The Road to Glory

Aarav sat in his dorm room, staring at the ceiling. The cheers, the claps, the overwhelming relief of hearing his name in the final five—it all played on loop in his head. He had made it. But as the euphoria began to settle, another realization took its place.

This was only the beginning.

The Meeting with the Coach

The next morning, the five selected players—Aarav, Dev, Amit, Rahul, and Varun—were summoned to Coach Ramesh's office. The air was thick with anticipation as they stepped inside.

Coach Ramesh wasted no time. "Congratulations, but don't get too comfortable. The real challenge begins now."

Aarav straightened. He had expected praise, maybe a short break, but the steely look in the coach's eyes said otherwise.

"The National Team Trials start in three weeks," Ramesh continued. "You are no longer competing against each other. You are competing against the best players in the country. Some of them already have international experience. If you want to secure your place in the final squad, you need to prove that you belong."

He tossed a file onto the table. "This contains the training schedule. It's brutal. If you're not ready to give 110%, you might as well walk out now."

No one moved.

Coach Ramesh smirked. "Good. Now get to work."

The Regimen of Champions

The next few days were unlike anything Aarav had experienced before. The training was relentless—morning gym sessions, intense net practices, mental conditioning exercises, and strategy meetings. Every moment was accounted for.

Aarav found himself facing Amit in the nets again. Amit's pace had become sharper, his variations deadlier.

First ball—an inswinging yorker. Aarav barely dug it out.

Second ball—short-pitched, angling towards his ribs. Aarav tried to hook but missed.

Amit smirked. "Nervous?"

Aarav exhaled. "Focused."

He adjusted his stance, reading Amit's grip. The third ball came—a slower one disguised as a bouncer. Aarav waited an extra second and ramped it over the keeper's head for four.

Amit raised an eyebrow. "Clever."

Aarav grinned. "Learning from the best."

Mental Battles

One of the toughest parts of the training wasn't physical—it was mental. The pressure of upcoming trials loomed large. Aarav found himself struggling with doubts.

One evening, while sitting alone near the practice ground, Dev approached him.

"Thinking too much?" Dev asked.

Aarav sighed. "It's just… the competition is insane. Some of these guys have been in the system for years. I barely made it here."

Dev chuckled. "That's where you're wrong. You didn't 'barely' make it. You earned it. Don't let the pressure get to you. Trust your game."

Aarav nodded. Maybe Dev was right. Maybe overthinking was his biggest enemy.

The Practice Match

A week before the trials, the selectors organized a practice match against a team of senior players. It was the first real test of their abilities.

Aarav was slotted to bat at number four. The senior team had an experienced bowling attack, including a former national team pacer, Yashwant Rao.

When Aarav walked in, his team was struggling at 62 for 3. Yashwant stared him down from the bowling end, his eyes filled with experience and intimidation.

The first ball was a vicious bouncer. Aarav barely got out of the way.

The second ball—another short-pitched delivery. Aarav instinctively ducked.

Yashwant smirked. "Scared?"

Aarav gritted his teeth. The next ball was pitched up, slightly wide. Aarav took a deep breath and leaned into a cover drive. The ball raced to the boundary.

Silence. Then a few murmurs of approval.

Yashwant nodded. "Not bad."

Aarav's confidence grew. He built a solid partnership with Dev, playing risk-free but aggressive cricket. He ended the innings with 57 runs, proving that he could handle the heat.

Final Preparations

After the match, the five of them sat together in the dining hall. There was no rivalry now—just camaraderie.

Rahul spoke first. "Tomorrow, we leave for the trials. No matter what happens, it's been an honor playing with you all."

Varun raised his glass of juice. "To the five spots."

They all clinked their glasses together. The next battle was on the horizon, and they were ready for the battle

---

The night before their departure for the trials, Aarav lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The past few weeks had been exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet, he had never felt more alive. The weight of expectations was heavy, but the fire inside him burned brighter than ever.

His mind replayed moments from training—the relentless bouncers from Amit, the strategy sessions with Coach Ramesh, the silent encouragement from Dev. Every bruise, every bead of sweat had led him to this point.

Aarav pulled out his phone and scrolled through old messages from his family. His mother's words stood out:

"No matter how tough it gets, remember why you started."

He exhaled deeply, clenching his fists. This wasn't just about him. It was about everyone who had believed in him, everyone who had sacrificed for him to reach this point. Failure was not an option.

The Final Team Meeting

The next morning, the five players gathered for a final meeting with Coach Ramesh. The room was silent as the coach observed them one by one.

"Everything you've done so far has led to this moment," Ramesh began. "But now, you're stepping onto a battlefield where only the strongest survive."

He placed a thick folder on the table. "This has detailed profiles of your competition. Study them. Know their strengths, their weaknesses, their playing styles. The more prepared you are, the better your chances."

Aarav leaned forward, flipping through the pages. Names of players he had heard of—some who had already played for India A, some who had dominated domestic cricket.

"These guys aren't just talented," Ramesh continued. "They're hungry. They've been waiting for this moment just like you. Some of them will do anything to secure their spot."

Amit smirked. "Let them try."

Dev chuckled. "Yeah, we didn't come this far just to back down now."

The coach nodded, satisfied with their resolve. "Good. Because from this point on, you fight not just for yourselves, but for your future. If you want to wear that jersey, prove you deserve it."

Aarav felt his heart pound. This was it. No more doubts. No more second-guessing.

The journey to the national team was about to begin.

To Be Continued…