wins the toss," the umpire announced.
Raghav didn't hesitate. "We'll bat first."
Nikhil nodded. He'd expected it. The pitch was dry and flat, with faint cracks near the good length. It would deteriorate later. Batting first was the right call.
But it also meant Western UP would chase under pressure, with the crowd breathing down their necks.
First Innings – Central UP Batting
Central UP's openers came out swinging.
The first five overs yielded 42 runs—aggressive cuts, lofted drives, and cheeky sweeps. The crowd roared with every boundary.
Nikhil responded by bringing in Imran Khan early, skipping his usual second-change role.
It worked.
Imran bowled a tight spell, removing the opener with a skiddy delivery that kept low.
Then came the twist.
Raghav Mehta promoted himself to No. 3 and began dismantling the spinners.
Nikhil had gambled on spin early, hoping the pitch would grip.
It didn't.
Manav Singh and Ritesh Yadav were hit for 38 runs in 4 overs.
Nikhil made a bold call—he pulled both spinners out and brought back medium pace.
He also adjusted the field—two slips, a short third man, and a deep square leg.
The momentum slowed.
Raghav reached his fifty but was eventually dismissed by a slower ball from Karan Bhagat, caught at long-off.
Central UP finished at 221 for 6 in 35 overs.
A strong total.
Not unbeatable.
But challenging.
The Chase Begins – Western UP Batting
Nikhil reshuffled the batting order.
He sent Mahesh Yadav and Siddharth Rawal to open, hoping to absorb the early swing and build a platform.
It worked—for a while.
They put up a 54-run partnership in 9 overs.
Then disaster struck.
Mahesh was bowled by a peach from Raghav Mehta himself. Siddharth was run out in a mix-up. Ravi Chauhan edged one to slip.
Western UP was 68 for 3 in the 13th over.
The crowd was relentless.
Chants of "Collapse! Collapse!" echoed through the stands.
Nikhil Walks In
Nikhil Srivatam walked in at No. 4.
The noise was deafening.
He took guard.
First ball—dot. Second ball—driven for two. Third ball—cut for four.
He wasn't just batting.
He was silencing the crowd.
At the other end, Karan Bhagat played a gritty knock, rotating strike and shielding Nikhil when the bowlers got fiery.
Together, they rebuilt.
Nikhil mixed caution with aggression—sweeping spinners, driving pacers, and running hard.
By the 28th over, Western UP was 178 for 4.
They needed 44 runs from 42 balls.
The Twist
Then came the twist.
A sudden drizzle.
The pitch slowed. The ball stopped coming on.
Karan mistimed a pull and was caught. Next over, Siddharth Rawal—sent back in as an impact sub—was bowled by a grubber.
Western UP was 188 for 6.
Nikhil was still there.
He took charge.
He lofted a spinner over midwicket. He reverse-swept for four. He ran a desperate two, diving to make his ground.
Last over.
Western UP needed 7 runs.
Nikhil on strike.
First ball—single. Second ball—dot. Third ball—two runs. Fourth ball—wide. Fifth ball—cut for four.
Match won.
By 3 wickets.
The Aftermath
Nikhil finished unbeaten on 72 off 61 balls.
The crowd fell silent.
Raghav Mehta walked over, offered a handshake.
"You read the pitch better than I did," he said.
Nikhil nodded. "It was a gamble. But we held our nerve."
Reflections
Back in the dressing room, Nikhil sat with Coach Devraj.
"We were outplayed in phases," he said. "But we adapted."
Devraj smiled. "That's what captains do."