The Jaipur ground shimmered under the April sun. Tamil Nadu had arrived with their reputation—experienced batters, disciplined spinners, and a history of grinding opponents down. For UP, this was a must-win fixture. For Nikhil Srivatam, it was only his second senior match. He carried no illusions of grandeur, only the rhythm of his training.
What he didn't know was that in the stands, a few selectors had taken their seats, notebooks ready.
Tamil Nadu Batting
UP's pacers struck early, but Tamil Nadu's top order rebuilt steadily. By the 15th over, the scoreboard read 72 for 1. Coach Bhatia gave the signal. Siddharth Rao handed the ball to Nikhil.
He marked his run-up, recalling the drills from two days before. Consistency. Rhythm. Variation.
First over: tight lines, only three runs.
Second over: flight and dip, forcing a mistimed drive.
Third over: quicker one, darting in, beaten.
Fourth over: looped delivery, drifting late—caught at midwicket. Wicket.
Tamil Nadu's batters frowned. They had expected nerves. Instead, they found control.
By the end of his spell: 6 overs, 1 wicket, 24 runs. Not spectacular, but steady. He had slowed the middle overs, forcing Tamil Nadu to rebuild.
The Rocket in the Field
Placed at deep cover, Nikhil moved like a shadow. In the 28th over, a Tamil Nadu batter lofted a drive. The ball raced toward the boundary.
Every UP player thought it was four.
But Nikhil sprinted—legs pumping, arms slicing the air. He slid, flicked the ball back inches before the rope. Only two runs.
The batter shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. His teammates clapped. Nikhil simply dusted off his trousers and reset his stance.
Tamil Nadu's Total
Tamil Nadu finished with 252 in 50 overs. A competitive score, built on partnerships but never allowed to explode.
UP's Chase
UP's chase began brightly but faltered against Tamil Nadu's spinners. By the 42nd over, they needed 55 runs. Coach Bhatia looked at the dugout. "Nikhil, pad up."
He walked in at No. 6.
The 43rd over was bowled by Tamil Nadu's off-spinner.
First ball: tossed up. Nikhil stepped forward, lofted it over long-on. Six.
Second ball: flatter. He nudged it for two.
Third ball: looped again. He slog-swept it flat over midwicket. Six.
Next over, Tamil Nadu turned to pace.
First ball: yorker attempt. Nikhil adjusted, flicked his wrists, sent it soaring over square leg. Six.
Second ball: short of length. He pulled it hard, racing to the fence. Four.
In just 14 balls, he smashed 34 runs. By the 48th over, UP crossed the line. Victory.
The Team's Reaction
The dressing room buzzed. Ravi Teja muttered, "He batted like AB de Villiers." Mayank Rawat laughed, "Kid's dangerous." Siddharth Rao simply said, "He didn't chase. He controlled."
Coach Bhatia clapped once. "Good win. But remember—consistency matters more than headlines."
The Selectors' Eyes
In the stands, selectors exchanged glances. They noted his composure, his balance, his fearlessness at just sixteen. They scribbled notes quietly, debating his potential.
But Nikhil didn't know.
The Reflection
Later that night, Nikhil sat with Veer under the stadium lights. His phone buzzed with articles, mentions, and speculation. He didn't open them.
He opened his notebook instead.
He wrote:
"Pressure tested. Rhythm held. Build further."
He closed the book.
The noise was outside. The rhythm was inside.