The league phase itself was long, daunting and tiring for Prince and his team, but there were even more hurdles to overcome in order to win the trophy... the first being the semi finals of the academy division tournament.
The league looked like this...
1) Kerela ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 6 ---- Points: 12
2) Mumbai ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 5 ---- Lost: 1 ---- Points: 10
3) Punjab ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 4 ---- Draw: 2 ---- Points: 10
4) Delhi ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 4 ---- Lost: 2 ---- Points: 8
------------------- Under this line = Out------------------------
5) Rajasthan ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 3 ---- Lost 3 ---- Points: 6
6) Tamil Nadu ---- Played: 6 ---- Won: 2 ---- Lost 4 ---- Points: 4
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Kerela was to play Punjab in the semi finals.
The match was scheduled at the PCA Academy Ground in Mohali, a venue with flat wickets and fast outfields. It was early morning when Kerala's team bus pulled into the complex. The air smelled faintly of dew and cut grass. Prince watched sunlight glint off the metal stands and tried to calm his nerves.
Coach Gautam Shivas addressed the boys near the dressing room."Remember, Punjab plays aggressive cricket. Their batting line-up is deep, their fielding is tight. You'll have to think smarter, not just play harder."
Prince tied his laces tighter. His system interface hummed quietly in the back of his mind, waiting for him to ask for a scan.
He finally whispered, "Pitch analysis."
Pitch Scan:Surface: True, hard base, early seam movement.Spin: Light, fades after 15 overs.Outfield: Lightning fast.Suggested plan: Bowl full early, vary pace, exploit bounce.
Prince smiled. Mohali was made for his seam bowling.
Punjab U-12 Squad
The Punjab team looked strong. Their starting XI was packed with raw, fearless talent:
Shubman Gill – classical opener, fluent drives.
Abhishek Sharma – left-hander, aggressive stroke-maker.
Anmolpreet Singh – compact, technically precise.
Mandeep Singh – quick feet, sharp between wickets.
Harpreet Brar – left-arm spinner, middle-order bat.
Arshdeep Singh – left-arm seamer, heavy swing.
Simran Singh – wicketkeeper, lower-order hitter.
Mayank Markande – leg-spinner with control.
Baltej Singh – medium pacer, reliable line.
Abid Mushtaq – off-spinner.
Manraj Goni – all-round seamer.
Each of them was already building a name in the north-zone junior circuit. Their coach, a stocky man with a thick beard and sunglasses, shouted instructions in Punjabi as they warmed up.
Gautam and the Punjab coach walked out with the umpires. The coin went up, flashed silver in the sunlight, and landed on the turf.
"Kerala will bowl first," Gautam announced.
Prince liked that call. The wicket was fresh, with a faint green tinge, and he knew his seamers could exploit it.
First Innings – Punjab Batting
Aru opened the bowling from the northern end, while Prince took the southern end.
Over 1: Aru started tight, swinging the ball both ways. Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were cautious, leaving outside off.
Over 2: Prince's turn. He ran in smoothly, body control mode active. His first delivery nipped away and beat Gill's outside edge. The next ball came in sharply. Gill jabbed down, the ball brushed the pad and flew past the stumps. The crowd oohed.
In his third ball, Prince found success. He bowled one fuller, seaming in, and trapped Gill lbw. The umpire's finger went up instantly.
Punjab 9 for 1.
Abhishek responded with flair, punching through mid-off for four, then pulling a short ball to the fence. Prince didn't mind; he knew patience would pay.
Overs 3–10: Punjab rebuilt through Abhishek Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh. They took singles, rotating strike. Anmolpreet drove elegantly through cover, while Abhishek took on the spinners with confidence.
When Samir bowled the 11th, Abhishek reached his 40 with a crisp sweep. But in the 12th, Prince came back. His first delivery was short of a length; Abhishek went for a cut and edged it to Ricky behind the stumps.
Punjab 86 for 3.
Prince's next spell brought another breakthrough. He delivered a slower ball outside off; Mandeep Singh mistimed it, and Danish took a high catch at mid-off.
By the 20th over, Punjab were 128 for 5. Harpreet Brar and Arshdeep tried to counterattack, striking boundaries in the last few overs, but Kerala's bowlers kept discipline.
Punjab ended at 171 for 8 in 25 overs.
Prince's figures: 5 overs, 2 maidens, 22 runs, 3 wickets.
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The team huddled near the dugout as Gautam outlined the plan."Patience. We've chased bigger totals. Build partnerships. Prince, you'll go in at number five as usual."
Aru and Rohan began watchfully against Arshdeep Singh and Baltej Singh. The new ball was swinging, the bounce steep.
Aru fell in the 5th over, nicking to slip. Rohan and Danish steadied things, adding 35 runs through sharp singles and cuts behind point.
When Danish was bowled by Mayank Markande, Kerala were 67 for 3. Samir followed soon after, stumped off Harpreet Brar.
Prince walked in at 70 for 4, adjusting his gloves calmly. He took guard, eyes fixed on Arshdeep steaming in.
The first ball whizzed past outside off. The second was fuller. Prince leaned forward and pushed it down the ground for two. The third he flicked off his pads for four, a clean connection that silenced Punjab's fielders.
"Nice one, Martin," Gautam called from the sidelines.
From there, Prince built his innings with composure. The System monitored his breathing and muscle control, syncing movement to timing. Each time he exhaled, his bat met the ball perfectly in the middle.
He rotated strike with Faizal, keeping the scoreboard moving. When the spinners came on, Prince used soft hands and nimble footwork to milk singles. After 20 overs, Kerala were 142 for 4.
Needing 30 from 30 balls, Arshdeep returned for his final spell. He bowled short; Prince pulled him over midwicket for six. The next over, a yorker came in fast, but Prince dug it out and ran two. He was in complete control.
With five balls remaining, he drove Mayank Markande straight down the ground for four, sealing the win.
Prince finished on 65 not out off 54, guiding Kerala to 172 for 4 and a place in the final.
Post-Match
The Kerala boys burst into cheers. Coach Gautam shook hands firmly with each player, but his words to Prince were quiet.
"You stayed patient under pressure. That's what separates players who survive from those who fade."
Prince smiled, sweat dripping from his forehead. "It's working, Coach. Everything's finally… clicking."
He looked up at the scoreboard one last time before walking off. The System's voice echoed softly in his mind:
"Performance metrics: Efficiency 93%. Heart rate stable. Mental composure high. Recommended recovery protocol initiated."
For the first time, Prince didn't even feel tired. Only a burning anticipation for what came next.
The Finals awaited.
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