The sun rose over the academy with a crispness that only followed a long-format match. The ground was still recovering from the 50-over clash between Red A and Red B, but the energy hadn't dipped.
Today was the turn of the Syed Ali Trophy squads.
Team Green A vs. Team Green B Format: 20 overs Objective: Pressure simulation. Preparedness check.
The mentors watched from the shade, notebooks in hand. But they didn't speak. The players were on their own.
Green A vs. Green B – The Match
Green A, led by Faizan Qureshi, won the toss and chose to bat.
The first few overs were cautious—Faizan and his opening partner rotated strike, waiting for the bad balls. But in the 6th over, Faizan exploded—two sixes over midwicket, a reverse sweep for four, and a cheeky ramp shot that had the dugout on its feet.
He scored 47 off 28, setting the tone.
But Green B struck back.
Rishabh Noorani, the captain of Green B, brought in his mystery spinner, Zeeshan Pathan, who turned the game with 3 wickets in 2 overs, including Faizan with a sharp arm-ball that skidded through.
Green A posted 162/7 in 20 overs—a competitive total.
The Chase
Green B's chase began with intent. Rishabh opened the innings himself, leading from the front with a brisk 35 off 21. But the middle overs saw a collapse—tight bowling from Green A's left-arm spinner Samarjit, who took 2/18 in 4 overs, slowed the run rate.
With 28 needed off the last 2 overs, Green B's lower order swung hard.
They fell short by 6 runs.
Green A won, but both teams had shown grit, flair, and adaptability.
Nikhil's Quiet Session
While the match played out on Ground 2, Nikhil was at the far end of the nets, watching—not the game, but a bowler.
Ankit Bansal, the tall off-spinner from Red Group B, was working through his rhythm. His action was smooth, his release subtle, his drift deceptive.
Nikhil waited until the spell ended.
"Ankit bhai," he said, walking over, "can I ask you something about off-spin?"
Ankit smiled. "Only if you're ready to unlearn first."
They sat on the grass. Ankit spoke in fragments—about seam position, finger pressure, the art of bowling slower without losing bite.
"Don't rush the turn," he said. "Let the ball breathe. Let the batter doubt."
Nikhil listened, then bowled a few deliveries under Ankit's eye.
"Better," Ankit said. "Not there yet. But better."
The Slow Bloom
That evening, Nikhil returned to the nets alone.
He bowled quietly. No cones. No batters. Just rhythm.
The ball didn't turn sharply. The drift wasn't magical. But something had shifted.
A little more loop. A little more patience. A little more feel.
He knew the improvement wouldn't show in a day.
But he could feel it.
And that was enough.
Nikhil's Log
Week 10 – Day 6 Match: Green A vs Green B (20 overs) Result: Green A won by 6 runs Observation: Faizan's intent. Zeeshan's spell. Samarjit's control. Personal: Off-spin session with Ankit Lesson: Mastery isn't speed. It's stillness and repetition. Fix: Work on seam angle and release delay Reminder: Improvement is invisible—until it isn't.