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Author Thought
Hi,
Everyone, you might be thinking the total of 158 in 30 overs is too less.
Let me remind you we are talking about U-16 not the main International Teams.
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The semifinal was set: Uttar Pradesh vs Rajasthan, a clash between grit and flair. The morning sun was sharp, the pitch dry, and the air thick with tension. But the real shift came before the toss.
Coach Rameshwar called a team meeting. Rishi, the official captain, sat with his arm in a sling—sprained during warm-ups.
"I won't play," he said quietly.
The room fell silent.
Coach Rameshwar turned to Nikhil. "You're leading today."
Nikhil blinked. "Me?"
"You've already been leading. Now it's official."
Viraj clapped. Arjun nodded. Manav grinned nervously.
Nikhil stood, heart thudding. "Let's play like we've already earned the final."
At the toss, he shook hands with Rajasthan's captain—a tall, confident boy named Devansh, known for aggressive field placements and psychological warfare.
"We've heard about you," Devansh said. "The Monk."
Nikhil smiled. "You'll hear more from the scoreboard."
UP won the toss and chose to bat.
Viraj opened with Manav. The start was shaky—tight bowling, early dots, and a misjudged single that led to Manav's run-out. Nikhil padded up, watching every ball.
By the 8th over, UP was 31 for 1. Viraj was struggling. Nikhil walked in.
First ball: dot.
Second ball: single.
Third ball: single
Fourth ball: full toss—Cover driven, Four.
Fifth ball: short—pulled for three.
Sixth ball: dot.
He didn't force the pace. He shaped it.
He guided Viraj through the partnership, steadied the innings, and rotated strike with precision. Rajasthan's bowlers tried everything—leg cutters, off-spin, sledges—but Nikhil was unmoved.
By the 20th over, UP was 92 for 2. Nikhil had 34 off 39 balls.
Then came a moment of pressure.
A sharp inswinger trapped Viraj in front. LBW. The momentum dipped.
Nikhil called in Arjun, promoted up the order. "Play free," he said. "I'll hold."
Arjun swung hard—two boundaries, then a top edge. Gone.
Nikhil remained.
By the 30th over, UP finished at 158 for 6. Nikhil was unbeaten on 52 off 58 balls.
During the break, he gathered the team.
"We're not defending a score. We're defending belief. Stay sharp. Stay loud."
Rajasthan began their chase aggressively. Devansh attacked from ball one—lofted drives, cheeky singles, and constant chatter.
By the 15th over, Rajasthan was 88 for 2. The match was slipping.
Nikhil adjusted the field—tightened the ring, brought in a leg slip, and handed the ball to Manav.
"Trust your length," he said.
Manav delivered—two wickets in three overs.
Then came the turning point.
Devansh tried to sweep a full ball. It popped up. Nikhil sprinted from short midwicket, dived, and caught it inches off the ground.
The crowd erupted.
Rajasthan collapsed. UP won by 12 runs.
After the match, Coach Rameshwar handed Nikhil the match ball.
"Nice Game."
Rishi approached. "You earned it. I'll step back for the final."
Nikhil nodded. "We'll win it together."
That night, he stood alone on the hotel rooftop, the city lights flickering below, the match ball cool in his palm.
"Lesson: Leadership is earned, not assigned. Fix: Balance voice and silence. Goal: Win with the team, not above it. Reminder: The final isn't a destination. It's a declaration."
Tomorrow, the final awaited.
And this time, he'd walk out first.