Date: September 22, 2008 (Monday) Time: 7:30 PM Location: Sachdev Sports, Secunderabad.
The shop was dazzling under the fluorescent lights. Sai stood in the protective gear section, looking at a wall of helmets. Masuri. (Imported. Rs. 4,500). Too expensive. Shrey. (Premium. Rs. 3,000). Too expensive. Forma. (Standard. Rs. 1,400).
Rao stood next to him, looking at the price tags with a frown. He was holding his credit card—a silver SBI card that he usually kept locked in the almari for "medical emergencies."
"Which one fits?" Rao asked.
Sai picked up the Navy Blue Forma. It had a fixed grill (safer than the adjustable one that broke). It had extra padding on the ears. He put it on. He tightened the strap.
[CLICK] Fit: Perfect. Stability: High.
It didn't wobble. It felt like a part of his skull. "This one, Nanna. But it is Rs. 1,400."
Rao looked at Sai's swollen nose, which was still purple from yesterday's bouncer. He didn't hesitate. He walked to the counter. "Pack it."
As the machine beeped and the receipt printed, Rao looked at Sai. "This helmet is costlier than my office shoes. If you get out for a duck, I will wear this helmet and headbutt you."
Sai grinned behind the grill. "Deal."
Date: September 28, 2008 (Sunday) Location: NFC Grounds (Nuclear Fuel Complex), ECIL. Event: HCA Inter-Zonal Tournament (U-14). Match: North Zone (Sai's Team) vs. South Zone.
The North Zone team looked fancy. They had Vihan Reddy (Captain) and boys from decent schools. The South Zone team looked... dangerous. These were boys from the Old City—Charminar, Falaknuma, Chandrayangutta. They played aggressive, street-smart cricket. They were loud, they sledged in intense Hyderabadi Urdu, and they hated "rich kids."
The Toss South Zone won the toss and batted first. They smashed 210 in 40 overs. A massive score for U-14s. Their opener, a guy named Ismail, hit 5 sixes.
North Zone Chase Target: 211. Required Rate: 5.2 runs per over.
The Collapse The North Zone openers were terrified of the South Zone pace attack. Score: 20/2 in 5 overs.
Vihan Reddy walked in at Number 4. He played well. He was the only one who looked comfortable. He scored a breezy 45. But then, he got impatient. He tried to hit a spinner for six, mistimed it, and was caught at long-off.
Score: 95/5 in 18 Overs. Still 116 runs needed.
"Number 7! Sai Krishna!" Coach Baig yelled.
Sai picked up his bat. He put on his new Navy Blue Forma helmet. It felt secure. He walked out to the middle.
The Sledging
The South Zone wicketkeeper, a guy with a messy beard (definitely not 14), saw Sai walking in. "Arey! School team sent a toddler!" he laughed in Urdu. "Oye bowler! Bowl slow, or he will cry to his mummy!"
Sai took his guard. He looked at the bowler. Bilal. Bilal was tall, lanky, and bowled with a slinging action.
Ball 1: Bilal ran in. "Mummy ko yaad kar le!" (Remember your mommy!) He bowled a screamer. Short and directed at the head.
Sai didn't flinch. The new helmet gave him confidence. He watched the ball. It was too high. He swayed out of the way. The ball flew to the keeper.
"Oho? Style?" The keeper chirped.
Ball 2: Bilal bowled full. Sai leaned forward. [CLICK] He pushed it gently to mid-on. "Run!" He sprinted. He was fast. The mid-on fielder was lazy. Sai completed the single easily.
He walked to the non-striker's end. The batsman there was Rakesh, a nervous boy from Sai's own club. "Sai, they are abusing too much," Rakesh whispered. "I can't focus."
"Close your ears, Rakesh," Sai said calmly. "They are barking because they are scared we might win."
The Partnership
Sai and Rakesh started to rebuild. Slowly. Current Run Rate: 3.5. Required Run Rate: Climbing to 7.0.
Sai knew he couldn't match the power of the South Zone boys. So, he used their aggression against them.
Over 25: The South Zone captain brought in a spinner. The spinner bowled flat. Sai used the Paddle Sweep. Four runs fine leg.
The spinner tossed it up. Sai used the Late Cut. Four runs third man.
