Some matches give you time.
Some matches give you chances.
And then there are matches that look at you once and say—
"Now. Or never."
---
## 🏟️ RANJI TROPHY – ROUND 5 (FINAL GROUP MATCH)
**Match:** Mumbai vs Karnataka
**Venue:** M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
**Pitch:** True bounce, thin grass, batting-friendly early
**Weather:** Clear
**Importance:**
➡️ Decides group topper
➡️ India A squad finalization after this round
This was it.
No "next game."
No "selectors might wait."
They wouldn't.
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM – HIGH-STAKES MODE ACTIVATED
---
**Pressure Level:** Critical
**Selectors Present:**
✔️ BCCI Selection Committee (2 members)
✔️ India A Head Coach
✔️ NCA Observer
**Template Sync:**
✔ KL – Opening control
✔ AB – Mid-innings acceleration
✔ Steyn – Strike bowling (if required)
**Objective Override:**
➡️ One match-defining performance
➡️ Bat first preference
➡️ Visibility > Safety
---
## 🪙 TOSS
Mumbai won.
Captain didn't hesitate.
"We'll bat."
Aarav smiled.
Just a little.
---
## 🏏 MUMBAI – INNINGS 1
The Chinnaswamy felt… different.
No fear.
No tricks.
No dust.
Just bat, ball, and consequence.
Aarav walked in at No. 3.
Score: 41/1.
Slip cordon loose.
Field spread faster.
They knew.
---
## 🎯 OPENING PHASE – KL TEMPLATE
Aarav started textbook.
Straight bat.
Soft hands.
Late contact.
No rush.
The bowler tried back of length.
Pulled.
Not hard.
Placed.
Four.
A senior fielder muttered,
"He's not here to survive."
---
## 📊 SCORE UPDATE – 20 OVERS
**Mumbai:** 112/2
**Aarav:** 38 (62 balls)
Selectors wrote something.
Aarav noticed.
Ignored it.
---
## 🎭 FUNNY MOMENT – THE MISFIELD
A gentle push to cover.
Fielder fumbled.
Ball rolled for four.
Aarav apologized instinctively.
"Sorry," he said.
The fielder stared.
"For what?"
"For trusting you."
The non-striker nearly choked laughing.
---
## 🔥 MIDDLE OVERS – AB TEMPLATE UNLOCKED
Something shifted.
Bowler slowed pace.
Field spread.
Aarav stepped out.
Lofted.
Clean.
Six.
Crowd woke up.
Next ball—same intent, different shot.
Inside-out cover drive.
Four.
This wasn't reckless.
This was controlled violence.
---
## 📊 SCORE UPDATE – TEA
**Mumbai:** 201/3
**Aarav:** 74 (96 balls)
A selector leaned forward.
This time, no pretending.
---
## 🏏 POST-TEA – STATEMENT MODE
Spin introduced.
Aarav adjusted stance.
Swept.
Reverse swept.
Late cut.
Every option on display.
Bowler tried flight.
Aarav waited.
Then lifted him straight.
Six.
The sound echoed.
Someone in the stands shouted,
"That's international timing!"
Aarav heard it.
Didn't smile.
---
## 💯 THE MOMENT
Nervous nineties?
No.
Aarav reached 98 with a single.
Next ball—good length.
He leaned forward.
Drove.
Perfectly.
Ball kissed the rope.
---
## 🏆 HUNDRED
Helmet off.
Bat raised.
Not dramatic.
Just calm acknowledgment.
Scoreboard flashed:
**Aarav Malhotra – 102 (131 balls)**
- 10 fours
- 3 sixes
Selectors stood up.
Not all of them.
Enough.
---
## 📊 FULL BATTING SCORECARD (KEY)
**Mumbai – 1st Innings**
- Aarav Malhotra: **118 (147 balls)**
- Team Total: 389 all out
---
## 🏏 AARAV'S BOWLING – BONUS IMPACT
Second innings.
Karnataka pushing.
Captain tossed the ball.
"One spell."
Aarav nodded.
Old ball.
Reverse swing.
---
### Spell Snapshot
**Ball 1:** Tail-in. Beaten.
**Ball 2:** Late movement. Edge. Caught at slip.
**Ball 4:** Yorker. Toe-crusher. LBW.
Two wickets.
Clean.
Efficient.
---
## 📊 BOWLING FIGURES
**Aarav Malhotra:**
- Overs: 6.2
- Runs: 21
- Wickets: 2
Selectors scribbled again.
This time—
Longer.
---
## 🏁 MATCH RESULT
**Mumbai won by an innings and 14 runs**
Group toppers.
---
## 🧓 THE REAL CONVERSATION
This time, the nod wasn't silent.
A selector stopped Aarav near the boundary.
"Good knock," he said.
Aarav replied,
"Thank you, sir."
The man paused.
Then added:
"Pack light."
---
## 🧠 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION – DELAYED
---
✔ PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD: CLEARED
✔ VISIBILITY: MAXIMUM
**India A Selection:**
➡️ Pending official announcement
➡️ Probability: HIGH
---
That night, Aarav called home.
His father picked up.
"How was the match?" he asked.
Aarav smiled into the phone.
"I think," he said,
"I finally knocked loud enough."
---
--chapter 54 end--