Time: 8:30 AM Location: PCA Stadium, Mohali (Punjab). Event: Vijay Merchant Trophy Semi-Final. Match: Hyderabad U-16 vs. Punjab U-16.
If Chennai was an oven, Mohali in January was a freezer. The temperature was 6°C. Thick fog covered the ground. For the Hyderabad boys, who considered 20°C as "winter," this was torture.
Vihan Reddy (Captain) was wearing three sweaters. He looked like a marshmallow. "My fingers are numb," Vihan chattered, blowing into his hands. "How can I hold the bat? It feels like a block of ice."
The Opponent Punjab was a factory of fast bowlers. Their team was tall, broad, and loved the cold. Their star bowler was Manjot Singh. Manjot was 6'3". He had a faint mustache. He ran in like a steam engine. Rumor was he clocked 138 kph.
The Toss Punjab won the toss and elected to Field. "We will bowl," the Punjab captain said, grinning. "The pitch is green and damp. Good luck."
The First Hour: The Massacre
The Hyderabad openers walked out. They were shivering visibly. Manjot Singh ran in. Ball 1: 135 kph Outswinger. The opener couldn't move his feet (stiff from cold). Edge. Gone. 0/1.
Ball 3: 138 kph Inswinger. The Number 3 batsman was late. Clatter. Middle stump cartwheeled. 0/2.
Vihan Reddy walked in. He tried to be brave. He tried to drive. But his hands were numb. The bat handle twisted on impact. [DISSONANCE] caused by lack of grip strength. He chipped it to mid-off. 10/3.
The Hyderabad dugout was silent. The players were terrified. It wasn't just cricket. It was physical survival.
Sai Walks In
Sai walked to the crease. Number 5. He was wearing two sweaters, but he felt the bite of the wind. His nose was running. His ears burned.
[SYSTEM ALERT] External Temp: Critical Low. Muscle Elasticity: Reduced by 40%. Reaction Time: Slowed.
Sai tapped the pitch. It was hard as rock. Manjot Singh stood at the top of his run-up. He glared at Sai. "Oye Chotu! Go back to South India! You will freeze here!"
Ball 1: Manjot sprinted. He banged it short. A bouncer at 138 kph in 6°C weather feels like being hit by a stone.
Sai saw it. He tried to sway. But his neck muscles were stiff. The ball grazed his shoulder.
THUD.
[DISSONANCE - PAIN SPIKE]
It hurt 10 times more than usual because of the cold. A sharp, stinging electricity shot down his arm. Sai dropped his bat. He clutched his shoulder.
"Hahahaha!" The Punjab slip cordon laughed. "Call the ambulance!"
Sai picked up his bat. His right arm was throbbing. I can't feel my fingers.
He looked at the umpire. "Guard, please. Leg stump."
Chapter 37: The Thermal Engine
Tactical Adjustment
Sai realized he couldn't play his normal game. The System requires fluid movement. The cold is making me rigid. I need to generate heat.
Between balls, Sai started jumping. High knees. Sprinting on the spot. "What is he doing?" Vihan asked from the dugout. "He is warming up the engine," Coach Daniel muttered.
Manjot vs. Sai
Over 10: Manjot ran in. Full ball. Sai didn't just block. He stomped his front foot down aggressively to wake up his nerves. [CLICK] He pushed it to mid-on. "Run!" He sprinted. Even though the ball went straight to the fielder. He wanted to run to get blood flowing. The fielder threw. Missed. Single.
The Battle of Attrition
Sai batted for an hour. He took blows on the thigh pad, the ribs, and the gloves. Every hit stung like a bee sting. But slowly, his body temperature rose. Muscle Elasticity: Restored to 80%.
Over 25: Manjot came back for his second spell. He was annoyed that the "South Indian kid" was still there. He tried the Short Ball again.
Sai was warm now. He saw the length. He predicted the bounce (Mohali bounces true). [SYSTEM MODE: DEFLECTION]
He didn't pull (too much energy). He arched his back. He presented the face of the bat at a 45-degree angle. The Upper Cut. (Sehwag Style).
[RESONANCE]
The pace of the ball (135 kph) met the angle of the bat. The ball flew over the slips. It sailed over the third-man boundary.
SIX.
The Punjab captain stopped chewing his gum.
Over 26: The spinner came on. Sai stepped out. He didn't care about the turn. He hit through the line. Straight Drive. FOUR.
Sai scored 78 Runs. It wasn't a double century. It was ugly. It was gritty. But he dragged Hyderabad from 10/3 to 185 All Out.
On a green top in Mohali, 185 was a fighting total.
The Swing Master
Hyderabad Bowling: Sai gathered the team in the huddle. "Listen," Sai said, his teeth chattering slightly. "They are used to the cold. But they are used to batting on flat tracks. This pitch is moving. Kabir, pitch it up. Let the fog do the work."
Kabir (Left-arm pacer) nodded. He ran in. The cold air was heavy. The ball swung like a banana.
Punjab Collapse: The Punjab batsmen tried to drive through the line. Swing. Edge. Slip. Swing. Pad. LBW.
Kabir took 6 wickets for 40 runs. Punjab All Out for 140.
Second Innings: Hyderabad scored 160. (Sai scored 35). Target for Punjab: 206. Kabir and the spinners choked them.
Hyderabad Won by 25 Runs.
They were in the Final.