There was a different kind of quiet in first-class cricket.
Not the noisy kind you heard in stadiums.
Not the tense hush of a World Cup final.
This silence judged you.
---
## 🏟️ RANJI TROPHY – ROUND 1
**Match:** Mumbai vs Karnataka
**Venue:** M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Morning Session)
**Format:** First-Class
**Aarav's Debut Match**
---
Aarav stood at the boundary rope during warm-ups, hands behind his back, watching the pitch.
Dry.
Cracks just beginning to open.
A faint green tinge on one side.
Perfect for seamers in the morning.
Perfect for pain.
A senior teammate walked past him and muttered,
"Hope you like leaving balls."
Aarav replied without looking away,
"I like surviving more."
The senior paused, then chuckled.
---
## 🧾 TEAM HUDDLE – BEFORE TOSS
Captain Wasim Jaffer addressed the team.
"First session is ours to endure," he said.
"Bat time. Bowl tight. No hero shots."
His eyes flicked to Aarav.
"And kid—"
"Yes, bhai?"
"No Instagram cricket."
Aarav nodded seriously.
"Only textbook… with footnotes."
A few snorts escaped the circle.
---
## 🪙 TOSS
Karnataka won.
They chose to bowl.
Of course they did.
---
## 🏏 INNINGS 1 – MUMBAI BATTING
Mumbai: 0/0
Morning session. Overcast skies.
Aarav padded up early.
Too early.
He sat next to the senior opener, watching the ball nip around.
After the first wicket fell, the dressing room went quiet.
After the second—
Someone whispered,
"Ball's talking."
Aarav stood up.
Third wicket.
Score: 34/3.
Captain looked at him.
"You're next."
Aarav nodded, picked up his helmet… and immediately dropped it.
The room froze.
Aarav stared at the helmet on the floor.
Then looked up.
"Sorry," he said. "Gravity is very aggressive today."
Laughter broke the tension.
The captain clapped his shoulder.
"Go. Before gravity bowls you."
---
## 🚶♂️ WALK TO THE CREASE
The walk felt longer than usual.
Crowd sparse.
Polite applause.
Slip cordon chirping already.
"Welcome to Ranji, kid."
"Let's see if U-19 cricket works here."
Aarav took guard.
Tapped his bat twice.
Deep breath.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – MATCH MODE (FIRST-CLASS)
---
**Condition Adjustment:** Swing + Seam
**Shot Selection Restriction:** High
**Template Balance:**
- KL Rahul – Primary
- AB de Villiers – Suppressed
- Steyn – Dormant
**Objective:**
➡️ Leave well
➡️ Rotate strike
➡️ Survive first 30 balls
---
## 🏏 FIRST OVER FACED
Bowler: Vinay Kumar
Over the wicket.
**Ball 1:**
Good length, swings away.
Aarav lets it go.
Slip fielder claps sarcastically.
**Ball 2:**
Fuller.
Defended.
Solid.
**Ball 3:**
Short of length.
Rises.
Aarav sways.
Someone mutters, "Hmm."
**Ball 4:**
Straighter.
Inside edge… onto pad.
Heartbeat spike.
**Ball 5:**
Outside off.
Left.
**Ball 6:**
Full.
Defended with soft hands.
Over done.
Aarav exhaled.
Six balls.
He'd survived his first Ranji over.
---
## 🏏 THE FIRST RUN
Next over.
Medium pacer from the other end.
Ball strays onto pads.
Aarav flicks it softly to fine leg.
He hesitates—
Then runs.
Crowd applauds politely.
Score moves.
Aarav smiles inside.
*First run in first-class cricket.*
Not flashy.
But permanent.
---
## 📊 SCORECARD SNAPSHOT
**Mumbai:** 58/3
**Aarav Malhotra:** 9 (28 balls)
- 1× Four
- 6 Leaves
- 0 False Shots
---
## 🗣️ SLEDGE & COMEBACK
Bowler walks past.
"Playing for the draw, eh?"
Aarav adjusts his gloves.
"No," he replies.
"I'm just charging interest."
The slip fielder laughs.
The bowler scowls.
---
## 🏏 AFTERNOON SESSION – SETTLING IN
The ball softened.
Aarav loosened.
Cover drive.
On drive.
A late cut that surprised even him.
AB template stirred—but stayed controlled.
By tea:
**Aarav:** 47 (96 balls)
He looked at the scoreboard.
Paused.
Then whispered to himself.
"Don't do anything stupid."
Immediately, the next ball was overpitched.
*CRACK.*
Cover drive.
Four.
Half-century.
---
## 👏 DRESSING ROOM REACTION
Applause.
Not loud.
But genuine.
A senior said quietly,
"He belongs."
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM LOG – FIRST-CLASS FOUNDATION
---
✔ First 50 in Ranji
✔ Swing handled
✔ Temperament validated
**New Trait Unlocked:**
🧠 *First-Class Patience*
---
## 🌙 STUMPS
Aarav remained not out.
74*.
Mumbai closed the day at 242/5.
In the hotel room later, he lay on the bed, exhausted.
This wasn't domination.
This was acceptance.
He grinned.
"Okay, Ranji," he murmured.
"I can live here."
---
--chapter 45 end--