The team sheet was pinned to the notice board at 7:30 AM.
UP vs Karnataka – Playing XI
Nikhil Srivatam's name wasn't on it.
He read the list once. Then folded the sheet and walked to the nets.
He didn't ask questions.
He didn't sulk.
He trained.
The day before the match, the UP squad held a full-session workout at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium. The mood was focused, not tense. Karnataka had a reputation for chasing well, and UP's bowling unit was under scrutiny.
Nikhil wasn't in the match plan.
But he trained like he was.
He bowled twenty uninterrupted overs in the side nets—off-spin with flight, drift, and subtle variations. He worked with Siddharth Rao on grip pressure. He shadowed field placements with Ravi Teja. He helped Vivek Agnihotri with seam angles for left-handers.
He didn't ask for attention.
He earned it.
Mayank Rawat watched from the boundary.
"He's not even playing," he said to Vivek.
Vivek nodded. "But he's preparing like he is."
Divakar Singh added, "That's not just discipline. That's endurance."
Rajeev Menon, seated quietly in the pavilion, scribbled a note.
"Not waiting. Preparing."
That evening, the squad gathered for tactical briefing.
Coach Ramesh Bhatia laid out the bowling plans, fielding zones, and batting order. Nikhil sat near the back, notebook open, listening.
When the coach asked for feedback on Karnataka's middle order, Nikhil raised his hand.
"They rotate early, then accelerate between overs 22 and 30. Their No. 5 favors the sweep against left-arm pace. We should hold off spin until the 18th."
No one interrupted.
Raghav Mehta, flamboyant and competitive, turned and nodded.
"Good call."
Match day arrived with a crisp breeze and a dry pitch.
UP won the toss and chose to bat.
The top order started strong—Raghav Mehta with a brisk 42, Karan Bhagat anchoring with 38. But the middle collapsed under Karnataka's spin choke.
UP posted 211 in 50 overs.
Defendable.
But fragile.
Nikhil sat in the dugout, pads off, notebook open.
He watched every ball.
He tracked field shifts.
He noted Karnataka's running patterns.
He didn't cheer loudly.
He didn't flinch.
He focused.
The second innings was a grind.
Mayank Rawat bowled with venom, removing the opener with a seaming delivery. Vivek Agnihotri swung the ball both ways, keeping the run rate in check.
But Karnataka's middle order fought back.
At 38 overs, they needed 54 runs.
At 45 overs, they needed 22.
Then came a moment.
Divakar Singh bowled a slower ball. The batter mistimed it. Caught at deep midwicket.
The dugout erupted.
Nikhil didn't.
He just scribbled:
"Slower ball. Midwicket trap. Worked."
UP won by 7 runs.
It wasn't dominant.
It was earned.
After the match, Coach Bhatia addressed the squad.
"Good win. But we're not done. We need thinkers. We need endurance."
He looked at Nikhil.
"You're not in the XI. But you're in the team."
Later that night, Nikhil sat alone under the stadium lights.
Veer tucked beside him.
He didn't feel left out.
He felt ready.