Chapter 17: Opportunity
The players kept looking at Aryan with a mix of awe and concern at his stamina.
As the players had jokingly predicted, Coach Kulkarni made Aryan do double the amount of fielding drills and shuttle runs than everyone else.
But Aryan never seemed to get tired, his breath steady and his recovery instant. After he finished the grueling physical session...
The coach saw that there was still a bit of time left in the session, so he decided to let them play a simulation match.
This time Aryan was in the lineup of the Regulars team. As usual, the Probables dominated the match.
Aryan, although playing as the bowling all-rounder, was everywhere—intercepting drives at cover, making clean throws from the deep, and retrieving the ball for the team when they leaked runs.
Aryan took two wickets in the Probables team before he was transferred to the Challengers team for the death overs simulation.
Aryan played more of a free role in the Challengers team, with no fixed batting position, floating in the order.
In one situation, Aryan intercepted a throw from a Probables fielder and started a quick run. With deft footwork and clean placement, Aryan maneuvered past the bowler who tried to run him out.
Aryan, seeing that the fine-leg fielder was up inside the circle, decided to try a scoop shot from a length ball.
As if the God of Cricket was on his side, the ball connected perfectly with the bat. With a whirring sound, the ball zoomed past the helmet of the wicketkeeper and went straight into the sight screen behind the keeper.
"Was he trying to kill someone?" the keeper muttered, adjusting his helmet, as Aryan and his team celebrated the massive six.
After this, the Challengers team got a free hit which Aryan faced. The ball from the free hit was edged by Aryan, but due to a misfield by the Probables' point fielder, it went for a boundary, causing a fielding error 'own goal' of sorts.
Unfortunately, one of the Challengers' bowlers bowled a massive no-ball in the final over, giving away free runs.
Vikrant (the Probables' star) faced the free hit and smashed it into the stands. He was a bit frustrated as Aryan had bowled him out and beaten his bat a couple of times during the match.
The match ended in a defeat for the Challengers. After the match, Coach Kulkarni decided to wait a bit before announcing the squad.
After the players had rested and hydrated, he started announcing the squad for tomorrow's Zonal match.
"So we have:"
Starting XI (Mumbai U19)
Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal [1], Divyansh Saxena [3]
Top Order: Armaan Jaffer [5], Sarfaraz Khan [4]
Middle Order: Suved Parkar [2], Hardik Tamore (WK) [6]
All-Rounders: Shams Mulani [8], Tanush Kotian [12]
Spinners: Atharva Ankolekar [11]
Pacers: Tushar Deshpande [7], Minad Manjrekar [9]
Subs / Bench:
Arjun Tendulkar [12]
Varun Lavande [17]
Simpson [22]
(GK Equivalent - Reserve Keeper) [13]
...
...
and finally, Aryan Sharma [21].
After the coach finished the names, Aryan was a bit down. He was sure that with his performances in the trials he would make at least the starting eleven, but it wasn't to be.
Afterwards, Coach Kulkarni told the players they would be meeting here early tomorrow for a brief net session before the match. "So we will meet here and go to the stadium."
After Coach Kulkarni finished, he walked towards Aryan.
"Hey Aryan, which jersey number do you like?"
Aryan thought for a while. He wanted 18, but that was heavy. "Is the number 18 available?"
Coach Kulkarni looked at the kit list and saw that it had not been taken. "Okay, 18 it is." Aryan was a bit perplexed as to why the coach was asking for the number he liked so casually.
As Coach Kulkarni was about to leave, he stopped and said, "Oh Aryan, by the way, come tomorrow, you're the Impact Player," before he smiled and walked away.
Aryan stood there dumbfounded before it finally sunk in. "I'm the Impact Player? F**k yeah!" Aryan, elated, started cussing before controlling himself.
He went and showered. After showering in the dressing room, he changed before packing his kit bag and leaving.
Aryan rode his bike home, forgetting his tiredness. After he reached home, Aryan told his mom about the news.
"Aww, my baby is going to be a professional cricketer," Priya said.
"Not yet Maa," Aryan said as he rolled his eyes at Priya's celebratory dancing.
"So are you going to come and watch?" Aryan asked.
"Uh, of course I'm coming, I'm not missing my son's first U19 game," Priya said.
"What about you? Will you come?" Aryan said as he looked at his sister. She looked at Aryan before nodding.
Aryan told her mum that the match was happening at the Wankhede Stadium in Churchgate.
Aryan went to his room and, remembering the 'ding' sound he heard during his power-hitting session with Coach Kulkarni, he opened the System.
[Host unlocked achievement 'Coach's Pet']
Description: Get personal advice from your coach.
Rewards: Select a Trait from Available ones.
"Huh."
"Max, what is a trait?" Aryan asked.
[Host has to update system to Lv 4. Would host like to update to Lv 4 for 10,000 Legend Points?]
[Yes/No]
Aryan, with no choice, pressed yes.
[System going offline in 3, 2, 1...]
Aryan, who still couldn't get used to the System going offline, decided to do something to distract himself.
He went down for dinner and after he finished eating, he played some mobile MOBA games before sleeping.
Aryan woke up the next day feeling refreshed. After he completed his daily task. His took his bath before heading down.
After Aryan finished with his breakfast, he waited a bit for his sister to finish before Priya drove them to school.