In his last life, Abhay had begun his cricket journey at around eight years of age.
Even then, a day like this had come.
Back then, his father had taken Shanti Mart, the hypermart his dadu had started, to great heights. As the business expanded, Mohammad Kaif had become somewhat of a public face for the mart. Through business meetings, events, and casual interactions, Sanjay Khanna and Kaif had grown friendly.
Because of that connection, Sanjay had once asked Kaif to coach his son a few times.
Kaif had agreed easily. At first, it was just a favor for a friend. But after seeing Abhay's talent, Kaif's interest had grown. By the time Abhay began playing for Delhi Under-14, Kaif had taken him under his wing almost full-time.
It had been a good partnership but one that ended far too soon.
An accident.
A single moment that took cricket away from him forever.
Now, standing in the present, Kaif looked at the five-year-old Abhay with visible surprise.
He had, of course, seen the catch just moments ago. And as someone who had once revolutionized India's fielding standards, Kaif knew exactly what he was looking at.
That wasn't just athleticism.
To pull off a catch like that, a player needed judgment, an understanding of the ball's flight, its drop point, its timing. Without that, even the most spectacular jumps meant nothing.
Abhay had both.
Earlier, Kaif had agreed to look after Sanjay's son mostly as a courtesy.
Now?
He was genuinely interested.
Turning to Sanjay, Kaif spoke with a hint of disbelief. "You never told me your son was this good, Sanju."
Sanjay shrugged casually. "He takes after me."
Kaif snorted. "Yeah, right. You wouldn't run even half a meter even if your life depended on it. And your son just did that."
Sanjay coughed and pretended he hadn't heard a word.
Changing the topic smoothly, he asked, "So… will you coach him? I don't want anything extensive. He's too young for an academy right now. But I don't want him staying passive either. Maybe you could teach him a few things?"
Kaif nodded almost immediately. "I agree. At first, I wasn't sure, he's only five. But after seeing him now, it's clear he has real talent. Letting him rot for five years would be a waste."
He paused, thinking carefully. "For now, I'll focus on preparing his body and teaching him the basics. The theory of the game. Anything high-level or intense could injure him at this age, and that's the last thing we want."
Sanjay's face lit up. "That's perfect," he said, nodding. "I'll get everything ready. You can make the schedule however you like."
He then beckoned Abhay closer, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Good catch, tiger. This is Mohammad Kaif, my friend and a former Indian cricketer. He's agreed to teach you until you enter an academy at ten, okay?"
Abhay nodded immediately. His smile didn't fade as he hugged his father tightly.
"Thank you, Papa."
He then turned to Kaif, raised two fingers in a peace sign, and said cheerfully, "Hello, Coach. I'm Abhay."
Kaif laughed softly. "Hello, Abhay. I'm Kaif."
Just like that, Abhay had secured himself a coach.
~~~
Five years passed by in the blink of an eye.
Abhay turned ten years old on 2 January 2010.
In those five years, the cricketing world, especially in India, had changed drastically. India had won the 2007 T20 World Cup under Dhoni's captaincy. The IPL had been introduced, and a few seasons had already come and gone. Cricket was no longer just a sport; it had become an industry, a spectacle, and a dream for millions.
It was now March 2010.
That morning, Abhay and his parents had gone to collect the school results, his and his sister's. As expected, both siblings had topped their respective classes.
For Abhay, it was effortless. Even in his previous life, he had never struggled academically. Now, taking the same lessons again with an adult mind, it felt almost trivial.
As for Ananya, things were a little different. She wasn't particularly interested in studies, but with good tutors and steady discipline, topping her class wasn't difficult either.
Abhay knew how her story would go.
In his last life, Ananya had become a fashion designer. She had started her own company and done well for herself. Even now, the signs were already there. When she turned ten, their parents had enrolled her in a sewing class. Every year after that, they added one more class to her schedule, design, fabric work, pattern making.
She had already begun preparing for her future.
Today, however, the focus was on Abhay.
They were heading to the West Delhi Cricket Academy to enroll him officially.
It was one of the best academies in Delhi. More importantly, the Khanna family had connections there. Abhay wouldn't face unnecessary hurdles, neither in training nor in getting match opportunities.
Abhay wasn't naïve.
He didn't believe that talent alone was enough to survive in the cricketing world. Talent mattered, yes, but so did money and connections.
If he had been a normal kid, not reborn, without his father's resources or his connection to Coach Kaif, these five years could have easily gone to waste. Without money, he would have been forced to start at the very bottom, school-level cricket, hoping someone noticed him in the matches.
Now, he could begin directly at an academy where Delhi selectors frequently visited, where older cricketers often came to give guidance, and where performance actually translated into opportunity.
He had confidence in himself. He truly believed that, even with talent alone, he could have made something of his cricketing career.
But if he had advantages and chose not to use them?
That wouldn't make him noble. That would make him an idiot.
~
The enrollment process turned out to be an easy affair.
The head of the academy, Rajkumar Sharma, personally came out to meet Sanjay Khanna. Abhay smiled when he saw the man. He knew him well, this was the coach who had trained Virat Kohli, and it was because of him that Abhay had gotten the chance to meet Kohli in his last life.
Rajkumar handled all the formalities smoothly. With a few signatures and a short discussion, everything was settled. Abhay was officially enrolled and set to join the academy from the very next day.
On the way back home, Abhay finally opened the system again. Seeing the results of the last five years made him quietly satisfied.
---
[ATTRIBUTES]
BATTING: 18% (Limited due to age)
BOWLING: 18% (Limited due to age)
FIELDING: 21% (Limited due to age)
CAPTAINCY: 16% (Will only increase if the host captains a team or makes valuable contributions as a vice-captain.)
