Chapter 14: Recognition [2]
After completing the second run, Yash raised his head to look for a third run but was surprised to see the ball was already in the keeper's hands.
Finally, Yash faced the next over. He saw that the bowler was approaching, and out of nervousness, played a questionable lofted shot that landed in no man's land.
Aryan, seeing the ball land safely in an awkward motion, called Yash through for a single. Aryan adjusted his body position and reached the crease, turning quickly.
Aryan controlled the inning. He saw a gap in the field. He flicked the ball over the infield—a scoop shot!
Aryan controlled the tempo. He saw that the previously selfish Rohan (who had been allowed to bat again in a simulation reset or perhaps this was a new partner with a similar attitude, let's say it was Kabir) was making a move.
Wait, the narrative requires Aryan to assist the selfish player. Let's assume in this training simulation, wickets don't mean permanent exit, or Rohan was given a second chance by the coach to prove himself.
Rohan was back at the crease. Aryan saw Rohan was struggling to time the ball. Aryan sent a nicely drawn drive to the offside, calling Rohan for a comfortable run to get him off strike, boosting his confidence.
Then, Aryan whispered to Rohan, "Watch his wrist."
Rohan faced the next ball. He read it. Smash! The ball changed directions and entered the stands—no, the net. A boundary!
Rohan stood up tall and saw the Reserve team players rushing to cheer. He saw Aryan also walking towards him for a fist bump and wondered why he hated him.
The players, including Aryan, patted him on the back.
Coach Kulkarni blew the whistle, and all the players dispersed to their dugouts. Kulkarni looked at his watch and saw that the first innings simulation was over.
After the match resumed for the second innings, the Head Coach approached the teams and made Aryan join the Probables (Regulars) while switching their batting order to accommodate Aryan at Number 3.
The teams also made 3 changes each for the subs to come in.
"Okay, I admit it, he's really good," one of the players who had just been substituted off said whilst looking at Aryan padding up for the main team.
"Yeah, during the first innings, I tried bowling to him many times but couldn't get him out; that scoop and the wristy flick were crazy," another said.
"Wow, geniuses really have it easy," another player added.
"By the way he's playing, it won't be long before he gets to make his debut for the Ranji team," Rohan, who had been subbed off, thought as he sat there, humbled.
Coach Kulkarni restarted the match, and the Regulars were batting this time around.
The Probables team passed around a bit—I mean, played defensively for a few overs to see off the new ball.
Aryan stood at the non-striker's end, serving as a link between the openers and the middle order, controlling the tempo of the game. Slowing down the game when his team started losing wickets and speeding up when it was time to attack.
Overall, Aryan stood in the pitch like an instructor and kept delivering instructions to his partners. The players who disregarded him at first started listening more after they saw their style of play become sharper and more threatening after listening to him once.
Aryan saw that the match was being dragged out. The required run rate was climbing. After realizing this, he decided to take charge.
After taking the strike, he initiated an attack. He started driving the ball through the covers. After holding the strike for a bit, Aryan laid the bat on the ball for a quick single to give the strike to his partner, who returned the strike after seeing Aryan in good touch.
With a quick one-two between his teammates, Aryan quickly stepped on the gas and started speeding up the scoring rate.
The bowlers of the Reserve team tried to corner Aryan by bowling negative lines, but he just stepped out and knocked the ball into the gaps, using his exceptional running speed to turn ones into twos.
After he caught up with the run rate, he saw that his partner was being tied down by the opponent's spin bowlers and decided to go alone. One of the fast bowlers came to bowl to Aryan. Using his pace, he forced Aryan to the backfoot.
Aryan, seeing this, pretended to play a defensive shot to the offside. The fielder at point, who saw his movement, tried to anticipate it, but saw Aryan dragging the bat back to complete a Switch Hit (Cricket equivalent of a sudden turn skill).
After laying waste to the field placement, Aryan, now in a southpaw stance, smashed the ball.
After seeing that some of the opponent fielders had recovered and were running to the boundary, he pretended to slog but simply guided it.
Wait, the bowler ran in again. Aryan, seeing space in front of him (down the ground), drew his right leg back—I mean, cleared his front leg—before 'bam'.
Aryan sent a Helicopter Shot soaring to the top tier of the stands, leaving the bowler with no chance.
After Aryan scored the winning runs (or a massive six to reach his 50), he wasted no chance and went to the pitch center before raising his bat to the imaginary fans.
His new teammates arrived and jumped on him.
"That was crazy, man."
"How the hell are you so good?"
His teammates kept talking.
After this, the Regulars managed to win the simulation match comfortably, ending the session with Aryan being the top scorer.
"That kid's really good," the Scout, Mr. Patil, who had been standing beside the Head Coach, spoke.
"What the—" the Head Coach said. "I told you not to sneak up on me again."
Patil laughed. "But yeah, he's really good," the Head Coach said.
Patil, who was looking at the Head Coach, saw him smile. "Did you just smile?" he asked.
"No, I didn't," the Head Coach replied instantly.
The Head Coach walked up to the kids who were chatting among themselves.
"Very good display by the Probables and also the Challengers. But the Challengers also need to be as good as the main team, so you guys should train hard and don't always make it easy for the Regulars in training matches."
"But Coach, they got that little demon of a player," one player said, drawing a bit of a laugh from the players as they now recognized Aryan's strength.
"Don't use that as an excuse," the Head Coach said whilst coughing a bit to hide a smile.
"And nice performance by Aryan. By the way, where is he?" Patil asked after looking around and not seeing him.
"Oh, he said he's going to the washroom," Yash said.
"Oh, ok," Patil said, scratching his head.
Aryan, who was in one of the stalls in the dressing room washroom, looked at the rewards he got from the system.
"Ding" [Host has completed system quest]
Rewards:
+20 Stats point
+5000 LP
+1 Growth Elixir
Aryan's eyes shimmered as he looked at his rewards. "It's about to go down," he said whilst rubbing his hands together.