Dominance, once shown, changes expectations.
After the opening match, Aarav Malhotra was no longer "the U-14 prodigy who moved up."
He was the benchmark.
And benchmarks are hunted.
---
## 🏟️ MUMBAI U-16 STATE TOURNAMENT – GROUP MATCH 2
**Match:** Mumbai U-16 vs Karnataka U-16
**Format:** 50 Overs
**Venue:** KSCA Ground No. 2, Bengaluru
Bengaluru mornings were deceptive.
Cool air.
Soft light.
But the pitch?
Dry.
Abrasive.
Unforgiving to bowlers who chased pace without control.
A perfect examination.
---
## 🧾 TOSS
Karnataka won the toss.
They didn't hesitate.
"We'll bowl."
They wanted Mumbai under pressure early.
They wanted Aarav batting with a new ball.
He smiled inwardly.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM STATUS
---
### 🧠 ACTIVE TEMPLATES
✔ KL Rahul – Stability
✔ AB de Villiers – Complete Batting Range
✔ Dale Steyn – Full Pace Hostility
**Match Objective:**
➡️ Demonstrate adaptability across disciplines
---
## 🏏 MUMBAI U-16 – INNINGS BEGIN
Karnataka attacked immediately.
Two quick bowlers.
Heavy lengths.
Crowded slips.
---
### Opening Bowlers:
- **Abhinav Rao** – Right-arm fast
- **Karthik Subramanian** – Right-arm medium-fast
---
### Early Damage
Over 2.
Outside edge.
Slip catch.
Over 4.
LBW.
Suddenly—
---
### Score at 5 Overs:
**Mumbai U-16: 18/2**
The Karnataka captain clapped loudly.
This was their plan.
---
## 🏏 AARAV WALKS IN – NO. 4
Helmet on.
Chin strap tight.
No eye contact.
No bravado.
Just intent.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM MODE
---
### 🧠 KL RAHUL TEMPLATE
**Anchor Protocol:** Activated
➡️ Neutralize new-ball threat
---
## 🏏 FIRST TEN BALLS
Aarav didn't score.
He didn't need to.
---
### Ball-by-Ball Snapshot:
- Full length → defended
- Short of length → left
- Nipping in → padded away
The bowlers grew restless.
That mattered.
---
## 🏏 PRESSURE SHIFTS
Over 8.
A half-volley.
Aarav leaned forward.
Straight drive.
**FOUR.**
No celebration.
Just reset.
---
### Score at 10 Overs:
**Mumbai U-16: 42/2**
Aarav: **11 (18 balls)**
The innings had slowed.
That was intentional.
---
## 🧠 AB TEMPLATE – SELECTIVE RELEASE
The pitch offered grip.
Spin arrived early.
---
### Spinner Introduced:
- **Nithin Gowda** – Off-spin
Flighted.
Aarav waited.
Late cut.
**FOUR.**
The field spread.
---
## 🏏 PARTNERSHIP BUILDS
Aarav guided the innings.
Soft hands.
Sharp calls.
Clear intent.
---
### Score at 20 Overs:
**Mumbai U-16: 96/2**
Aarav: **34 (42 balls)**
The pressure had flipped.
---
## 🏏 THE ACCELERATION
Over 23.
Spinner overpitched.
Aarav stepped out.
Inside-out over cover.
**SIX.**
A ripple went through the Karnataka camp.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM RESPONSE
---
### 🧠 AB de Villiers TEMPLATE
**360° Access:** Active
✔ Gap manipulation
✔ Bowling pattern anticipation
---
## 🧾 FIFTY WITH AUTHORITY
Over 25.
Short ball.
Pulled—*rolled wrists*.
Ball raced to the rope.
---
### Aarav Malhotra:
**50 (48 balls)**
Not flashy.
Commanding.
---
## ⚠️ SUPPORT FALLS
Over 27.
Miscommunication.
Run-out.
---
### Score:
**121/3**
Aarav paused mid-pitch.
Then waved the next batter in.
"Bat time," he said quietly.
---
## 🏏 FINISHING PHASE
Aarav didn't chase a hundred.
He chased a total.
---
### Overs 28–35:
- Straight boundaries
- Calculated risks
- Strike farming
---
### Over 34 – Abhinav Rao
Slower ball.
Aarav waited.
Opened face.
**FOUR.**
---
## 🧾 AARAV'S INNINGS
**78 (71 balls)**
- 8 fours
- 1 six
- Strike Rate: **109.8**
Dismissal:
*c long-on b Abhinav Rao*
A controlled end.
---
## 🏏 MUMBAI U-16 – FINAL SCORE
**238/7 (50 overs)**
On this pitch?
A strong total.
---
## 🏏 KARNATAKA U-16 – CHASE
They began confidently.
Quick singles.
Hard hands.
---
### Score at 6 Overs:
**Karnataka U-16: 32/0**
Aarav watched carefully.
Then took the ball.
---
## 🏏 AARAV'S OPENING SPELL
---
### Over 7:
- 7.2: Hard length → beaten
- 7.4: Fuller, late seam
---
### WICKET!
Outside edge.
**c slip (Yash Borkar) b Aarav**
---
### Figures:
**3–0–11–1**
---
## 🧠 STEYN TEMPLATE – ACTIVE
---
Aarav pushed harder.
Not faster.
Sharper.
---
### Over 9:
- Back of length → rushed pull
- Top edge
---
### WICKET!
**c fine leg (Rohan Sawant) b Aarav**
---
## 🧾 POWERPLAY SCORE
### At 10 Overs:
**Karnataka U-16: 41/2**
Exactly behind the rate.
---
## 🏏 THE SPELL THAT SEALED IT
Aarav returned after drinks.
The pitch was slower.
Batters restless.
---
### Over 18:
- 18.3: Hard length → inside edge
---
### WICKET!
**c keeper (Shubham Rane) b Aarav**
---
### Over 20:
- 20.5: Fuller → LBW
No doubt.
---
### Figures:
**8–2–28–4**
Karnataka's resistance collapsed soon after.
---
## 🏆 RESULT
**Karnataka U-16: 179 all out (43.1 overs)**
**Mumbai U-16 won by 59 runs**
---
## 🧠 POST-MATCH
The captain clapped Aarav on the back.
"Set the standard," he said.
Selectors nodded quietly.
This wasn't hype.
This was confirmation.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM SUMMARY – NIGHT
---
### 🧠 ARC STATUS: U-14 → U-16 TRANSITION
✔ Batting Anchor Proven
✔ Match-Winning Pace Established
✔ Leadership Presence Recognized
**Next Arc:**
➡️ U-16 Knockouts
➡️ Increased workload
➡️ Sustained dominance required
---
Aarav lay back, eyes closed.
The system was quiet now.
Because this—
This was exactly where he was supposed to be.
--chapter 20 end--