Chapter 5 : Personal Tutelage??

That night, after dinner, Advay lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was still spinning from the conversation with his father. Sunil Gavaskar… coaching me? It still felt surreal.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and thought, 'System, open.'

A familiar blue panel flashed into existence before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim room.

[SYSTEM INTERFACE]

Name: Advay Rai

Age: 7 years

Birth Date: February 17, 2000

Height: 122 cm

Weight: 22 kg

Abilities: None

Templates: None

Talent:

Cricket (SSS)Business (EX)

Shop: [Unlocked]

Popularity: [Locked]

Coins: 7,000

Advay's gaze drifted to the shop tab. It had unlocked after his fifth birthday, but he had barely explored it. Back then, he had skimmed through it, looking at various abilities and templates available for purchase. Some had intrigued him, but he decided to put it off for later.

At that time, there had been no rush. Without a coach or proper practice opportunities, there was no point in buying anything blindly. Instead, he had made a conscious decision—to save up his system coins.

Every birthday, the system had awarded him 1,000 coins, and now, with seven years behind him, he had 7,000 saved up.

From the 7,000 coins saved up, Advay finally decided—it was time to invest in himself.

He took a deep breath and tapped on the Shop tab.

The interface shifted, revealing a list of items, templates, and abilities available for purchase. His eyes scanned through the categories, but he already had a plan in mind.

He scrolled down until he found what he was looking for.

[TEMPLATES]

AB de Villiers (Batting) – 2,000 Coins Dale Steyn (Bowling) – 2,000 Coins

His fingers hovered over the purchase button for a second before he tapped it.

[✔ AB de Villiers (Batting) template acquired.]

[✔ Dale Steyn (Bowling) template acquired.]

A rush of excitement coursed through him. This was it. These were two of the greatest players in cricket history. With their templates, he wasn't just relying on his natural talent—he was stacking his chances for greatness.

But he wasn't done yet.

He switched to the Abilities section and browsed through the options. Some seemed overpowered, others impractical for his current life. But then, one caught his attention.

[ABILITIES]

✔ Sleep Less Yet – 2,000 Coins

(For every hour you sleep, it will be as effective as two hours.)

Advay grinned. This was perfect. It meant more time for training, studying, and enjoying life—without feeling exhausted. Without hesitation, he bought it.

[✔ Sleep Less Yet ability acquired.]

His total coins dropped to 1,000, but he didn't care. This was an investment.

He then closed the system and then dozed off.

As the car smoothly rolled into the long driveway of their mansion, Advay felt his heartbeat quicken. He had been thinking about this moment all day. Meeting Sunil Gavaskar. The name itself carried a weight that every cricket lover in India, perhaps the world, recognized.

His father had mentioned it so casually the night before, but now that it was happening, reality was beginning to sink in. This was the Sunil Gavaskar—one of the greatest batsmen in history.

The car came to a stop, and as the driver opened the door, Advay stepped out, his eyes immediately landing on two figures standing near the entrance. His father, Arjun, stood with his hands in his pockets, speaking to a man whose very presence demanded respect.

Sunil Gavaskar was shorter than Advay had expected, but there was something about him—a quiet confidence, a calm authority that made his stature irrelevant. He stood with his arms crossed, an easy but knowing smile on his face, nodding along as Arjun spoke.

And then, as if sensing his presence, Gavaskar turned his head slightly and looked directly at Advay.

"There he is," Arjun said, his voice filled with warmth and a hint of pride. "Come, Advay, meet Sunil Gavaskar."

Taking a deep breath, Advay walked forward, keeping his steps measured despite the rush of nerves in his stomach. He had faced high-stakes meetings as a CEO in his past life, but this—this was different.

"Namaste, sir," he greeted, his voice coming out steadier than he felt.

Gavaskar let out a light chuckle, his gaze sharp yet kind. "No need to be so formal, young man," he said, shaking Advay's hand with a firm grip. "Your father speaks highly of you."

Advay shot a glance at his father, who simply shrugged with a small smirk.

"I only told him the truth," Arjun said, amusement lacing his words. "That my son wants to be a cricketer."

Gavaskar's sharp, assessing gaze settled on Advay, as if he were already evaluating him. "Is that so?"

Advay nodded without hesitation. "Yes, sir. I love cricket."

The older man smiled, but his eyes held something else—something probing. "Loving the game is one thing, kid. Putting in the work to master it is another."

Advay didn't waver. He met Gavaskar's gaze head-on, determination burning in his emerald-green eyes. "I'm ready to work for it."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the legendary cricketer let out a small, approving hum. "Good," he said, nodding. "That's what I like to hear."

Arjun clapped a hand on Advay's shoulder, his expression filled with an emotion that was hard to decipher—pride, maybe, or something deeper. "Shall we move to the nets?"

Gavaskar smiled. "Yes, let's see what the boy can do."

Advay's heart pounded as he followed them. The backyard had a full-fledged practice net, one of the many luxuries of being born into this family. And now, he was about to step into it with Sunil Gavaskar watching.

The weight of the moment pressed on him, but it wasn't fear he felt. It was excitement.

Taking a deep breath, Advay stepped into the net, gripping the bat tightly as he positioned himself at the crease. His stance naturally fell into place—low, balanced, with a slight forward lean, reminiscent of AB de Villiers. Though the template was at 0%, the muscle memory from his previous life and his own instincts made his form look refined, almost too natural for a seven-year-old.

Gavaskar, standing at the other end with the ball in hand, observed him closely. He gave a small nod of approval before taking his mark. "Alright, kid. Let's see what you've got."

