The loss to Eastern UP had left Western UP quiet but not broken.
Back in Bijnor, the squad trained with a sharper edge. Fielding drills were tighter. Bowling sessions were longer. Nikhil Srivatam didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. His silence was enough.
The next match was against Bundelkhand, led by Rudra Yadav, a fiery all-rounder known for his aggressive batting and unpredictable off-spin. Bundelkhand hadn't won a single game yet, but they were dangerous—especially when underestimated.
Nikhil didn't underestimate anyone.
The Past Resurfaces
Two nights before the match, Nikhil received a message from an old contact: Kabir Solanki, Eastern UP's captain.
"You batted like someone I didn't recognize. That's a compliment."
Nikhil stared at the message.
They had trained together at the Meerut State Camp two years ago. Kabir was the quiet one, always watching, always calculating. Nikhil had been the expressive one—leading warm-ups, cracking jokes, batting with flair.
They had sparred in nets. They had shared notes. They had never spoken since.
Until now.
Nikhil replied:
"You bowled like someone I couldn't ignore. That's a compliment."
No emojis. No small talk.
Just respect.
Match Day – Western UP vs Bundelkhand
The match was scheduled at Bijnor Stadium, Western UP's home ground.
The pitch was dry and flat, with a fast outfield. The weather was clear. The crowd was modest—mostly locals, school kids, and a few district officials.
But one man stood out.
He wore a plain white shirt, dark sunglasses, and carried a clipboard.
Coach Devraj spotted him instantly.
Mr. Rajeev Menon, senior selector from the UP State Board.
He didn't speak to anyone.
He just watched.
The Toss
At 9:00 AM, Nikhil and Rudra Yadav met at the center.
Rudra won the toss and chose to bat first.
Nikhil nodded. "Let's squeeze them early."
First Innings – Bundelkhand Batting
Bundelkhand's openers started aggressively.
The first three overs yielded 28 runs—two boundaries, one six, and a lot of noise.
Nikhil responded by bringing in Imran Khan early.
It worked.
Imran bowled a tight spell, removing the opener with a sharp inswinger.
Then came Rudra Yadav.
He walked in at No. 3 and began counterattacking—lofted drives, reverse sweeps, and a cheeky ramp shot off Ritesh Yadav.
Nikhil adjusted the field—deep third man, short fine leg, and a floating slip.
He brought himself on in the 14th over.
First ball—dot. Second ball—slower one, edged for two. Third ball—flighted delivery, Rudra stepped out and missed.
Stumped.
The crowd erupted.
Bundelkhand collapsed.
From 92 for 2, they fell to 138 all out in 31.4 overs.
Nikhil finished with 2 wickets for 18 runs.
Second Innings – Western UP Chasing
Western UP opened with Mahesh Yadav and Ravi Chauhan.
They started cautiously.
The pitch had slowed slightly, and Rudra bowled with venom.
Mahesh was bowled in the fifth over. Ravi was caught behind in the seventh.
Western UP was 34 for 2.
Nikhil walked in at No. 4.
He didn't play flashy.
He played smart.
He swept the spinners. He nudged singles. He ran hard.
At the other end, Siddharth Rawal anchored the innings.
Together, they rebuilt.
Nikhil reached his fifty in the 26th over.
He didn't raise his bat.
He just looked at the selector in the stands.
Then turned back to face the next ball.
Western UP chased down the target in 29.2 overs, winning by 6 wickets.
The Aftermath
After the match, Mr. Rajeev Menon walked over to Coach Devraj.
"Your captain's different," he said.
Devraj smiled. "He's rewriting himself."
Menon nodded. "I'll be watching."
The Quiet Reflection
That night, Nikhil sat with Veer under the neem tree.
He replayed Rudra's aggression. Kabir's message. Menon's presence.
He didn't feel triumphant.
He felt tuned.
Then he whispered to Veer:
"Respect isn't earned in wins. It's earned in how you lose—and how you come back."