The sun was high over the academy ground, casting long shadows across the turf. It was the second day of Week Ten, and while Team Red – Group A had the day off, the other squads were deep into their inter-group matches.
Nikhil's teammates were scattered across the nets—some working on yorkers, others on power-hitting drills. But Nikhil wasn't among them.
He stood alone near the boundary rope of Ground 2, notebook in hand, eyes fixed on the match unfolding before him.
Team Red – Group B vs. Team Green – Group B
Divakar Singh was leading Team Red – Group B.
His vice-captain: Vivek Agnihotri.
Vivek was a quiet presence in the camp. He didn't speak much, didn't joke around in the mess hall, and rarely raised his voice. But he was one of the four players selected for the captaincy development squad, and he trained alongside Nikhil in the leadership simulations.
A lithe left-arm bowler, Vivek had played a handful of matches in the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy before a shoulder injury forced him out mid-season. This was his return.
And it was clear he hadn't lost his rhythm.
The Bowler Who Commanded the Wind
Vivek bowled the fifth over of the innings. His run-up was smooth, almost casual. But the ball—oh, the ball—moved like it had a mind of its own.
Late swing. Subtle drift. Seam upright like a compass needle.
He didn't snarl. He didn't celebrate wildly. He just turned, walked back, and bowled again.
Nikhil scribbled in his notebook:
"Vivek – Left-arm rhythm Ball follows his will. No wasted motion. Calm under pressure. Reads the pitch like a script."
When Divakar Faltered
Midway through the second innings, the match tightened. A dropped catch. A misfield. A wide under pressure.
Divakar, ever the emotional leader, began to unravel—gesturing at fielders, muttering to himself, pacing between overs.
That's when Vivek stepped in.
No speeches. No confrontation.
He simply walked over, whispered something to Divakar, and took over the field placements for the next two overs.
The team settled.
The bowlers refocused.
The game stayed alive.
A Loss, But Not a Collapse
In the end, Team Red – Group B lost by 5 wickets.
But they didn't crumble.
They fought till the 19th over. They took it deep. And when the final run was scored, Vivek didn't hang his head.
He walked straight to the pitch, crouched down, ran his fingers across the surface, and began planning for the next game.
That Evening
Back in Room 101, Nikhil updated his notebook:
Week 10 – Observation Day Match: Red B vs Green B Focus: Vivek Agnihotri Lesson: Leadership is not just about control. It's about composure. Fix: Learn to steady others without needing to speak. Reminder: The game teaches, even when you're not playing.