Chapter 8: Tryouts

Today is the day of tryouts. I was asked to reach the ground around 10:00 AM. The cold is at its peak in December but today a little sunshine has made the weather a little warmer. So it's the best time for any kind of outdoor activity.

I pedalled my bike down to Virat's house as we had both decided to go there together. I finally saw him standing outside with his bicycle. I also saw his father outside standing behind him. I stopped in front of them.

"Good Morning, Uncle." I greeted his father and passed him a smile.

"Good Morning, do you best in the tryouts. I will come watch your games along with your father" He replied to me and wished me well.

"Let's go" , said Virat as he started paddling his bike.

"I am already part of playing eleven for team A and we have already picked out fifteen players for our team. At best you'll be selected for team B", informed Virat as we peddled at the same pace.

"Be ready for the finals then, I'll crush your team" I challenged Virat and peddled faster to overtake him but his competitive spirit was nothing to overlook. He peddled and soon picked up the pace.

When we both arrived at the academy we were out of breaths and panting like dogs.

"Let's never do that again" I collected my breaths and said to which Virat nodded. Soon I picked out my kit and Virat followed me along. He has already been selected so today he is here with me to cheer me on, I guess.

I just asked him once and readily accepted. He might really want to watch me play.

I ran with the kit on my shoulder and walked in front of the coach who sat silently on the chair looking at some paper.

"Good Morning, Sir"

"On, you are here. Kohli you as well. It's good we can test the bowling of some folks" The coach looked up from the paper and smiled at me and then replied to Virat's arrival as well.

Soon, around twenty or so kids gathered around, everyone with their kits then the coach instructed how the tryouts will take place. Today only batsman and bowlers will be selected and then they will be further helper with their fielding but if someone performs poorly with fielding he will then be replaced by someone else.

The test was simple in terms of explanation. Bowlers will get to bowl ten over each and a batsman will play 5 others each. They will need to adjust their styles as the coach says on the go and show their proficiency.

There are 25 players on the ground including Virat. It has 5 bowlers, 5 all rounders including me and 15 batsmen including Virat. When a batsman and bowler will be facing each other the rest of the players will be on ball duty.

So a total of 100 overs will be bowled today no batsman will face the same bowler twice and vice versa. A good way to test the performance of a player against different opponents while having the coach's instructions as constraints.

I was one of the many fielders on the ground and the test started. The very first batsman who came down was Virat. Well, a nice tactic by the coach to break the will of many bowlers.

Virat, fully padded, was ready to receive the ball. On the other end, Rakesh Verma, a spinner, was ready to bowl his first ball.

First ball, an inswinger. Virat gently defended. Second ball another inswinger but out of line and given wide as moved behind him. Third ball also followed the same trajectory but this time Kohli stepped out and hit a huge six.

Forth ball, no in swinging a simple straight to the offside and Virat played his famous cover drive. Fifth ball, a cut on the same ball and it went behind the batsman. Sixth ball, defended once again.

For the next three overs he played the same. Some defended, some pulled up, cover drives, lap shots etc. All in all he played like what you would expect from him.

Coach asked me to bowl the last over. First over, there is no constraint over the bowler but for the remaining nine overs there will be constraints on the bowler and batsman.

"You ready? Virat" I said with a smile with my eyes staring him down.

"Let's get it over with," Virat replied with a smile.

I was ready to bowl my first ball. I got around twelve steps back, ready for my run up. I closed my eyes to remember what I felt on the very first day I bowed here but somehow I wasn't able to recreate it.

I could feel my sense heightening as I concentrated but it was nowhere near what I felt that day.

'Maybe it is something which comes on its own or there is something which triggers it. I'll surely control what it is one day.'

I ran down to throw the ball. I did my bowling action and threw the ball in the exact spot I threw it that day. Right in the slot and in line with the stumps.

The ball release was fast, and Virat had no chance to hit it. He was a little slow with his swing and the ball hit his pads. A confirmed leg before wicket.

I locked my eyes with Virat and asked him to pass me the ball as I smirked. He was genuinely surprised. I looked at the coach and he was once again staring at me and signalled me to continue.

I was ready to bowl my second ball. Seeing that Virat was ready with the bat, I did my run down and threw the pitch exactly the same way I threw the previous one in the exact same spot with the same accuracy and speed.

Another LBW but this time the shock on coach's and Virat's face were lesser than before and the next ball got blocked by Virat. I could see confidence coming back to his face and by the fourth ball his face was shining and the coach was sighing after looking in my direction.