Date: April 4, 2011 Time: 5:30 AM Location: "Hercules Gym," Kukatpally (A small, rusted basement gym).
Three years had passed. The world had changed. India had just won the 2011 World Cup two days ago. Dhoni's six over long-on was replaying on every TV screen in the country. The streets of Hyderabad were still painted with tricolor rangoli.
And Sai Krishna had changed.
He was no longer the 4-foot-something stick figure who survived by blocking. He was 13 years and 8 months old. He stood 5'6" (and growing). His jawline had sharpened. The baby fat was gone, replaced by the lean, hungry look of a teenager hitting peak puberty.
The Rack
Sai stood in front of a barbell loaded with iron plates. Weight: 80 kg. Exercise: Deadlift.
The gym owner, a massive man named Pahlevan, stood with a stick. "Back straight! Chest up! Don't lift with your ego, lift with your glutes!"
Sai gripped the bar. His hands were calloused.
[SYSTEM STATUS] Core Stability: 85% Posterior Chain: Activated Target: Explosive Power.
In 2008, Sai played with "Resonance" (Timing). In 2011, Sai was training for "Impact" (Force).
He took a deep breath. Brace core. He pulled. The bar rose smoothly. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
He dropped the weight. CLANG. The sound echoed in the basement.
"Good," Pahlevan grunted. "Now go drink milk. If you don't grow, your dad will blame me."
Sai wiped his sweat. His dad's fear that "gym stops height" had been proven wrong. Sai was growing faster than ever. The heavy lifting had triggered a testosterone spike, and the protein-heavy diet (boiled chicken, eggs, pulses) was fueling the engine.
Time: 7:00 AM Location: Sai's Home.
Sai stood in front of the mirror. He flexed his forearm. It wasn't bodybuilder huge, but it was dense. The "Forearm flexors"—crucial for bat speed—were rock hard.
Rao walked past the room, holding the Deccan Chronicle. He stopped and looked at his son. "Stop posing," Rao said, suppressing a smile. "Have you finished your Math homework?"
"It's summer holidays, Nanna."
"Oh. Right." Rao looked at Sai. "You look... different. Taller."
"It's the deadlifts, Nanna. Posture correction."
Rao hummed. "U-16 selections are in June?"
"Yes. This is the big one. U-14 is for kids. U-16 is for careers."
Rao walked to the cupboard. He unlocked the locker. Over the last three years, Rao had stopped complaining about cricket expenses. He had seen Sai's dedication. He had seen the newspaper clippings.
"Come with me to the shop today," Rao said. "Why?" "Your old bat... the one with the carpenter glue... it sounds like a hollow drum. If you want to play U-16, you need a weapon, not a toy."
Date: May 15, 2011 Location: Sachdev Sports.
This time, Sai didn't look at the Rs. 1500 bats. He was in the Premium Section.
He picked up an SS Ton (English Willow). It cost Rs. 6,500. It was a beast. Thick edges (35mm). High spine. Large sweet spot. But it was light. The balance was exquisite.
"Pick it up," the shopkeeper said.
Sai held it. He took his stance. He visualized a bowler bowling at 130 kph. He visualized the Pull Shot.
[SYSTEM FEEDBACK] Bat Speed Potential: High. Power Transfer: Optimal.
"This one," Sai said.
Rao swiped his card. He winced slightly at the price, but he didn't say a word. Sai carried the bat out like it was Excalibur.