Chapter 16 : A Historic Win

Mumbai walked out to chase an impossible 483 runs in 50 overs, but from the very first ball, it was clear that they were completely shaken by the mountain of runs looming over them. Karnataka, fueled by the confidence of their historic batting performance, came in with aggression and intensity, making sure Mumbai had no breathing room.

Advay opened the bowling with fiery pace, setting the tone immediately. His first delivery—a sharp inswinger—rattled the pads of Mumbai's opener, swinging in late and catching him completely off guard. The appeal went up, and the umpire raised his finger instantly.

Commentator 1: "That's gone! First ball! Karnataka could not have asked for a better start!"

The Mumbai dugout looked on, tense, as their next batter walked in, already under massive pressure. But Karnataka never let them settle. In the very next over, Vishal, the left-arm seamer, came charging in, delivering a vicious short ball that hurried the batter. The mistimed pull shot went straight to midwicket, where Aryan took a simple catch.

Mumbai was 2 down inside the first three overs.

The wickets kept tumbling. Advay came steaming in again, this time hitting 130 kph, the ball angling in before seaming away late, taking the outside edge. The keeper dived and took it cleanly.

Commentator 2: "That's another one! Mumbai are crumbling under the pressure!"

The scoreboard looked grim—Mumbai at 27 for 3 in the 7th over.

Rahul, Karnataka's tall off-spinner, was introduced into the attack in the 10th over, and he struck immediately. The batter, in desperation, went for a big shot but completely mistimed it, the ball skyrocketing to long-on, where Arjun took the catch with ease.

By the 15th over, Mumbai were 58 for 5, and the match was already slipping out of their hands. The Karnataka players were all over them, voices constantly echoing across the field, urging each other on.

Even the Mumbai captain, their best batter, couldn't stop the collapse. He tried to counter-attack, hitting two boundaries off Vishal in the 18th over, but Advay was brought back into the attack in the 21st over, and the moment he saw the batter charging down the pitch, he fired in a lethal yorker at 130 kph, smashing into the base of the stumps!

Commentator 1: "Gone! What a delivery! That's a world-class yorker from Advay Rai!"

The Karnataka team roared in celebration, and the Mumbai captain walked back with his head down, knowing their last real hope was gone.

From there, it was just a matter of time. The lower order had no fight left, and the Karnataka bowlers wrapped up the innings in the 32nd over, bowling Mumbai out for just 117.

The moment the final wicket fell, the Karnataka players sprinted onto the field, celebrating wildly. Advay pumped his fist, Arjun lifted Rahul in the air, and the entire team jumped into a huddle, shouting in victory.

Commentator 2: "Karnataka have done it! They have absolutely demolished Mumbai!"

Commentator 1: "A complete performance! They didn't just win the U-16 Cooch Behar Trophy—they dominated every single aspect of the game!"

Karnataka had won the final by a massive 365 runs, a margin that would be remembered for years to come. It was not just a victory—it was a statement.

As the sun began to set over the stadium, the U-16 Cooch Behar Trophy award ceremony was set up in the middle of the field. The Karnataka players stood together, their expressions still filled with the euphoria of victory. Mumbai, on the other hand, stood quietly to the side, their shoulders slumped, knowing they had been completely outclassed.

The awards presentation began, and the first major announcement was for the Most Runs Award. The presenter took the mic, smiling as he spoke.

"With an unbelievable total of 1174 runs in 11 matches, including two double centuries in the semifinals and finals, four centuries, and five half-centuries, the player with the most runs in this year's tournament is none other than Advay Rai from Karnataka!"

The Karnataka team erupted into applause as Advay stepped forward, his expression calm as always, though there was a quiet satisfaction in his eyes. As he received the award, a few murmurs could be heard from the small crowd in attendance.

"1174 runs... that's just ridiculous!"

"A double century in both the semis and finals? This kid is something else."

Advay gave a small nod of acknowledgment before stepping back to his team, where his teammates patted his back and playfully nudged him.

The next award followed soon after.

"And now, the Player of the Tournament. With 1174 runs and 18 wickets, proving his all-round brilliance throughout the tournament, the award goes to Advay Rai from Karnataka!"

Once again, the Karnataka team cheered loudly as Advay stepped forward to collect his second award of the evening. He shook hands with the officials, posed briefly for the cameras, and returned to his teammates, where Aryan grinned and gave him a solid pat on the shoulder.

Finally, it was time for the main event—the trophy presentation. The Karnataka players, still buzzing from their dominant victory, gathered near the podium as their captain, Aryan, stepped forward to receive the U-16 Cooch Behar Trophy.

