By Week Nine, the camp had shed its early skin. The excitement of selection, the thrill of match days, the chatter in the dorms—all of it had faded into a rhythm of exhaustion and resolve. This was no longer a training camp.
It was a crucible.
The Shift to Simulation
The coaches had seen enough. Six matches had revealed the patterns—who cracked under pressure, who adapted, who coasted, and who climbed. Now, the focus shifted from performance to projection.
Inside the strategy room, the mentors gathered—Rameshwar, Raina, Kaif, and the assistant coaches. The whiteboard was divided into four columns: Batsman, Bowler, All-rounder, and Captaincy Potential.
Nikhil's name appeared twice.
Only four players were shortlisted for leadership simulations. Nikhil was the only one marked as both all-rounder and captain-capable.
That meant more than just praise.
It meant pressure.
Simulation Protocols
No real matches were scheduled this week. Instead, the players were rotated through scenario-based simulations:
Defending low totals with erratic bowling attacks.
Chasing under time constraints with limited batting depth.
Managing field placements against unpredictable batters.
Handling mid-innings injuries and sudden rain delays.
Each simulation was timed. Every decision was logged. Mentors watched silently, noting reactions, body language, and clarity under fatigue.
Nikhil was assigned three simulations:
Defending 128 in 25 overs with two bowlers underperforming.
Chasing 165 in 30 overs with a fragile middle order.
Managing a rain-shortened game with revised DLS targets and no power hitters.
He didn't collapse.
He adapted.
Hell Mode Training
Outside the simulation room, the physical training intensified.
Morning sessions began at 5:00 AM sharp—no exceptions.
Evening drills stretched till 10:30 PM, under floodlights.
Core circuits, sprint ladders, mental conditioning, and tactical chalkboard reviews filled every gap.
The players weren't just tired. They were worn.
Every week now included mandatory fitness tests:
VO₂ max, Sprint recovery, Flexibility and Injury scans
Failure meant elimination.
No appeals. No second chances.
The Toll
By the end of Week Nine, the strain was visible.
Four players failed the medical threshold:
Two with stress fractures.
One with elevated heart rate.
One with ligament damage.
They weren't sent to recovery.
They were sent home.
The camp now had 24 players left.
The dorms felt quieter. The mess hall had empty chairs. Even the gym, once buzzing with chatter, now echoed with silence and breath.
Nikhil's Log
Nikhil passed his fitness test again—recovery rate, sprint endurance, and core strength all above threshold. But even he felt the toll.
His legs ached. His shoulders were tight. His breath was heavier than usual.
Still, he returned to Room 101, opened his notebook, and wrote:
Week 9 – Simulation Phase Scenarios: Low total defense, fragile chase, rain-shortened innings Lesson: Leadership isn't control. It's clarity under chaos. Fix: Improve bowler confidence and mid-innings recalibration. Reminder: The body tires. The mind must not.
The camp was thinning.
The final shortlisting was approaching.
And the crucible was far from over.