The first ball came at a decent pace—not too fast, but not too slow either. Advay instinctively moved back, transferring his weight onto his back foot. His body reacted almost before he could think—his hands guided the bat, and with a crisp crack, he executed a textbook back-foot punch through the covers. The ball raced along the ground, thudding into the nets.

Gavaskar raised an eyebrow, a hint of intrigue flashing across his face.

The second ball was pitched slightly fuller, tempting him to drive. Advay obliged, stepping forward and lofting the ball elegantly over mid-off. The bat followed through smoothly, and the ball would have easily cleared the infield in a real match.

"Interesting…" Gavaskar muttered under his breath, watching closely.

For the third delivery, he decided to test the boy. He sent down a short one, expecting a hesitant or mistimed response. But Advay was already moving. He shuffled across, got under the bounce, and executed a near-perfect ramp shot, deflecting the ball over where a keeper's head would have been.

Gavaskar let out a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

The fourth ball was full and straight, aiming for the stumps. Advay anticipated it, getting down on one knee and bringing out a fearless, well-timed sweep shot—an unorthodox response for a delivery like that. The ball connected cleanly, whistling along the ground.

After he bowled the two overs, Gavaskar remained silent. He didn't offer any words of praise, nor did he critique Advay's performance. Instead, he simply turned around and walked past the young boy without a second glance, heading straight toward Arjun, who had been watching the entire session unfold from the sidelines.

Arjun, noticing the serious expression on Gavaskar's face, straightened up. He had known the veteran cricketer long enough to recognize when he was deep in thought. "So, what do you think?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

Gavaskar exhaled slowly before speaking. "I'll coach him for a few years," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a decision already made.

For a moment, Arjun just blinked, taken aback by the directness of the statement. "You mean… personally?"

"Yes," Gavaskar affirmed.

Arjun's surprise quickly gave way to excitement. He had expected an evaluation—perhaps a few words of encouragement, maybe a recommendation for a coach—but for someone of Gavaskar's caliber to offer to train Advay himself was beyond anything he had imagined. "That's… incredible. Thank you, sir," he said, genuinely appreciative.

Gavaskar merely nodded before continuing, "I'll be staying at the nearby guest house owned by Rai Groups. It's convenient, and this way, I can train him daily. After school, we'll work on his technique. His fitness—" he glanced at Advay, who was still gripping his bat tightly, replaying his shots in his mind, "—that'll be handled in the mornings."

Arjun's brows furrowed slightly. "You're taking this very seriously," he noted.

Gavaskar turned to fully face him, his expression firm, his tone unwavering. "That boy isn't just talented. He has the potential to be one of the best cricketers in the world."

The conviction in his voice sent a chill down Arjun's spine.

"You're sure?" Arjun asked, his voice quieter now.

"I don't say things lightly, Arjun. I've seen great players, trained with legends, and faced prodigies. Your son… he has something special. If he's willing to put in the work, I'll make sure he reaches the top."

Arjun glanced at Advay once more. His son stood at the crease, practicing his stance, unaware of the conversation taking place just a few feet away. Arjun had always been passionate about cricket, but now, seeing one of the greatest batsmen in history acknowledge his son's potential—it stirred something within him.

A slow smile spread across his face, his heart swelling with pride. "Then let's do it," he said, the determination in his voice as strong as ever.

After speaking with Arjun, Gavaskar turned back toward Advay, who was still holding his bat, his mind replaying the shots he had just played. The boy looked up as the cricketing legend approached, his expression a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Gavaskar crossed his arms and studied him for a moment before finally speaking. "Advay, do you really want to do this?"

Advay straightened up immediately. "Yes, sir. More than anything."

Gavaskar nodded, his sharp eyes gauging the determination in the boy's voice. "Talent is one thing, but discipline is what makes a player great. Are you willing to put in the work?"

"Yes," Advay replied without hesitation.

A faint smile crossed Gavaskar's face. "Good. From tomorrow, your training begins. And let me be clear—it won't be easy."

Advay's grip on his bat tightened, but he met Gavaskar's gaze steadily.

"Every morning, you'll be up at 4 AM," Gavaskar continued. "The first hour will be stamina training—running, agility drills, endurance work. You'll learn to push your body past its limits. The second hour will be muscle training and strengthening exercises. You'll need to build explosive power, endurance, and stability. The third hour will focus on bowling. Your body needs to be conditioned to handle the stress of long spells without breaking down."

Advay listened intently, already imagining the grueling sessions ahead.

"In the evening," Gavaskar continued, "you'll report at 6 PM. We'll start with stretching and warm-ups to avoid injuries, then move to two hours of focused batting practice. No distractions. No shortcuts. I expect you to apply what you learn every single day. Cricket is not just about talent—it's about discipline, patience, and consistency."

Advay nodded, taking it all in. The schedule was intense, but he was ready.

Gavaskar's expression turned serious. "I expect complete dedication. If you're even a minute late, I won't train you. Do you understand?"

Advay swallowed but nodded firmly. "I understand."

Gavaskar studied him for a long moment, then finally placed a hand on his shoulder. "Good."

He then turned to Arjun. "I'll be staying at the Rai Group's guest house nearby," he informed him. "It's easier for me to personally oversee his progress. I don't take on students often, Arjun, but Advay has something special. If he remains committed, I'll make sure he becomes one of the best in the world."

Arjun was momentarily speechless. He had expected Gavaskar to offer guidance, but for him to personally coach Advay every day? That was beyond his expectations. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "I know how valuable your time is."

Gavaskar shook his head. "This isn't about time. It's about potential. And your son has it in abundance. I'll refine it."

As the cricketing legend walked away, Advay exhaled, his heart pounding. This was it. The beginning of his journey.