Prince stood on the pitch under the late evening sky, the light golden hue of sunset glinting off his bat. The cheers of his teammates still echoed from the boundary lines. The final shot, a crisp flick through mid-wicket, was still fresh in his mind. They had done it. Kerala had beaten Delhi.
His shirt was soaked in sweat, his breathing sharp and heavy, but there was a strange calm inside him. Not the kind he used to feel after a drunken high in his previous life, but one that came from effort, focus, and control.
For once, Prince felt that his victory meant something.
The coach, Gautam Shivas, patted him on the shoulder as the boys gathered around. "Good start, Martin. Remember, this is just the beginning. The real tournament begins next week."
Prince nodded, looking out at the fading sun. He could feel it, deep in his bones, that this life would not be wasted.
Kerala vs Mumbai (Match 1)
The first match of the national under-12 division was held at the Wankhede Academy Ground, Mumbai. The air was humid, and the pitch looked dry with a hard surface, perfect for batting early but tricky as the ball aged.
Mumbai's side looked sharp. Among them were some names already making small ripples in local circuits: Prithvi Shaw, who opened for the Mumbai school team; Sarfaraz Khan, the middle-order wonder; and Yashasvi Jaiswal, a wiry boy who bowled slow left-arm and opened occasionally.
Kerala won the toss and chose to bat first.
Aru and Rohan started carefully, holding back Mumbai's quicks. By the fifth over, Kerala had 28 for no loss. Then Rohan fell, caught behind. Danish came in and played some attacking shots, pulling Yashasvi's slower ones over square leg for boundaries.
Prince came in at four down, with the score at 78 for 4. He took a few balls to settle. The Mumbai captain brought on Sarfaraz Khan's leg-spin, and Prince smiled.
The System flashed a note across his vision: "Leg spin detected. Wrist variation: early release. Flight trajectory shallow."
Prince read the delivery early, stepped out, and lifted it over long-on. The sound of the ball hitting the middle of his bat echoed through the ground.
By the time Kerala's innings ended, Prince had scored 61 off 47 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. Kerala posted 182 in 25 overs.
Mumbai began their chase confidently. Shaw was sharp, punching through covers. But Prince, bowling seam from the northern end, broke the rhythm. His first over was tight; the second brought success as Shaw edged one to the keeper.
He finished his four-over spell with 2 wickets for 24 runs, including the wicket of Yashasvi, who tried to loft a slower delivery but skied it to mid-off.
Kerala won by 22 runs.
Coach Gautam's smile afterward said everything. "That's how a complete player performs, Prince. Remember this feeling."
Kerala vs Tamil Nadu (Match 2)
Held in Chennai, the match against Tamil Nadu was expected to be tough. Their squad had Washington Sundar, already considered a prodigy with both bat and ball, and T. Natarajan, a tall left-arm seamer with an accurate yorker even at this young age.
The humidity was punishing, the pitch slightly cracked, and spin was expected to dominate.
Tamil Nadu batted first. Washington opened, steady and elegant, scoring 36 before he fell to a stunning delivery from Prince. It was a full-length seamer that moved just enough to beat his bat and clip the off-stump.
Prince bowled a disciplined spell of 3 for 29 in 5 overs, mixing length balls with slower ones, keeping Tamil Nadu to 165 all out.
Kerala's chase started shaky. Danish and Samir fell early. Aru and Rohan steadied the innings, but the spin of young Washington and an offie named Varun held them back.
Prince walked in at 78 for 4 again. The System whispered a new analysis: "Pitch grip: 18%. Adjust stance for low bounce. Increase footwork speed by 0.2s."
He did exactly that. With quick steps and sharp wrists, he countered spin beautifully. He used soft hands to rotate strike and punished every loose ball.
He finished unbeaten on 55 off 50, guiding Kerala home with three overs to spare.
The Chennai crowd clapped for the visiting boy who handled their spinners like a pro.
