Date: October 5, 2008 Location: HCA Office, Gymkhana Grounds.
The North Zone team had finished the tournament as Runners-up. They lost the final to the East Zone, but Sai had played three crucial innings: 35*, 48*, and 22*.
His average was undefined because he hadn't been dismissed in three games. He was the "Not Out" specialist.
Now, the State List was out. Hyderabad U-14 Probables (25 Players).
Sai stood in front of the notice board, his neck craning to see over the heads of anxious parents. Rao stood behind him, wiping his glasses.
"Is it there?" Rao asked, his voice tight.
Sai scanned the list.
Vihan Reddy (St. John's)
Abdul Kalam (East Zone) ...
V. Sai Krishna (North Zone)
"Number 18," Sai whispered. Rao let out a breath. "Probables. Not the final team."
"It's the camp, Nanna. The final 15 will be picked from the camp."
Next to the list was a separate notice: "REPORTING: October 10th. FITNESS TEST MANDATORY. COACH: DANIEL RAJ."
Sai frowned. Daniel Raj. In his previous life, Sai knew the name. Daniel Raj was a former Ranji fast bowler. He was known for one thing: Fitness Obsession. He tried to bring Australian standards to Hyderabad cricket.
System Alert: Stamina Levels - Low. Leg Strength - Low. Sai looked at his short legs. This is going to be a problem.
Date: October 10, 2008 Time: 6:00 AM Location: Uppal Stadium (Outer Ground).
This was the big leagues. Uppal Stadium was the international venue. The U-14 camp was held in the adjacent 'B' ground.
Coach Daniel stood in the center. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a stopwatch. "Welcome to the State Camp," Daniel boomed. "In Hyderabad, everyone has wrists. Everyone has talent. But Hyderabad players are lazy. They eat Biryani and sleep."
The boys giggled nervously.
"Not anymore," Daniel said. "Before you touch a bat, you pass the Beep Test."
In 2008, the Beep Test (Multi-Stage Fitness Test) was a nightmare. You had to run 20 meters between two cones before the 'Beep' sounded. As the levels went up, the beeps got faster.
"Level 9 is the passing mark for U-14," Daniel announced.
The Test
The whistle blew. Beep. The 25 boys started jogging. Level 1 was easy. Vihan Reddy was leading the pack, looking like a gazelle. Sai was at the back, his small legs churning.
Level 5. Beep. The pace increased. Some of the heavier boys (the age-fraud ones) were panting heavily. Sai focused on his breathing. In-in-out-out. [SYSTEM MODE: ENDURANCE] Pacing Strategy: Economy Motion.
Level 7. Beep. Three boys dropped out. They were gasping for air. Sai felt a burning sensation in his lungs. His 10-year-old capacity was maxing out. Come on. Two more levels.
Level 8. Beep. He had to sprint now. The distance between the cones seemed to increase. Vihan was still comfortable. Sai was red-faced, sweat stinging his eyes.
Level 8.5. Sai's legs felt like jelly. [DISSONANCE] Muscle Failure Imminent. Shut up, Sai told the System. Move the legs.
Level 9. BEEP.
Sai threw himself across the line just as the beep sounded. He collapsed on the grass, heaving.
"Stop!" Daniel yelled.
Sai rolled over. The sky was spinning. He had passed. Barely.
Daniel walked over to the boys lying on the ground. He looked at Sai. "You are the smallest one here," Daniel noted. "But you didn't quit. Good."
Then he looked at the fat kid who dropped out at Level 6. "Pack your bags. You are out."
"Sir? But I scored a century in Zonal!" the kid pleaded.
"Go score a century in a bakery. Get out."
The message was clear. Talent didn't matter if you couldn't run.
Chapter 22: The Nets and The Slogger
Time: 9:00 AM The Nets.
After the brutal fitness test, the boys were exhausted. But now came the skill session.
The camp had bowlers from all over the state. And there was one boy everyone was talking about. Kabir from Nizamabad.
Kabir was a district player. He didn't have a Honda City. He came on a bus. He was dark, wiry, and bowled Left-Arm Fast. Not medium pace. Fast.
The Face-Off
Sai was padded up. He was tired from the running. Daniel Sir was watching from behind the net.
"Sai Krishna. Pad up. Net 2."
Sai walked in. Kabir was the bowler. Kabir didn't look friendly. He looked hungry.
