Location: NCA Athletics Track.
"Fitness Test!" The trainer, Mr. Basu, blew his whistle. The squad groaned.
In 2012, the Yo-Yo Test was just being introduced experimentally to the junior teams. It was brutal. Two cones, 20 meters apart. You run back and forth before the beep. The beeps get faster.
The Challenge
Unmukt Chand stood next to Sai. "Hey Sai," Unmukt said, adjusting his headband. "I bet I can beat you. If I win, you carry my kit bag for a week."
Sai looked at the Captain. "And if I win?"
Unmukt laughed. "If you win? I'll treat the whole team to dinner at BBQ Nation."
"Deal."
The Test Begins
Level 5 to 10: Easy jogging. Everyone survived. Level 12: The fast bowlers started dropping out. Sandeep Sharma walked off, gasping. "I'm a bowler, not a marathon runner!"
Level 15: Only the fittest remained. Unmukt Chand. Akshdeep Nath. Baba Aparajith. And Sai.
Unmukt was running smoothly. He was an elite athlete. Sai was hurting. His legs were shorter. He had to take more steps. [SYSTEM STATUS] Lactic Acid: Critical. Heart Rate: 190 bpm.
Level 16.1: Aparajith dropped out.
Level 16.5: Akshdeep Nath dropped out.
It was just Unmukt and Sai. BEEP. Run. BEEP. Turn.
Unmukt looked at Sai. He was surprised the "kid" was still there. Sai's face was red. He was breathing like a steam engine. But he wasn't stopping. The "Deadlifts" and "Squats" from Hercules Gym were paying off. His legs had power.
Level 17.1: Unmukt sprinted. He crossed the line. Sai sprinted. He crossed the line.
Level 17.2: Unmukt stumbled slightly on the turn. He was tired. Sai kept his rhythm. Turn. Push.
Level 17.3: The beep sounded. Sai crossed the line. Unmukt was two steps short.
"Stop!" Mr. Basu yelled. "Unmukt out!"
Unmukt collapsed on the grass. Sai finished the rep and then fell over.
The team erupted. "BBQ Nation! BBQ Nation!" Sandeep Sharma chanted.
Unmukt rolled over, sweat dripping from his face. He looked at Sai. "You little monster," Unmukt panted, smiling. "Where do you get that lung capacity?"
"Boiled Chicken," Sai gasped. "And... fear of carrying your kit bag."
Next Session
Location: Alur Cricket Ground 1 (The Green Top). Match: India U-19 Probables A vs. Probables B.
This was the final filter before the squad for the Asia Cup was picked. The pitch at Alur was green. It had rained the night before. It was a bowler's paradise.
Teams:
Team Unmukt (A): The Stars. (Unmukt, Aparajith, Sandeep).
Team Vihari (B): The Underdogs. (Vihari, Sai, Harmeet).
The Collapse of Team B
Team B batted first on the damp pitch. Sandeep Sharma was unplayable. He swung the ball both ways. The openers were gone in 4 overs. Hanuma Vihari was trapped LBW. Score: 25/3.
Sai walked in at Number 5. Sandeep Sharma was bowling. He had his tail up. "Dinner is on Unmukt, but the wicket is mine!" Sandeep yelled.
The Duel
Sai marked his guard. He knew he couldn't score runs easily. The ball was jagging off the seam. He decided to play the "Wall Game."
Ball 1: Outswinger. Left alone.
Ball 2: Inswinger. Sai covered the line. Soft hands. The ball died near the slip cordon.
Over 15: The spinner, Baba Aparajith, came on. Aparajith was smart. He bowled flat and fast.
Sai used the crease. When Aparajith bowled full, Sai stepped out to smother the spin. When he bowled short, Sai went deep back to cut.
He wasn't hitting boundaries. He was stealing singles. He built a partnership with Akash, the wicketkeeper of Team B.
The Acceleration
By the 40th over, Team B was 140/5. Sai was on 55 off 90 balls. The pitch had flattened out slightly.
Unmukt brought back the pacers to finish the tail. Kamal Passi (Fast) returned.
Sai changed gears. [MODE: COUNTER-PUNCH]
Ball 1: Short ball. Sai didn't duck. He played the Tennis Forehand Shot (a variation of the pull) over mid-on. FOUR.
Ball 2: Yorker attempt. Full toss. Sai opened the face. Guided past point. FOUR.
He ended up with 82 Not Out. Team B posted 210.
The Defense
In the second innings, Team A chased. Unmukt scored a breezy 30 but got out slogging. The pitch slowed down. Team B's spinners (Harmeet) choked them.
Team A fell short by 15 runs. Sai was the Man of the Match.
The Selection List
That evening, the notice board at NCA had the final list. India U-19 Squad for U-19 Asia Cup (Malaysia).
Unmukt Chand (C)
Akshdeep Nath (VC)
Baba Aparajith
Hanuma Vihari
V. Sai Krishna ...
Sai stared at his name. He took a photo with his Nokia phone. He sent it to his dad. Message: "Pack the bags, Nanna. We are going to Malaysia."
Epilogue: Unmukt walked by. He handed Sai a protein bar. "You won the bet," Unmukt said. "Dinner tonight. But in Malaysia, the Pakistan bowlers bowl 140+ kph. Be ready."
Sai unwrapped the bar. 140+ kph. The speed of international cricket. He had two weeks to prepare.