Kerala vs Andhra (Match 3)
This one took place in Hyderabad. The pitch was grassy, the air dry. Andhra's lineup included Hanuma Vihari, who was already known for his textbook defense and patience, and Basil Thampi, a quick bowler who later became one of Kerala's own shining lights but was representing Andhra's academy side then.
Kerala bowled first. Prince's early overs were all about discipline. His lines were straight, and his control was precise. In his third over, he dismissed Vihari with a cutter that moved in slightly, catching the edge.
Andhra managed 178 for 7, with Prince ending on 2 for 27 in 5 overs.
In reply, Aru and Rohan again gave a solid start, but Basil's pace was a problem. By the tenth over, Kerala was 58 for 3. Prince came in and immediately went on the attack.
He read Basil's short deliveries early, pulling them fiercely through midwicket. Then he stepped out to loft the spinners over extra cover.
He scored 70 off 53 balls, including eight boundaries and a towering six straight back over the bowler's head. Kerala chased the target with six balls left.
After the match, Hanuma Vihari came up to him and said, "Good knock, man. You've got real composure for your age."
Prince smiled. "Thanks. Trying to learn."
Kerala vs Punjab (Match 4)
The match was held in Mohali, and the Punjab team was stacked with raw talent. Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings for Punjab's U-12 side. Both looked frighteningly composed for their age.
Punjab batted first. Gill drove on the up, smooth as silk. Abhishek was more aggressive, cutting through backward point and lofting spinners cleanly.
Prince bowled the eighth over, just when Punjab seemed ready to accelerate. His first delivery swung in sharply, trapping Abhishek lbw. The next over, he deceived Gill with a slower delivery that kissed the off bail.
He celebrated quietly, just a small fist pump.
Punjab finished on 174 for 8, with Prince taking 3 for 31.
When Kerala came to bat, Aru and Rohan again laid the base. Danish and Samir added some quick runs, but Punjab's spinners tightened the screws.
At 95 for 4, Prince came in. The System kicked in again, adjusting body rhythm. He waited, patient, letting the ball come. His control was perfect.
He built his innings carefully, turning ones into twos, then exploding in the last few overs.
He ended on 63 off 45 balls, chasing down the total with Faizal beside him. Kerala won by 4 wickets.
Coach Gautam's voice was calm afterward. "You're playing like you've done this before. Don't stop."
Prince smiled faintly. "Feels like I have."
Kerala vs Rajasthan (Match 5)
The final league game was held at the Sawai Mansingh Ground, Jaipur. The conditions were dry, with some reverse swing expected. Rajasthan's team had Deepak Hooda, a powerful hitter even then, and Khaleel Ahmed, a wiry left-arm seamer who could extract swing.
Rajasthan batted first and struggled early. Prince's seamers were finding reverse swing by the fourth over. His deliveries cut in sharply, forcing edges.
He bowled Deepak Hooda with a stunning inswinger that uprooted middle stump. His celebration was calm, eyes steady, no arrogance, only focus.
He ended his spell with 3 for 22, restricting Rajasthan to 149 for 9.
When Kerala chased, Aru and Rohan again gave a platform, scoring steadily. When Prince came in at four down, the team needed 50 from 35 balls.
Khaleel bowled fast and straight, but Prince met him head-on. The System highlighted his rhythm, adjusting his timing microseconds earlier with each ball.
He smashed a one-handed six over cover, the signature move he had bought from the System shop weeks ago: "Pant's One-Arm Power." The crowd roared.
Kerala won with two overs to spare. Prince finished on 48 not out, sealing his spot as the player of the tournament in the group stages.
As the team huddled after the match, Coach Gautam looked at Prince, eyes full of approval.
"You're not just improving, you're setting the standard," he said.
Prince nodded, chest rising and falling with steady breath. For the first time, the voice in his head - the one filled with regret from his past life - was silent. All he could feel now was the rhythm of purpose, beating in time with his heart.
He looked up at the evening sky, streaked orange and purple, and whispered to himself, "This time, I'll make it count."
(see what i did with the sky being orange and purple... cause like orange and purple cap... 😒)
The league stage was over and Kerala for the first time in ages were first in the league... now came the semi's and the final.