The winter sun in Delhi had a way of hanging low, spilling golden light across the streets without giving much warmth. Ajay woke before dawn, not because of nerves, but because his body had already trained itself to rise early.
Today wasn't a Ranji trial or a state-level fixture. It was just a local club match in the Delhi Cricket Association circuit. In his first life, he had treated such matches as routine. But this time, he knew every single outing mattered. Every run, every catch, every ball bowled was another step toward redemption.
The Walk to the Ground
The ground was only a twenty-minute walk from his home, but Ajay carried his kit bag as if heading to an international final. The streets were still half-asleep; tea sellers poured steaming chai into clay cups, and shopkeepers lifted shutters. A few boys, bats on their shoulders, walked alongside him.
"You're playing for Mohan Nagar Club, right?" one of them asked."Yeah," Ajay replied."You've been training hard lately. Let's see if it pays off."
Ajay smiled faintly. They didn't know the full story. No one did.
The Toss
The Mohan Nagar captain, a tall and easy-going man named Ramesh, called correctly and chose to bat first. The pitch was a little slow but firm, with a patch of grass near the good length that could help seamers early on.
Ajay wasn't opening; the captain wanted him at number four to stabilize the innings if an early wicket fell. That suited Ajay fine—he wanted to watch the bowlers first.
Early Overs
The openers started cautiously, dealing mostly in singles and the occasional boundary. From the dressing area, Ajay watched the opposition's main pacer. Tall, wiry, with a smooth action, he consistently pitched on a nagging length. In his first life, Ajay might have tried to dominate him too early and risked an edge.
Now, he studied the rhythm, the release, and the seam position. He imagined how the ball would behave once it came to him.
The Walk to the Crease
By the seventh over, one opener nicked behind. Ajay rose, adjusted his gloves, and took the long walk to the crease. The chatter from the slip cordon started immediately.
"New guy, don't last long here!""Too much gym, not enough cricket!"
Ajay ignored them. He tapped his bat twice, took guard, and looked the bowler straight in the eye.
The First Ball
The pacer steamed in and delivered a good-length ball just outside off. Ajay's weight transferred smoothly onto the front foot, and the bat face opened in a perfect cover drive. The ball split the gap and raced to the boundary.
The fielders went silent for a moment. Even the bowler gave a quick glance, reassessing his opponent.
Ding.Batting – Level 1 – 70/100
Building the Innings
Ajay played the next few overs with calculated precision—rotating strike with quick singles, punishing anything short or overpitched. The system rewarded his shot placement more than the sheer number of runs, confirming what he had learned in practice.
By the 20th over, he had reached his fifty with a back-foot punch through point. His team clapped from the sidelines; even Coach Sharma, watching from the boundary, gave a rare approving nod.
The Acceleration
The opposition changed to spin in the middle overs. Ajay stepped out to the first delivery and lofted it cleanly over long-off for six. The next ball was flatter—he swept it hard for four. The system kept chiming in his mind.
By the 35th over, Ajay was in full control. He reached his century with a flick through midwicket, raising his bat briefly before refocusing.
Fielding Brilliance
When Mohan Nagar's innings ended at 278, Ajay had contributed 123 not out. But his day wasn't over.
In the field, he positioned himself at point and backward point, cutting off every single attempted drive or cut shot. His reflexes, sharpened by weeks of drills, turned potential boundaries into dot balls.
In the 12th over, a sharp chance flew low to his right—Ajay dived, snatched it inches from the turf, and came up with the ball already in throwing position. The run-out was clean and decisive.
Ding.Fielding – Level 1 – 15/100
The Final Moments
By the 48th over, the opposition needed 40 from 12 balls. Ajay was given the ball to bowl his off-spin. His first delivery dipped late, the batsman missed, and the stumps rattled. Two overs later, Mohan Nagar had won by 28 runs.
Ajay's figures: 4 overs, 1 maiden, 1 wicket for 12 runs.
The Walk Home
As the sun dipped low, Ajay walked home with his kit bag feeling lighter than ever. His system panel now read:
Batting – 80/100Bowling – 27/100Fielding – 15/100Fitness – 17/100
Not just numbers—proof that his second life was already on a different path.