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Author Thought
I am considering giving our protagonist another dimension—making him a part-time bowler, specifically an off-spinner. The upcoming matches will feature low scores, fitting for the U14 level where players are still honing their craft and the games play out quite differently from the high-scoring spectacles seen in professional cricket. This will allow for more gritty, hard-fought contests and showcase the true spirit of youth cricket.
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The academy buzzed with tension. Coach Devraj had posted a notice on the rusted bulletin board near the nets, and every boy was crowding around it like bees to honey.
District U-14 Trials: One Month Away. Top 5 Performers Will Be Shortlisted. Selection Based on Match Performance, Discipline, and Coach's Recommendation.
Nikhil read the words twice, then a third time. His heart raced. This was it—the first real gate to his dream. But it wasn't just about talent. It was about proving he belonged.
Kabir leaned against the board, arms crossed. "Five spots. Twenty boys. You think you're making it?"
Nikhil didn't answer. He walked past him, gripping Shera tighter.
Coach Devraj called for a team huddle. "Listen up. We'll be organizing internal matches every weekend. You'll be rotated across teams. No favorites. No excuses. Perform or perish."
The first match was scheduled for Saturday. Nikhil was placed in Team B, alongside Rafiq—who had joined the academy as a wicketkeeper after Devraj saw him in Chandpur—and three other boys who barely acknowledged him.
Their captain was Aditya, a lanky boy with a sharp tongue and a sharper cover drive. He wasn't thrilled to have Nikhil on his team.
"Just don't mess up," Aditya said. "We're here to win, not babysit street talent."
Nikhil nodded. He'd learned to let words bounce off him like bouncers off a helmet.
That evening, he trained alone. He set up bricks as stumps, tied a tennis ball to a string, and practiced drives until his palms blistered. His father watched from the stall, silent but proud.
"You'll need a new bat soon," he said.
"I'll earn it," Nikhil replied.
Saturday arrived with a sky full of clouds and a field full of nerves. The match was 20 overs per side. Team B was batting first. Aditya opened. Nikhil was slotted at number four.
Aditya started strong—two boundaries in the first over. But by the fifth, he was bowled trying to slog a spinner. The team wobbled. Rafiq held one end, rotating strike.
Then Nikhil walked in.
The bowler was Rohan, the academy's best spinner. He smirked. "Let's see if Shera still has magic."
First ball: flighted. Nikhil stepped out and defended.
Second ball: quicker, flatter. He rocked back and cut—four runs.
Third ball: tossed up again. Nikhil danced down and lofted it over long-on. Six.
The crowd gasped. Even Devraj raised an eyebrow.
By the end of the innings, Nikhil had scored 38 off 24 balls, anchoring the middle overs and helping Team B reach 142.
During the break, Aditya walked over. "Not bad," he said, grudgingly.
Nikhil nodded. "We're not done yet."
Team B bowled with fire. Rafiq took two catches. Nikhil bowled two overs of part-time off-spin, conceding just 9 runs. They won by 17 runs.
After the match, Devraj posted the performance sheet. Nikhil's name was third on the list.
Kabir was first. Aditya second.
But Nikhil didn't care about rankings. He cared about momentum.
As he walked home, Shera's grip finally gave way. The handle cracked clean through.
He stared at it, heart sinking.
His sword had broken.