The official handed him the gleaming silver trophy, and for a moment, Aryan simply looked at it, taking in the weight of their achievement. Then, with a wide grin, he raised it high above his head, and the team erupted in cheers, their voices ringing across the ground.

The players huddled together, posing for pictures, smiles wide, fists pumped in victory. It was a moment they would never forget—a moment of pure triumph.

Karnataka were the U-16 Cooch Behar Trophy champions, and they had won it in a way that no one would ever forget.

After the grand celebrations at the stadium, Advay finally returned home, stepping into the comforting familiarity of his house. The air was filled with the rich aroma of Ilana's cooking, a scent that always made him feel at ease. No matter how many runs he scored, how many records he broke, or how many trophies he lifted, this was where he truly belonged.

Arjun was seated at the dining table, casually flipping through a business report, but the moment he saw Advay walk in, he set the papers aside with a smirk. Aditi was sprawled across the sofa, phone in hand, but the second she spotted him, she sat up, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"The champion has arrived!" she announced dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. "How does it feel to single-handedly traumatize U-16 bowlers across the country?"

Advay rolled his eyes but smirked slightly. Before he could respond, Ilana walked in from the kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of food. Her emerald-green eyes softened the moment she looked at him, filled with nothing but pride.

"Let him breathe, Aditi," she scolded gently before turning to Advay. "Congratulations, my love. You played beautifully."

Advay gave a small nod, his usual calm expression in place. "Thanks, Mama."

They all gathered at the dining table, and Ilana served him a generous portion of food before sitting down herself. Dinner felt different tonight—not because of any grand celebrations, but because of the overwhelming sense of pride that filled the room.

Arjun leaned back in his chair, watching his son with a thoughtful look before smirking. "So, now that you've conquered U-16 cricket, what's next? Straight to the senior team?"

Advay shook his head, taking a bite of his food before replying. "One step at a time."

Aditi, chewing on a piece of roti, waved her spoon in the air. "Oh, please. Don't act humble. We all know you've already planned your cricket takeover for the next ten years."

Advay simply raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying her words. Ilana chuckled, shaking her head at her daughter's antics.

"Let him enjoy the moment, Aditi. He's worked hard for this."

They continued chatting about the match, Arjun bringing up a few key moments, Aditi dramatically reenacting some of Advay's shots using a spoon as a bat, and Ilana simply listening with a smile, occasionally shaking her head at the exaggerations.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, the usual warmth of family filling the space. It was a rare, peaceful evening, one where Advay wasn't a billionaire entrepreneur, a record-breaking cricketer, or a rising star. He was just a son, a brother, and a teenager at home, enjoying a meal with his family.

After finishing dinner, Advay stretched and got up from the table. "I'm heading to my room."

Ilana nodded. "Get some rest, sweetheart. You deserve it."

Aditi, never missing an opportunity to tease, called out, "Don't stay up planning your next cricket domination!"

Advay simply smirked, shaking his head as he walked toward the stairs. The house was warm, the atmosphere peaceful, and for the first time in a while, he allowed himself to relax.

As he entered his room, he exhaled slowly, feeling the exhaustion settle in. The day had been long, filled with nerves, excitement, and triumph.

Karnataka had won. He had played beyond expectations. And now, for the first time in a long time, he could finally rest.

Advay lay down in his bed, the exhaustion from the long day finally catching up to him. The weight of victory, the celebrations, and the emotions of the final still lingered in his mind. But as the room settled into silence, he instinctively called upon the system.

A familiar blue panel materialized before his eyes.

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[SYSTEM INTERFACE]

Name: Advay Rai

Age: 13

Birthdate: February 17, 2000

Height: 5'5"

Weight: Appropriate for age

Abilities:

▶ Twice the Sleep ✅ (Every hour of sleep provides the benefits of two hours of rest.)

Templates:

▶ Batting Template – AB de Villiers (100%) ✅

▶ Bowling Template – Dale Steyn (100%) ✅

Talent:

▶ Cricket (SSS)

▶ Business (EX)

Shop: Unlocked

Popularity: Locked

Coins: 12,000 💰

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

His emerald-green eyes scanned the interface, lingering on the 100% completion of both his batting and bowling templates. Years of relentless training under Gavaskar, hours spent perfecting every movement, every shot, and every delivery—it had all led to this.

His gaze then shifted down to his coins balance—12,000. It had steadily built up over the years, from his birthdays and now the Cooch Behar Trophy tournament.

Advay's eyes flickered as he stared at the shop section of the system. With 12,000 coins at his disposal, it was time to invest in his future.

