64 Overcoming The Winds

I can't make up my mind. So, I will continue uploading the chapters but at a slow pace.

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Our innings ended and soon we got ready to field. I was also ready with my concoctions.

As our team went inside the ground. The West Indies also sent out his power houses. Chris Gayle, the Jamaican powerhouse, and his partner, Sewnarine Chattergoon, walked out to bat.

Chris Gayle is built like a unit. He is not huge, he is towering. At least for me he is towering. Though I am 16 I am still not that tall. In my previous life I was 185 but right now I am just 172 cm. I don't know if I will grow anymore or not.

Does my muscle density affect my height? I haven't started putting on muscle yet but I am still much stronger than people my age. Well, back to the game.

The game barely had time to commence when Chattergoon fell to an Agarkar delivery that swung devilishly. We were ecstatic, while the crowd was silenced. Not much Indian crowd here. I could see some players in blue but not much.

After the fall of wicket entered Ramnaresh Sarwan, a man known for his resilience and adaptability. He and Gayle built a steady partnership, their bats scorching the field. Gayle, however, succumbed to Sehwag's off-spin, his vibrant innings of 51 coming to an abrupt end.

Then came the man, the legend, Brian Lara, the Windies' captain, and one of the greatest players to grace the sport. His walk to the crease was akin to a matador entering an arena.

Lara wasn't alone when he came into the ground, with him came winds, gusts of wind which swept across the ground, rustling the palm trees surrounding the stadium. The tranquility of the Caribbean air was disrupted, and so was the Indian bowling attack.

The winds of Windies are not to be taken lightly. They crushed our bowling attack. The balls were swaying in the winds which made it easier for batsmans to hit our spinners, our main attackers.

Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo were at the crease now, their mission not just to face the Indian bowlers but to combat the challenging weather conditions. Agarkar ran in, the wind tugging at his jersey, the ball released from his hand only to be picked up by the wind, swirling and dipping unpredictably.

The Indian bowlers were at nature's mercy, the wind carrying their deliveries away from the line they intended. Their frustration was palpable as their control waned. Even the guile of Sreesanth and the pace of Patel seemed ineffectual.

Lara's valiant knock stood out. He was picking the swirling deliveries, his eyes locked on the ball, sending the ball to the boundary with sheer power. His fiery 62 was a stark contrast to our bowlers' helplessness.

Bravo unfortunately, fell to an Agarkar delivery that caught the wind's edge, ballooning it towards Sehwag, who held it securely.

As the sun began to set on the Caribbean horizon. The Indian team was left standing, shell-shocked and weather-beaten, their usually reliable bowling attack left flailing in the onslaught of the winds and the Windies batsman.

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The previous two matches had indeed been difficult for our Indian team, challenging not only our skills but also our morale.

"Vipin," Coach called as we started our new training regimen. The two heavy-duty fans roared at the side, trying to mimic the unpredictable Caribbean winds. "You'll be assisting Sreesanth today, okay?"

I nodded, "Sure, Coach."

The team was on edge, the previous losses still fresh. Dhoni, Raina, Yuvraj - they all had a certain intensity about them. I could see it in their eyes - a burning determination. Dhoni was particularly vocal during the session, his motivational words encouraging us all.

"Dravid, Dhoni" the Coach called out, "How's the situation?"

"We're getting there," Dravid replied, "It's a new challenge but we'll adapt."

Dhoni added, "It's just a matter of practice. We'll be ready."

Sreesanth was practicing his bowling at the other end, and I was supposed to face his deliveries. I was excited, maybe a bit too much. As I faced his deliveries, I was smashing them hard, each one sailing for a six.

After a few balls, Dravid came to me. His calm demeanour radiated confidence. "Vipin," he said, lowering his voice to a whisper, "remember, we're here to help each other improve. Smashing Sreesanth's deliveries like this won't help. Guide him instead, help him figure out how to counter the winds."

I was enjoying it but now when I looked at Sreesanth he was sweating a lot and not a hint of eagerness in his eyes to continue. So, I walked up to Sreesanth.

"Bhaiya ji, listen," I began, "You know how winds work, right? When you're bowling, the wind is a factor. It's all about aerodynamics. When the ball is in air, the wind is pushing it sideways, and that's what is messing up the trajectory."

"To counter this," I continued, "you need to adjust your grip, release, and follow-through. You need to bowl with the wind, not against it. Imagine the wind is an extra fielder, use it to your advantage."

"But how can I prepare the ball for the wind?" he asked, his brows furrowed.

"That's the trick, Sreesanth. When you know the wind is coming from the side, you have to slightly alter your grip and seam position. Let the seam of the ball slice through the wind, reducing the wind's influence. Also, you should release the ball later than usual to ensure that it doesn't get too much time in the air for wind to deviate it. This way, your ball will continue on the path you intended."

Just as I finished, Yuvraj Singh chimed in from behind, "Oi, Vipin! Are you sure you're a cricketer and not a physicist in disguise?"

Raina came up and nudged me, "Yeah Vipin, were you sneaking out to attend science classes instead of practice sessions? That can't be true you only got 57%. Hahahaha!"

Laughter echoed around the ground. "Well," I grinned, "I regret showing my results to you guys."

The joke lightened the mood. But more importantly, I could see a new determination in Sreesanth's eyes. He was ready to try again, to face the wind, and that's what mattered.

As I drifted off to sleep that night, despite my confusion about my sudden wealth of knowledge, I felt a sense of satisfaction. If my little "science class" helped us perform better in the next match, it would all be worth it.