Day 2 of first week at the Lucknow Cricket Academy began not with cricket balls, but with stopwatches.
Nikhil woke at 5:00 AM sharp, his alarm buzzing like a starter pistol. He dressed quickly, laced up his spikes, and jogged to the field under a sky still painted with stars. The camp had officially begun.
Coach Rameshwar stood at the center of the turf, clipboard in hand, flanked by fitness trainers and physiotherapists. The thirty players shortlisted for the Vijay Hazare Trophy camp formed two neat rows. Across the field, the Syed Mushtaq Ali group was warming up separately—Arav, Manav, and others from Nikhil's zonal squad among them.
Rameshwar's voice cut through the morning haze. "Week One is about foundation. No nets. No matches. Just fitness. If your body can't last 50 overs, your talent won't matter."
Morning Drills: Endurance & Core
The first session was brutal.
Shuttle runs across the full length of the field
Ladder drills for foot speed
Plank holds timed to failure
Burpees, squats, and hill sprints near the academy's embankment
Nikhil pushed through each set, sweat pouring, legs burning. He wasn't the fastest, but he didn't drop out. Not once.
Kaif walked past during the sprints. "You don't need to win the run. You need to finish it."
Raina added, "Batting is rhythm. Bowling is repetition. Fitness is survival."
Afternoon Session: Mental Conditioning
After breakfast and recovery stretches, the players were led into the seminar hall. A projector flickered to life. The topic: Mental Toughness in Long Formats.
Kaif led the session. "In one-day cricket, you don't just play the bowler. You play the clock. You play fatigue. You play doubt."
He asked each player to write down three things:
Their biggest physical weakness
Their mental trigger under pressure
Their recovery strategy
Nikhil wrote:
Weakness: Shoulder fatigue after 30 overs
Trigger: Early dot balls
Recovery: Strike rotation and breathing reset
Kaif read a few aloud. Nikhil's wasn't chosen, but he noticed Kaif glance at his sheet and nod.
Evening Conditioning: Flexibility & Recovery
The final session of the day focused on mobility—yoga stretches, resistance bands, and ice baths. Nikhil winced as he lowered himself into the cold tub, muscles aching but mind alert.
He watched the Syed Ali group across the courtyard—Arav laughing with teammates, Manav shadow batting. Their camp was faster, louder, more explosive.
His was quieter. Heavier. Built for endurance.
That night, back in Room 101, Nikhil opened his notebook and wrote:
"Week One: Lesson: Fitness is not flair. It's fuel. Fix: Shoulder recovery routine. Goal: Outlast, not outshine. Reminder: I'm not here to peak early. I'm here to last long."
He placed Veer beside his bed, closed his eyes, and let the soreness settle.
Tomorrow, the drills would continue.
And he'd be ready.