It began with a quiet word from Coach Reddy during one of those early-morning sessions as dawn broke across the nets.
"You're bowling well," he said, watching Aarav finish a spell. "Better than I've ever seen you. You're not chasing pace anymore. You're owning it."
Aarav wiped sweat from his brow. "Feels different now. Like… I'm finally working with my body, not against it."
Reddy held his gaze before speaking. "Listen. I've got a contact in the BCCI development program—a senior working with IPL franchises in Hyderabad and Pune. They're looking for net bowlers. Quiet, focused ones. Not kids chasing Instagram fame after one bouncer."
Aarav's breath caught—not excitement, but recognition.
"I want to recommend you," Reddy continued. "You need to test yourself against elite batsmen, not just in your mind, but in real nets. It'll be humbling. Yes, you'll get hit. But you'll come back sharper. You'll learn what works when nothing else does."
Aarav's heart thundered. This wasn't a lottery ticket—it was something more rare: a chance to grow.
"When is it?"
"Next week," Reddy replied. "You'll travel with me. No hype. No nonsense. Just bowl."
Trials at the Fortress
The selection ground outside Hyderabad was a quiet fortress: wide nets, lush grass, and an intensity that vibrated in the air. No media, no fans—just players, coaches, and analysts. Big names filtered in and out: internationals, domestic stalwarts, experienced trainers with clipboards.
Aarav didn't gape. He observed.
Given a new ball, he had three overs. An assistant coach looked on. "Focus on your strengths," he said.
The first over was about length and seam—straight, probing, precise. The second brought the slower ball he had perfected post-exams. The third saw him bowl to a seasoned domestic opener—someone with experience of being hit for pace. Aarav's gradual, controlled off-stump assault didn't rattle the batsman. It earned respect.
He felt the approving nod from the batting coach.
No cheers. No drama. Just a quiet, "Good stuff, kid."
Coach Reddy patted his back that evening. "You didn't try to prove anything. That's why it worked."
Aarav didn't ask if he'd made the cut. That wasn't the point anymore.
It was about being seen. About seeing himself in a space where he once only dreamed he belonged.
Learning from the Process
According to recent discussions among IPL teams, patience, determination, and continuous growth are the key traits franchises look for in net bowlers . It isn't about speed but consistency, craft, and mental composure.
At the Hyderabad nets, Aarav lived that truth. He faced hitters in pre-season mode: domestic players and younger foreign stars preparing for the IPL grind. Each over exposed something to refine—angles, wrist position, release point, awareness of batsmen's habits.
At the end of the session, he felt more battered than before—but also sharper. Every bullet from the bat taught him something new.
This experience didn't change him overnight. It tested him. Showed him what separation he'd found between performance and ego. It confirmed: he wasn't there to chase glory or an instant IPL contract. He was there to build.
He left the ground that day not having won anything, but having learned. And that, more than anything else, was the real victory.