[TALENTS: Calm Mind, Smiling Tiger, Cricket Prodigy, Business Master, Sleep Lover, Sweet Tooth.]
[SKILLS: Adaptive Healing, Instinct Calibration, Situational Absorption, Sustained Match Presence.]
---
Both his batting and bowling had increased by twelve percent over five years under Coach Kaif's guidance. It wasn't particularly high, but Abhay understood why. His body was still holding him back. Once puberty hit and his physical growth accelerated, these two attributes would naturally improve at a faster pace.
Fielding, however, had seen the biggest jump.
That was a combined result of Coach Kaif's teachings and his Instinct Calibration skill. His fielding had improved to the point where he rarely dropped catches now. The only ones he missed were those that were simply too far, out of reach even after sprinting, jumping, or diving.
Years of gymnastics training under Ms. Garima, combined with parkour exercises suggested by Kaif, had significantly improved his flexibility. That flexibility translated directly into better fielding. Kaif had also drilled proper posture into him, whether fielding, batting, or bowling, to minimize injury risks.
Just as importantly, his mind was now filled with the current cricket theory. Many rules and tactical approaches were different in this era compared to the future he remembered, and adapting early was crucial.
The two new skills he had unlocked were especially valuable.
[Situational Absorption] was a skill that enhanced his overall cricketing sense. It helped him read the game better, understanding what the situation demanded, what kind of stroke to play, what type of ball to bowl, and even how to position himself in the field. Combined with Instinct Calibration, it allowed him to observe batters closely, anticipate their shots, and adjust accordingly.
[Sustained Match Presence] was even more important.
It was a stamina-based skill, and to Abhay, it felt like a godsend. Stamina was critical in cricket, no matter the role. For someone like him, an all-rounder who batted, bowled, and fielded, it was indispensable.
He didn't want to become just a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder. He wanted to be strong at both. Instead of choosing one path, he chose to develop everything together.
Sustained Match Presence helped him distribute his energy efficiently during long matches, allowing him to remain sharp deep into games. Combined with Adaptive Healing, it gave him a massive long-term advantage.
Of course, all of this required a solid physical base.
He had already begun preparing for that, early morning runs, structured exercises designed by one of Coach Kaif's old friends, all tailored specifically for his age and growing body. His diet was equally well-managed. Having good chefs at home ensured that even healthy food tasted good.
All of this cost a lot of money but that wasn't a problem.
Ever since his rebirth, Abhay had quietly ensured that his family continued growing richer. Nothing obvious, just casual comments about companies that would grow, childlike curiosity, the occasional idea dropped during dinner. His father, with his sharp business sense, picked up on them easily.
Because of that, Shanti Mart had begun expanding outside Delhi, particularly into the Northern Region as a whole, they had a mart in all of these states.
Abhay had no desire to become the richest man in the country. He only wanted enough money to support his cricket journey and maintain his easygoing lifestyle. He didn't bother with things like crypto or stock markets, besides, he was still too young.
More importantly, he didn't want to stand out in anything other than cricket.
That would take too much effort.
With that thought, he closed the system, reached over, and took a bite of the chocolate his sister had opened for herself. Ignoring her aggrieved complaints and aggressive hair-pulling, Abhay curled up comfortably and fell asleep.
~~~
The West Delhi Cricket Academy felt exactly the same as it had in his previous life.
Since Abhay was still only ten, he wasn't required to attend the early morning sessions. Those would begin once he turned twelve, or earlier, if he managed to earn a spot in the Under-14 team ahead of time.
For now, his routine was simple.
He arrived at the academy soon after school. A driver dropped him off at the gate with his kit bag and uniform, then went on to drop Ananya at her own classes before returning later to pick them both up.
No one paid the arrangement any attention.
Most of the kids here were just like Abhay, children from well-off families. After all, WDCA was the best academy in the area, and the fees it charged reflected that. Being dropped off by a driver was nothing unusual.
Abhay paused for a moment as he stepped inside, taking in the entire field.
The turf wickets stretched neatly across the ground. Bowling machines stood at the edges, humming softly. Cameras were positioned at various angles to record sessions for later analysis. Everything, from the equipment to the maintenance, spoke of quality.
This was one of the best academies in Delhi for a reason.
He went to the changing room, switched into his practice kit, shouldered his bag, and headed toward the Under-12 group.
The academy was divided into four main sections, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, and the senior batches grouped together. Rajkumar Sharma had designed the structure carefully. Younger players trained separately, ensuring they weren't bullied or intimidated by older ones.
However, there was an exception.
If a younger player performed exceptionally well, they were quickly moved up to a higher batch for better training. Once there, they would face pressure, real pressure, from older, stronger players.
Rajkumar didn't interfere with that.
In his view, pressure was necessary.
Only under pressure could a diamond be forged.
It was a philosophy he had tested and proven. After all, this was the same method that had shaped a player like Virat Kohli. Rajkumar saw no reason to change something that worked.
As Abhay walked toward the Under-12 nets, he adjusted the straps of his kit bag and took a quiet breath.
This was where the real journey began.
~~~~~
{I'll try to keep track of real life people, but don't expect too much of that in the early stages, especially in years as early as 2010.}
{Also, for any over excited people, he wouldn't be meeting Virat Kohli just yet, we'll take some time and develop that bond too. Do you want them to have brothers like bond? Or just casual relation of senior and junior? Comment your thoughts.}
{And as I said in the fic, he wouldn't be too focused on business and things like crypto, I'm tired with super rich mc's, he will be rich, yes, very rich even, but not ultra gazillionare who doesn't know what to do with money.}