The call-up to the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy probables camp was a validation, a thrilling confirmation that his IPL performances had opened a new, more traditional pathway in cricket. But the exhilaration quickly gave way to a sobering realization: Ranji Trophy wasn't the IPL. It wasn't about four-over bursts, aggressive hitting, or breathtaking fielding cameos. This was first-class cricket, a multi-day format that demanded a fundamentally different approach.
"It's a totally different beast, Aarav," Coach Reddy affirmed during their next private session, watching Aarav bowl a sharp, T20-esque spell that ended with him slightly winded. "In T20, you give everything for four overs, then recover. In Ranji, you might bowl twenty overs in a day, often back-to-back spells in hot conditions. You need to be able to hit 140+ clicks in the morning, and then do it again in the afternoon, and then be ready to do it tomorrow, and the day after."
The coach's words resonated deeply. Aarav's IPL success was built on raw pace, sharp variations, and clutch moments – short bursts of intense energy. Ranji, however, demanded relentless consistency, the ability to grind batsmen down over hours, not just overs. His "cricket fire" would need to be re-calibrated from a roaring blaze to a sustained, controlled burn.
The immediate, paramount focus became stamina regulation. It wasn't just about building raw power anymore; it was about endurance, about maintaining pace and accuracy over prolonged spells. His training regimen underwent a radical overhaul. Gone were the short, explosive sprints that mimicked T20 bursts. In their place, Aarav incorporated long-distance running, often jogging for an hour or more at a steady pace to build his aerobic capacity. He spent more time in the gym on muscular endurance exercises – higher repetitions with lighter weights, focusing on core strength and lower body stability to handle the repeated impact of bowling.
"It's about having something left in the tank for your fifth spell," Coach Reddy explained, making Aarav run laps until his lungs burned. "It's about your action not collapsing on day three when the pitch is flat and the sun is beating down."
Beyond physical stamina, Aarav understood the mental shift required. T20 was constant adrenaline. Ranji was patience, persistence, and the ability to set up a batsman over multiple overs, even multiple sessions. He began to practice bowling longer spells in the nets, forcing himself to maintain rhythm and line even when his body tired. He experimented with slightly reduced pace but increased control, understanding that sheer speed was useless without the ability to put the ball in the right spot for sustained periods.
He also delved into the nuances of the red ball, which behaved differently from the white Kookaburra he was used to in the IPL. The red SG ball typically offered more seam movement and reverse swing as it aged, demanding a different understanding of wrist position and bowling strategy. He spent hours practicing different grips, trying to make the ball talk.
The transition was arduous. There were days his body screamed in protest, unused to the sustained workload. But the thought of representing Hyderabad, of carving a path in the traditional format, spurred him on. This was a deeper challenge, a new level of cricketing beast, and Aarav, with Coach Reddy's guidance, was ready to tackle it, beginning with the foundational shift to stamina regulation. He was preparing for the long haul.