Chapter 3-
Aarav exhaled, his fingers trembling slightly as the reality of his selection settled in. He had made it past the first cut—but he knew better than to celebrate. This was just the outer gate; the real fortress was yet to be conquered.
"All selected players, proceed to the main field for the second round!" a coach announced.
Aarav followed the crowd, stepping onto the vast stadium ground. The lush green outfield stretched endlessly before him, the white pitch in the center glowing under the midday sun. For a brief second, he let himself imagine what it would feel like to play a real match here—with thousands of fans screaming, the pressure of an entire nation on his shoulders.
"One step at a time," he reminded himself.
The Second Test: Survival of the Fittest
The selectors stood in a line, their eyes sharp and emotionless. A man with a whistle stepped forward.
"This round will test your adaptability. You will be divided into teams of eleven. Each team will play a short, ten-over match. But listen carefully—this is not a normal match."
Murmurs broke out. Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"This is a pressure test. Your team can lose, but you must show why you deserve to stay. If you fail to perform, you're out—regardless of the result."
The air grew heavier. No one wanted to be eliminated this way.
Aarav was placed in a team of unknowns—just like him. No star players, no big names. He adjusted his gloves and looked at his teammates. They all wore the same expression—determination laced with fear.
The match started. Aarav's team was sent to bat first. The bowlers were brutal, delivering fiery bouncers and deceptive swing balls. Wickets started tumbling.
Aarav sat in the dugout, gripping his bat tightly. His turn was coming up.
The scoreboard read: 37/4 in 5 overs.
His team was crumbling. He needed to make a difference.
As he walked to the crease, he saw the opposition bowler smirk. It was clear—they didn't see him as a threat.
But that was their mistake.
Aarav took his stance. This was his moment.
The real battle had begun.
To be continued…