It was during a net session that Arjun first encountered the player who would quietly establish himself as a point of comparison, not through declaration, but through performance, a fast bowler whose presence carried a level of intensity that immediately set him apart from the others.
His name was Karthik.
He did not speak much, nor did he engage in unnecessary interaction, yet the way he bowled demanded attention, his run-up controlled, his release consistent, the ball carrying pace that forced adjustment rather than allowing comfort.
When Arjun faced him for the first time, the difference was immediate, the speed higher, the bounce more predictable yet more demanding, requiring him to react with precision rather than approximation.
The first few deliveries tested him, exposing small delays in his timing, pushing him slightly out of position, yet instead of resisting, Arjun adapted, focusing on survival first, then control, gradually aligning himself with the pace.
There was no conversation between them.
None was needed.
Because the rivalry had already begun—not through conflict, but through challenge.