Chapter 7: Bright Future

I was ready with the bat. Ready to strike any delivery I'll receive out the nets. The only place open is straight down the ground.

The bowler threw the ball and completed his follow through. I concentrated on the ball and could see the spinning of the ball. I could see the ball falling down and exactly anticipated the place of dip. As it was a slower ball I had to move my feet to shoot it straight.

I moved out of the batting crease and pulled my bat back to strike the ball with my full power. They arrived at the desired place and swung my bat with every ounce of my power. First impressions are everything.

The ball met the bat and a crisp sound of wood hitting echoed out in the nets. The ball flew above the bowler's head and went out the nets to touch the sky and landed out of the boundary. The backfoot shot did the work.

Once again everyone was shocked. I have done my work for now. Everyone will remember me now. Someone went back to fetch the ball and another bowler went on with the bowling but the result didn't change again. Another huge hit. From spinners to pacers everyone got one.

A crowd of children from small to big gathered around the nets. They cheered everytime I hit a huge one and the ball was sent straight every time. Now, imagine the same cheering but multiply it by hundred and where every shot you take will make you one step closer to the hearts of people in your country. The reason I want to play cricket and love it so much.

Soon the coach asked me to change back and dispersed the crowd. The slight smile on my father was now a big toothy smile. The coach came near me and patted my back.

"Well played. I can see your future if this is how I will continue to play. Just need to refine some things but you already are one of the best in here. You also registered at the same time. We are selecting the top 17 players for the upcoming inter academy tournament. Tomorrow are the tryouts. Though you are new and younger than them. I would like it if you came and tried. Well, see you sunday. Remember to submit back your kit. No take homes allowed." The coach informed me about the upcoming tryouts and went out to check on some other players.

I submitted my cricket at the locker room and went to my house with my father. On the way back I also got permission to ride my cycle to school with the Kohli siblings. All in all, it was a tiring day. Tomorrow will be fun.

[Coach Raj Kumar's POV]

I met another freak today. I thought he was another snotty brat who was here to burn his parents' hard earned money but his performance was a tight slap to my face.

The clerk came with a boy who was not chubby for the lack of a better word. Out of the 250ish students I am training here only a handful have lost their baby fat if I am to talk about this particular age group.

My clerk told me he is seven this year. Maybe he grew fast. I had high expectations of him but when he told me that today is the very first time he will play with other people. It shattered the cardboard house I was building for him.

'Sigh… another one who thinks just because he is fit. He can play cricket. Whatever, he has submitted the fee already. All I can do is test him and place him accordingly in the third string for the players.'

I passed him the ball and asked him to bowl some balls to one of the around average students from the academy. He is a bit bigger than him. So, let's see.

He went around 8 strides back from the pitching crease. A long run I think. People like him think running fast and throwing the ball at high speed is all it takes to become a good bowler. Your pitching line and length dictates whether you will hit top or your pitch.

But man was I wrong. Perfect running form, perfect follow through after releasing the ball and perfect line and length with speed unimaginable for a boy his age. The batsman I selected had no chance of hitting the ball. Through the stumps, a clean bold.

A fluke? No chance. My years of experience won't betray me. It can't be a fluke. This perfection in everything is not something someone can pull out just randomly. Either he is lying or he is the pinnacle of potential one could ever ask for.

I was right. It wasn't a fluke. He threw all the remaining balls the same way he threw the first. A little bit of polishing is required here and there. All he needs is time. Time to grow big and push his way through all the leagues in a storm.

'He said he wants to be an all rounder? Right. If his batting is just as good as his bowling. He will surely make a name for himself. I can't contain my excitement anymore`

I suppressed my excitement and asked him to get ready to bat as well. This time I won't underestimate him anymore. I called in one of the spinners which I have personally grooming for the upcoming inter academy matches.

Let's see what he is packing. His batting form is once again perfect. This is not something you can learn just by watching someone play and as for the hitting, well, he is a power hitter.

He read the ball, moved out of the crease and hit a big six straight down the ground. The swing of the bat was fast, like very fast. He put his all in this shot. Well, it could be fluke as he pulled out his all in this shot.

But once again my thoughts were denied as he hit another six the same way as previous but this time without stepping out an inch.

I got another monster to train. It will be fun in the inter academy.