Ball 1: Kabir ran in from a wide angle. Left-arm over the wicket. He slanted the ball across Sai. Sai left it. The ball thudded into the net. It was quick.
Ball 2: Kabir brought it back in. The natural angle for a lefty. Sai shuffled. Trigger. He defended. [CLICK] The ball hit the middle and dropped dead.
Coach Daniel watched. "Good defense. But can you score?"
Ball 3: Kabir bowled a length ball. Sai leaned into a drive. He timed it well. It hit the net. "One run," Sai whispered to himself.
Daniel interrupted. "In State matches, fielders are fast. That is not a run. That is a dot ball. Hit it harder."
Sai gritted his teeth. I can't hit harder. I'm 10.
Ball 4: Kabir bowled full. Sai tried to put power into the drive. [DISSONANCE] His form broke slightly. The bat twisted. The ball went in the air—a catch to mid-off.
"Caught," Daniel said ruthlessly. "You are playing U-10 cricket in U-14 nets. You need boundaries."
Sai felt a wave of frustration. The "Perfect Rep" ensured he didn't get out. But it didn't ensure he got selected. Selectors wanted impact.
The Adjustment
Sai stepped out of the net. He drank water. He watched Vihan bat. Vihan was smashing Kabir. High backlift, full swing. Power.
I can't be Vihan, Sai realized. I have to be... Hussey.
He went back in for his second round. This time, the bowler was a spinner.
Ball 1: Flighted ball. Sai didn't drive along the ground. He waited. He opened the face of the bat at the last second. He sliced it over the imaginary point fielder. It wasn't a power shot. It was a placement shot.
Ball 2: Short ball. Sai rocked back. He didn't pull. He guided it past the keeper.
Daniel watched silently. He saw what Sai was doing. He is not fighting the field. He is using the gaps.
After the session, Daniel called the team together. "We have a practice match tomorrow against the U-16 Academy Team. They are bigger than you. They are faster than you."
He looked at Sai. "If you block tomorrow, I will drop you. Score runs or go home."
Date: October 11, 2008 The Practice Match
Hyderabad U-14 Probables vs. Hyderabad U-16 Academy.
The U-16 bowlers were terrifying. They were nearly men. The U-14 Probables batted first.
The Collapse The pace was too much. Vihan Reddy, used to dominating, tried to hook a U-16 fast bowler. He got hit on the helmet and stepped on his stumps. Out.
Score: 45/6.
Sai walked in at Number 8. Coach Daniel was watching from the boundary, arms crossed. Score or go home.
Sai took his guard. The U-16 bowler, a giant named Raju, laughed. "Is this a joke? Send the ball boy back."
Ball 1: Raju bowled a 130kph thunderbolt. Sai barely saw it. He poked his bat. Edge. It flew between slip and gully. FOUR. Lucky.
Ball 2: Raju bowled a bouncer. Sai ducked. The ball was so fast it cleared the keeper. FOUR Byes.
Sai realized something. Their pace is my power.
Ball 3: Raju bowled full and straight. Attempting a yorker. Sai didn't block. He just held his bat straight and firm. The Check Drive. He used the 130kph pace. The ball hit the bat and rebounded like a bullet. It raced past the bowler. FOUR.
Coach Daniel raised an eyebrow.
Sai batted for 10 overs with the tailenders. He didn't hit a single "Power Shot." He edged, glanced, deflected, and steered.
He finished with 32 Runs off 25 balls. The U-14 team made 110. They lost the match badly. But Sai was the top scorer.
The Selection
That evening, the final list was pasted on the wall. Hyderabad U-14 State Team (2008-09)
Vihan Reddy (Captain) ...
Kabir (Nizamabad) ...
V. Sai Krishna
He was in. Number 14. Probably the last name on the list. But he was in.
Daniel Sir walked past Sai as he was packing his blue bag. "You are lucky, Small Boy," Daniel said. "You are in the squad. But you are on the bench. You won't play the first match against Karnataka."
Sai looked up. "I understand, Sir."
Daniel leaned in. "But keep that ugly helmet. It seems to bring you runs."
Sai smiled. He touched the Navy Blue Forma helmet. Karnataka. Ranji Champions. Even their U-14 team will be beasts.
He had made the State Team. Now he had to make the Playing XI.