Finals change everything.
They don't ask how talented you are.
They ask how much weight you can carry when everyone is watching.
By the time Shivaji Park Academy reached the ground, the stands were already filling. Parents. Local coaches. Former club cricketers. Even a few selectors from Mumbai's junior circuit stood near the boundary rope, notebooks in hand.
This was no longer just an academy tournament.
This was a statement match.
And at the center of it stood a ten-year-old boy carrying expectations far heavier than his age.
---
## 🏏 INTER-ACADEMY TOURNAMENT – FINAL
**Match:** Shivaji Park Academy vs Dadar Union Cricket Academy
**Format:** 40 Overs
**Venue:** Shivaji Park Ground, Mumbai
Dadar Union were the most complete side in the tournament.
- Strong top order
- Disciplined medium pacers
- Experienced spinners
- Excellent fielding unit
They weren't flashy.
They were efficient.
Exactly the kind of team that punished mistakes.
---
## 🧾 TOSS
Aarav walked out for the toss with his captain.
The coin spun.
**Dadar Union won the toss and chose to bat.**
A deliberate decision.
They wanted runs on the board.
They wanted pressure.
---
## 🏏 DADAR UNION – BATTING
Their openers started steadily, rotating strike without risk.
---
### Powerplay Overs (1–8)
**Opening Bowlers:**
- Right-arm medium: **Amit Chavan**
- Left-arm medium: **Pratik Sawant**
No swing.
No extra bounce.
Just discipline.
---
### Score after 8 Overs:
**Dadar Union: 42/0**
Coach Kulkarni turned toward Aarav.
"Warm up."
---
## 🏏 AARAV ENTERS THE ATTACK
**Over 9 – Aarav Malhotra (Right-arm medium)**
He didn't rush.
Didn't try anything fancy.
---
### Over Breakdown:
- 9.1: Back of length → defended
- 9.3: Slightly fuller → pushed for a single
- 9.5: Slower ball → mistimed push
*covers it up*
The over went for just **2 runs**.
The tempo shifted.
---
### Over 11 – Aarav
- 11.2: Cutter held in pitch
*batter early on shot*
**c mid-off b Aarav**
First breakthrough.
---
### Score:
**Dadar Union: 56/1 (11 overs)**
The applause was measured.
Respectful.
This was Shivaji Park.
They understood cricket.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM STATUS
---
### 🧠 KL RAHUL TEMPLATE – MATCH CONTROL MODE
- Consistency Boost: Active
- Risk Management: Optimized
- Pressure Handling: Stable
---
Aarav kept his emotions in check.
This wasn't the time to dominate.
This was the time to suffocate.
---
## 🏏 MIDDLE OVERS – GRIP TIGHTENS
Spin joined from the other end.
Dadar tried to rebuild.
---
### Over 15 – Aarav
- 15.4: Full, on pads
*clip*
**c deep square leg b Aarav**
Second wicket.
---
### Figures after 5 Overs:
**5–1–14–2**
The field closed in.
Mistakes were punished.
---
## 🧾 FIELDING MOMENT
**Over 18**
Hard drive back to the bowler.
Aarav reacted instinctively.
One hand.
Reflex catch.
The ground roared.
---
## 🧾 DADAR UNION – TOTAL
Despite resistance lower down the order, the damage had been done.
---
### Final Score:
**Dadar Union: 187/9 (40 overs)**
---
### Bowling Highlights:
- Aarav Malhotra: **8–1–26–3**
- Pratik Sawant: **2 wickets**
- Run-outs: **2**
A competitive total.
Not massive.
But finals rarely are.
---
## 🏏 SHIVAJI PARK ACADEMY – CHASE
The tension was thick.
Aarav walked out to open again.
The noise didn't distract him.
He had played in front of louder crowds.
In another life.
---
## 🏏 OPENING OVERS – CAUTION FIRST
Dadar opened with pace.
**Bowler:** Right-arm medium **Suresh Patil**
---
### Over 1:
- Full length → defended
- Short → left alone
No risks.
---
### Score after 5 Overs:
**Shivaji Park: 21/0**
Aarav: **9 (18 balls)**
The crowd murmured.
They wanted fireworks.
They didn't get them.
Yet.
---
## 🔓 FIRST BREAKTHROUGH
**Over 6 – Suresh Patil**
Short and wide.
Aarav cut late.
**FOUR.**
Next ball.
Overpitched.
Straight drive.
**FOUR.**
The field spread reluctantly.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM SYNC
The template didn't push aggression.
It waited.
It watched.
---
## 🏏 CONTROLLED ACCELERATION
Aarav picked gaps with precision.
Singles turned into twos.
Pressure quietly shifted.
---
### Score after 15 Overs:
**Shivaji Park: 74/0**
Aarav: **34 (44 balls)**
---
## ⚠️ FIRST WICKET FALLS
Partner mistimed a pull.
*c midwicket b left-arm spinner*
Aarav tapped gloves.
"Stay calm," he told the next batter.
---
## 🏏 THE FINAL TEST
Dadar attacked with spin from both ends.
Close catchers surrounded Aarav.
---
### Over 19 – Off-spin
Flighted.
Aarav stepped out.
Not to hit.
To smother.
Dead bat.
---
## 🧾 HALF-CENTURY
**Over 21 – Medium pace**
Back of a length.
Aarav pulled along the ground.
**FOUR.**
---
### Aarav Malhotra:
**50 (63 balls)**
No celebration.
Just a glance at the scoreboard.
---
## 🏏 LATE INNINGS MANAGEMENT
Wickets fell around him.
The equation tightened.
---
### 10 Overs Remaining:
**Required: 48 runs**
**Wickets in Hand: 5**
Aarav stayed.
---
## ⚡ CLOSING THE GAME
**Over 33 – Medium pace**
- Short → Pull (FOUR)
- Overpitched → Cover drive (FOUR)
The crowd finally erupted.
---
**Over 35**
Aarav rotated strike intelligently.
No hero shots.
---
## 🧾 WINNING MOMENT
**Over 37 – Off-spin**
Full toss.
Aarav stepped forward.
Straight drive.
**FOUR.**
Scores level.
Next ball.
Single.
Game over.
---
## 🧾 RESULT
**Shivaji Park Academy won by 6 wickets**
---
## 🏆 TOURNAMENT FINAL STATS
### Aarav Malhotra:
- **82* (89 balls)**
- **3 wickets**
- **Player of the Final**
- **Player of the Tournament**
---
## 🧠 AFTERMATH
As the trophy was handed over, Coach Kulkarni spoke quietly.
"This is just the beginning."
Aarav looked at the crowd.
At the families.
The coaches.
The selectors.
Somewhere inside, the system pulsed gently.
This path—
Had already been walked once.
This time…
He would walk it perfectly.
--chapter 7 end--