He was annoying them. He wasn't hitting straight; he was hitting behind the wicket.
Score: 150/5 in 30 Overs. Equation: 61 runs needed in 60 balls.
The South Zone captain, Ismail, got angry. "Bilal! Come back! Break this kid!"
Over 32: The Bodyline
Bilal returned. He was furious that a "small kid" was still batting on 25 runs. He decided to bowl Bodyline. Aim for the ribs. Aim for the head.
Ball 1: Bouncer. It hit Sai on the chest. Thud. Sai winced. The "Dissonance" flared red. But he didn't rub it. He stood straight.
Ball 2: Bouncer. It hit Sai on the new helmet. CLANG. The Forma helmet held firm. No broken strap. No blood. Sai nodded at the bowler. "Good ball."
Bilal lost it. "You think you are hero?"
Ball 3: Bilal overstepped. No Ball. He bowled a yorker, but because of the No Ball, it didn't matter. Sai guided it for a single.
The Turning Point
Rakesh, inspired by Sai taking the hits, started to play shots. He hit a lucky six. Then a four. The momentum shifted.
Equation: 20 runs needed in 18 balls.
Vihan Reddy was standing on the pavilion balcony, watching. "He's taking the hits," Vihan muttered to Coach Baig. "He's absorbing the pressure."
Baig nodded. "That is called 'Khadoos' cricket. Ugly, but effective."
The Last Over
Score: 205/6. (Rakesh got out). Target: 211. Equation: 6 runs needed off 6 balls.
Sai was on strike. He was on 42 Runs. The bowler was Ismail (South Zone Captain). He bowled medium pace cutters.
Ismail set the field back. He wanted to save the boundary.
Ball 1: Cutter outside off. Sai cut it. Deep Point fielder. Single. 5 off 5.
Ball 2: The new batsman (Tailender) swung blindly. Missed. Dot ball. 5 off 4.
Ball 3: Tailender swung again. Edged. Ball went to third man. Single. 4 off 3.
Sai on strike. Ismail stopped. He looked at the field. He brought the fielders IN. He knew Sai didn't have the power to hit over the top. If he brought the field up, Sai couldn't take a single. He had to hit a boundary to win.
Smart Captaincy, Sai thought. He knows my weakness. No Power.
Ismail ran in. He bowled a length ball on middle stump. If Sai pushed it, the mid-on fielder would stop it. No run.
Sai had to innovate. He couldn't hit over mid-on. So he decided to hit over the keeper.
He moved across his stumps. He crouched low. He waited for the ball to arrive. He scooped it. The Dilshan Scoop. (Again).
But this time, Ismail bowled a Slower Ball. The ball didn't arrive fast enough to fly over the keeper. It looped up... gently... It was falling right into the Keeper's hands.
Sai froze. I mistimed it. [DISSONANCE]
The Keeper ran back. He reached up. The ball hit his gloves. And... Popped out.
The South Zone keeper, overconfident and casual, tried to catch it with one hand. He dropped it.
"RUN!" Sai screamed.
They ran two runs while the keeper cursed his luck. 2 runs needed off 2 balls.
Ball 5: Ismail was shattered. His keeper had dropped the match. He bowled a wide yorker. Sai threw his bat at it. Edge. The ball flew past the slip (who was removed earlier). It raced to the boundary.
FOUR.
North Zone Won by 3 Wickets.
Sai took off his helmet. He raised his bat towards the pavilion. He wasn't celebrating a century. He was celebrating survival. 48 Runs Not Out.
Coach Baig stood up and clapped. Even the South Zone players, aggressive and angry, stopped to look at the kid.
Bilal (the fast bowler) walked past Sai. "Helmet accha hai," Bilal grunted. (Helmet is good.) "Bacha liya tereko." (Saved you.)
Sai smiled, patting the navy blue shell. "Best investment," Sai whispered.
He walked back to the dressing room. Vihan was waiting at the door. He held out a bottle of water.
"You played a Scoop shot in the last over?" Vihan asked, looking incredulous. "Against a slower ball? You are insane."
"I calculated the wind," Sai lied. (He actually just got lucky).
Vihan laughed. A genuine laugh. "You're crazy, Turtle. But you're in the team."