He scrolled through the available templates, his mind already set on what he needed. He had mastered AB de Villiers' aggressive, unorthodox batting and Dale Steyn's lethal pace, but it was time to evolve further.

His gaze locked onto two new templates.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

[TEMPLATE PURCHASED]

▶ Batting Template – KL Rahul (0%) ✅ (Balance, classical strokes, and adaptability across all formats.)

▶ Bowling Template – Jasprit Bumrah (0%) ✅ (Deadly yorkers, accuracy, and unorthodox action.)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

A small confirmation chime echoed in his mind as the system deducted the coins, leaving him with 8,000 left.

He exhaled lightly, satisfied. KL Rahul's template would refine his technique even further, giving him the ability to play both elegant and destructive innings. Bumrah's bowling template would add precision, variety, and those near-unplayable yorkers to his arsenal.

With everything set, he closed the system and shut his eyes.

Tomorrow, he would begin the process of mastering these new skills.

Time moved forward, and another year passed in the blink of an eye. Advay had only grown stronger, sharper, and more dominant on the field. Every match he played, every tournament he participated in, he was a level above the competition.

Once again, he led Karnataka to victory in the U-16 Cooch Behar Trophy, defending their title in a commanding fashion. But that wasn't all—throughout the year, he played in multiple U-16 tournaments across the country, winning nearly all of them.

His batting was mesmerizing. He could play any role—anchor an innings, counter-attack under pressure, or accelerate at will. Bowlers who had once hoped to contain him now just tried to survive. His ability to read the game, adjust to different conditions, and play every shot in the book made him the biggest threat in every tournament.

His bowling was just as lethal. The addition of Jasprit Bumrah's template had taken his already formidable pace to another level. His accuracy, variations, and deadly yorkers made him a nightmare for any batter facing him. Even those who prepared specifically for his bowling found themselves struggling to handle his unpredictability.

The sun cast a warm golden glow over the breathtaking coastline of New Zealand on January 4, 2015, its rays dancing over the clear, turquoise waters. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing onto the shore mixed with the occasional laughter of beachgoers, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The soft sand was warm beneath Advay's feet as he stood watching his family, momentarily free from the weight of cricket and business.

Aditi was further ahead, her brown eyes gleaming with excitement as she scooped up a handful of seawater and playfully splashed it toward Ilana. Ilana let out a soft laugh, dodging at the last second, her emerald-green eyes filled with amusement. Arjun stood a few steps away, wearing his dark sunglasses, a relaxed expression on his face as he sipped from a chilled coconut.

They had been in New Zealand for a vacation, a much-needed break from their usual busy lives. For once, there were no meetings, no training sessions, no deadlines—just the peaceful bliss of family time.

Just as Advay was about to step forward and join in, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out and glanced at the screen—Karnataka Team Coach.

For a brief moment, he simply stared at the name. A call from his coach meant only one thing—something important had come up.

His expression remained as composed as ever, but he instinctively stepped away from the water, bringing the phone to his ear.

"Hello, Coach." His voice was steady, but his mind had already shifted gears. Whatever this call was about, it wasn't something trivial.

"Advay! How's your vacation going?" The coach's tone was casual, but Advay could hear the anticipation beneath it.

Standing barefoot on the warm sand, the cool ocean breeze brushing against his face, Advay remained as composed as ever. "It's good, Coach. Just enjoying some time off with my family."

The coach chuckled. "Good, good. You've earned it after the kind of season you've had. But listen—I didn't call just to check in. There's something big."

Advay remained silent, waiting. He had a feeling he already knew what was coming.

"Your efforts have paid off, kid. You've been called up for the India U-19 team."

For the first time in a while, Advay's fingers tightened slightly around his phone. India U-19.

Even though he had been expecting it at some point, hearing it out loud made something shift inside him. This was the next step—the real step.

The coach continued, his voice brimming with encouragement. "If you perform well in the upcoming series, you'll have a real shot at making the squad for the 2016 U-19 World Cup. This is your chance, Advay."

A slow breath escaped him as his gaze drifted toward the vast, open ocean stretching endlessly before him. A step closer.

For years, he had dominated at the U-16 level, pushing himself beyond limits, breaking records, winning titles. But he always knew that junior cricket was just the beginning.

The U-19 call-up meant more than just another level—it meant he was officially in the system. One step closer to professional cricket. One step closer to the world stage.

But there was no rush of adrenaline, no overwhelming excitement—just quiet focus, a sharpened edge in his mind.

His voice remained steady, unwavering. "When do I report?"