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Author Thought
I'm thrilled to share that I've begun work on my new book, Tales of Dhira — a fantasy fiction novel set in the era of the Mahabharata.
This story blends mythology, imagination, and the timeless essence of heroism and destiny.
It's only the beginning of a long creative journey, and I would be truly grateful if you could read the chapters and share your thoughts.
Your feedback and encouragement will help shape Tales of Dhira into something truly special.
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The morning of Match Five arrived with a crisp chill. The fog had lifted, but the cold still clung to the turf. Players gathered around the team sheet, breath visible in the air.
Team Green – Playing XI Vice-Captain: Nikhil Sharma
He was in.
No celebration. No surprise. Just a quiet nod from Raina and a glance from Divakar that said, Let's see what you've built.
Nikhil walked to the dugout, opened his notebook, and wrote:
"Match 5 – First Inclusion Role: Middle-order anchor, part-time spinner, vice-captain Goal: Implement training. Run like the Nike train. Adapt under pressure."
First Innings: Batting First
Team Green won the toss and chose to bat. The pitch was dry, the outfield fast, and the sun finally warm.
The openers gave a brisk start—58 runs in 7 overs. But a double-wicket collapse brought Nikhil to the crease at number five.
From the moment he stepped in, his body felt light. The burden of running was gone. His legs moved like memory—trained, tuned, tireless.
He ran singles like twos. Twos like threes. He turned the field into a treadmill, looping between ends with the rhythm of a machine.
The fielders began to tire. Nikhil didn't.
He didn't dominate the scoreboard. But he kept it moving.
By the 20th over, Team Green was 172/4. Nikhil had 46 runs off 41 balls—only three boundaries, but more than a dozen runs stolen through sheer speed.
He wasn't flashy. He was functional.
They finished at 227/6 in 30 overs.
Mid-Innings Strategy
During the break, Nikhil sat with the bowlers, mapping field placements on his pad. He suggested opening with spin, setting a tight ring, and forcing aerial shots.
Divakar nodded. "You take the field. I'll rotate the bowlers."
It wasn't praise. It was trust.
Second Innings: Fielding Like Fire
Team Green opened with spin. The first over was a dot. The second brought a wicket.
Nikhil was everywhere—cover, midwicket, boundary sweeps. He ran like the Nike train again, chasing balls that others would've let go, diving, sliding, throwing from angles that made the crowd murmur.
In the 14th over, he bowled off-spin himself—looping deliveries, one edge to slip, one stumping appeal. No wickets, but only four runs.
By the 22nd over, Team Red was 166/6. They needed 61 runs off 8 overs. The required rate was climbing—not impossible, but tight.
Nikhil called field changes mid-over, adjusted deep square leg, pulled third man finer, and kept the energy tight.
The final overs were disciplined.
Team Red finished at 177/9.
Team Green won by 50 runs.
Post-Match Debrief
Raina addressed Team Green. "That was smart cricket. You stuck to the plan. You ran hard. You backed each other."
Divakar clapped Nikhil on the back. "Vice-captain suits you. Keep doing what you're doing."
It wasn't applause. It was acknowledgment.
That night, Nikhil returned to Room 101, opened his notebook, and wrote:
"Match 5 – Nike Train Activated Lesson: Training shows when the game doesn't need saving. Fix: Practice boundary options under fatigue. Goal: Be the player who steadies storms. Reminder: I'm part of the team."