Date: June 2, 2011 Location: Vijaya Anand Grounds. Event: HCA A-Division League Match. Match: Deccan Blues CC vs. Gemini Friends CC.
Sai had graduated from the Reserves. He was now a regular in the Playing XI for Deccan Blues. But today was different. Today, they were playing Gemini Friends, a top-tier club. And their opening bowler was Vikram, a 19-year-old who was in the Ranji Trophy probable list.
Vikram bowled 135 kph. To a 14-year-old, 135 kph is frightening. It's the speed where you don't see the ball; you hear it.
The Situation
Deccan Blues were 45/3. The top order had been blown away by Vikram's pace.
Sai walked in at Number 5. He wore his Navy Blue Forma helmet (still fits) and carried his new SS Ton bat. He looked at Vikram. Vikram was 6'1", muscular, and had a nasty stare.
"Another school kid?" Vikram laughed to the slip fielder. "Reddy Sir is running a daycare center."
Sai took his guard. Middle Stump. He marked the line deep.
Ball 1: Vikram ran in. He didn't hold back. He bowled a short-of-length ball rising at the ribs. The old Sai would have fended it off or ducked. The 14-year-old Sai stood tall. He rose on his toes. He dropped his wrists. The ball hit the splice of the bat and dropped dead at his feet.
Vikram glared. "Oho? Defense?"
Ball 2: Vikram went fuller. Searching for the edge. Sai leaned forward. [CLICK] A solid forward defense. The ball rolled to mid-off. "No run," Sai called loudly. His voice had cracked and deepened. It wasn't a squeak anymore.
The Test of Power
Vikram got bored. He wanted to embarrass the kid. He decided to bowl the "Heavy Ball"—a bouncer aimed at the nose.
Ball 3: Vikram sprinted. He banged it in short. 132 kph. It rose sharply.
In 2008, Sai would have ducked. In 2011, Sai saw the length.
[POWER] Back foot pivot. Weight transfer. Hip rotation.
Sai didn't duck. He transferred his weight to his back foot. He swiveled his hips. He brought the SS Ton bat around in a horizontal arc. The Pull Shot.
CRACK.
The sound was thunderous. The thick English Willow connected with the leather ball. Sai didn't just deflect it. He hit it.
The ball flew over Square Leg. It kept going. It flew over the boundary rope. It landed in the parking lot.
SIX.
Vikram stopped in his follow-through. He turned around to watch the ball disappear. He looked back at Sai. Sai was just tapping the pitch, adjusting his gloves.
"What was that?" the wicketkeeper whispered.
"That," Sai muttered to himself, "is 80kg Deadlifts."
The Domination
That shot changed everything. Vikram couldn't bully him anymore. If he bowled short, Sai pulled. If he bowled full, Sai drove with power.
Sai batted for 2 hours. He faced 75 balls. He scored 68 Runs. (4 Fours, 2 Sixes).
He got out eventually (tired shot), but the message was sent. As he walked back to the pavilion, Reddy Sir was beaming. Sitting next to Reddy Sir was a man with a notebook.
It was Mr. John Manoj, the Secretary of HCA and a key figure in U-16 selections.
Reddy Sir patted Sai's back. "John Sir," Reddy said. "This is the boy. Sai Krishna."
John Manoj looked at Sai. "You pulled Vikram for six?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Vikram plays Ranji One-Dayers. You are 14?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Good," John Manoj noted. "U-16 Zonal Trials start next Monday at Gymkhana. Don't be late."