Success in Ranji cricket didn't announce itself with fireworks.
It arrived quietly—
and then stayed to watch.
---
## 🏟️ POST-MATCH MORNING – BANGALORE
**Mumbai Team Hotel**
**Day After Victory**
---
Aarav woke up to a strange sound.
Not his alarm.
Not traffic.
His phone vibrating.
Once.
Twice.
Relentlessly.
He squinted at the screen.
17 missed calls.
Unknown numbers.
Messages.
His father.
His academy coach.
Three journalists.
One number saved as **"Uncle Who Knows Someone"**.
Aarav groaned.
"Too early for fame," he muttered.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – MEDIA WARNING
---
⚠️ Attention Spike Detected
⚠️ External noise increasing
**Recommendation:**
➡️ Keep routine unchanged
➡️ Let bat and ball talk
➡️ Mute everything else
---
## 🏨 BREAKFAST – TEAM AREA
Aarav entered the dining hall.
Heads turned.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
A senior waved him over.
"Sit," the man said.
"Before they build a shrine."
Aarav sat.
A journalist hovered near the buffet.
Aarav lowered his voice.
"Why is he staring like I stole his omelette?"
The senior replied,
"He wants a quote."
Aarav nodded seriously.
"Tell him I prefer eggs sunny-side up."
---
## 🧓 COACH'S WARNING
Coach Deshpande joined them.
He didn't sit.
Just leaned in.
"You did well," he said.
"That's finished."
Aarav nodded.
"Good," the coach continued.
"Because now expectations start."
Pause.
"And selectors don't care about one match."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"Then I'll give them more."
The coach looked at him for a long second.
Then nodded.
---
## 🏟️ RANJI TROPHY – ROUND 2
**Match:** Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu
**Venue:** Wankhede Stadium
**Conditions:** Green top, coastal humidity
Home ground.
Crowd larger.
Eyes sharper.
Aarav felt it while warming up.
Not pressure.
Awareness.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – CONSISTENCY MODE
---
**Pitch:** Seamer-friendly
**Margin for error:** Minimal
**Template Priority:**
✔ KL – Stability
✔ AB – Limited usage
✔ Steyn – Bowling strike bursts
**Objective:**
➡️ Prove repeatability
➡️ Avoid complacency
---
## 🏏 MUMBAI – INNINGS 1
Mumbai lost early wickets.
The ball swung late.
Crowd restless.
Aarav walked in at 41/2.
The Tamil Nadu captain set an aggressive field.
Slip.
Gully.
Short leg.
Welcome party.
---
## 🏏 DIFFERENT TEST
This time, nothing came easy.
Edges fell short.
Mistimed drives landed safely—but barely.
Aarav smiled to himself.
*So today is a grind.*
---
## 📊 SCORE UPDATE
**Aarav:** 34 (88 balls)
From the stands, someone shouted,
"Where's yesterday's hundred?"
Aarav glanced up.
Then looked at the bowler.
Then blocked.
---
## 🎭 LIGHT MOMENT – SELF-COMMENTARY
Between overs, a senior whispered,
"You look bored."
Aarav replied,
"I'm practicing my patience face."
The senior snorted.
"Looks like constipation."
Aarav sighed.
"I knew I needed a mirror."
---
## 🏏 THE WICKET
Late afternoon.
Ball angled in.
Aarav played slightly across.
Inside edge.
Onto pad.
Then stump.
He froze.
Looked down.
Then up.
Walked back.
No frustration.
Just acceptance.
---
## 📊 SCORECARD SNAPSHOT
**Aarav Malhotra:** 41 (102 balls)
- Boundaries: 4
- Minutes Batted: 156
Not special.
Not bad.
Just… real.
---
## 🏏 BOWLING RESPONSE
Aarav didn't sulk.
He ran in harder.
Bowled tighter.
A spell of control.
Then—
Short ball.
Top edge.
Caught at fine leg.
He raised a hand in apology.
The fielder laughed.
"Nice bouncer."
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM LOG – MENTALITY CHECK
---
✔ Response to failure: Stable
✔ Bowling intensity maintained
✔ Ego contained
**Selector Note:**
Consistency > Brilliance
---
## 🌙 EVENING – QUIET MOMENT
Back at the hotel, Aarav sat on the balcony.
City lights below.
Phone face down.
His father called.
"How was today?" he asked.
Aarav smiled.
"Normal."
A pause.
Then—
"That's good," his father said.
Aarav leaned back.
It was.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM PROMPT – NEXT STEP
---
**Next Match:**
➡️ Ranji Round 3
➡️ Selector presence confirmed
**Challenge:**
➡️ Perform without forcing
---
Aarav closed his eyes.
He had entered the conversation.
Now—
He had to stay there.
---
--chapter 49 end--