Chapter 6: West Delhi Cricket Academy

Next Day after my birthday was Saturday and I took off today as well. Today, I will convince my father to admit me in the cricket academy and get his permission to cycle down to school with the Kohli siblings.

"Hey, so you tried riding your new bike?" My father who was also at home asked me with a curious look on his face.

"Yea, I liked it. Hey, Dad. You yesterday asked me what I wanted to be when I became big? Right. I think I have an answer." I said in a serious tone which made my father chuckle as these tones don't look good on a seven year old child.

"Oh, Really? So what do you think?" My father asked with a hint of excitement.

"I want to be a cricket player. I want to play for India. Dad, I want to join an academy. I want to be the best in the world. Would you please take me there? Pretty please", I asked my father with some tears in my eyes and it worked like a charm.

Not asking for anything in those seven years worked in my favour. I was surprised when he accepted my request on the very first try.

"Really Dad. I mean… You accepted it very easily. I was ready to tear up. You are so cool. So, when we'll go. I want to join the same academy as Virat. He is in the West Delhi Cricket Academy" I said with a toothy smile plastered on my face. Everything worked out well.

.....

Right now, I am inside the Cricket Academy's office. This clerk or whoever this person is asking for my personal information. My father submitted the fee.

Soon we followed the clerk back to the ground. He then introduced us to the coach there, RajKumar Sharma.

"A new player? So, what is your name and what position do you play?" The coach asked me after he shook hands with my father and introduced himself.

"My name is Vipin Chaudhary. I just got seven yesterday. Today will be the first day I'll play for real so I don't have preferences for now but I would like to be an all rounder. I play left handed and a pace bowler. I haven't played before" I replied genuinely as I really haven't played before in this life. I have played alone though, like bowling against the ball and hitting the ball against a wall.

"Hhhh…. You know what? Let's test you out. Let's check if you have what it takes, why waste money if you have no talent. We don't return money. Come, Let's get you started with bowling while he will take out a cricket kit for you." The coach sighed and asked the clerk to pick out and assign a cricket to me.

He passed me the red ball just like one used in Test Cricket, a little smaller and lighter that I have used in previous life. He then asked us to move to a net and called in a batsman a little taller than me and I looked around 9 or 10. So He must be around 11 or twelve.

"Go, Try your best" My father, who thinks I am still a little small for this game, encouraged me.

I took the ball and went around 8 strides back from the bowling line for my run-up. I haven't started exercising for strength training yet but still I am well built. No bulging muscles but a lean body and full control over my strength and flexibility.

I was getting excited as I saw the batsman ready in his stance. Looking right into my eyes and thumping his bat on the ground. My blood pressure increased and with total control over my neuron pathways I could feel everything around me from the slightest wind ruffling my hairs to the smallest twitch in my muscles. Everything slowed down around me.

I gripped the ball over the seam parallel to it between my index, middle finger and my thumb. I jumped once and then started running. With each step could feel the every closing bowling line and the stumps behind the batsman.

When I finally arrived at the crease. I pushed the hand over my hand and revolved it with all my strength and threw it in line with the stumps. I could feel the thread brushing of my fingers as the ball left my hand and pitched right where I wanted.

It went through the stumps at lightning speeds. The batsman had no idea when the ball passed his defence. He didn't even swing his bat. Coach Rajkumar who was talking with my father went silent. The batsman who was playing just stood there not knowing what to do there.

Then I heard a breath release from somewhere. I turned around and found it was the Coach who released a long heavy breath and smiled looking at me.

"Wow, I ever expected this speed from a child. You said you were seven. Are you for real?" The coach came near me and asked me some questions, not believing my age. My father was also surprised and laughed at Coach's question and confirmed I was seven.

He then called another batsman and asked me to ball again but the result was the same for all four balls I bowled.

Soon the clerk came with a cricket kit with my name on it and passed me the bag. "Remember to place all items inside the bag and bag in the locker before going home."

"Change right at the spot and show me you are batting. I was surprised to see your ball and you said this is your first time bowling a real batsman and you play as a batsman also." The coach asked me to change it in the open. Well, no problem. I just pushed inside the guard and readily tied the shin pads and tied the thigh pads over my pants. I was ready. I picked up my bat and wore the helmet and went inside the net.

I was ready with my stance and the Coach even complimented me on my batting stance and from the run-up of the bowler I could see was a spinner. I was ready to cut anything that might get thrown at me with this blade in my hand.