chapter 6 - first day at club

Rohan's routine took shape as he navigated his daily life, balancing cricket practice and school responsibilities. He attended Dnyaneshwar Vidyalaya School, a private institution located just around 2.5 km from his home. The 20-minute walk to school was a daily ritual, and Rohan, an 8th-grade student, was ready to embrace the challenges ahead.

His school hours were from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, allowing him to engage in cricket practice before and after classes. Early mornings from 6:00 am to 8:45 am were dedicated to practice, while evenings were reserved for homework and relaxation. Rohan's life became a blend of busy schedules and dreams of a promising future.

After school, Rohan returned home, completed his homework, and spent time with friends. With his mind filled with aspirations, he decided to call upon the system for guidance and information.

"System, are you there?" he inquired.

[YES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO ASK?]

Rohan proceeded to ask about a potential lottery system or quests that could make him more powerful. The system clarified that it was primarily focused on cricket-related improvements and introduced a new quest for him.

[DING! DING! DING!]

[QUEST BEING GENERATED....]

[QUEST SEARCH COMPLETE....]

[NEW Task - Be selected in U-14 State level from Mumbai team.]

[Reward - Bowling talent increases to 70.]

[Accept / Decline]

Accepting the quest, Rohan knew that his batting performance was already impressive for a newcomer. However, he aimed to focus more on becoming a bowler rather than a batsman. He recognized the scarcity of quality pace bowlers in India and set his sights on reaching speeds of 145+ km/h in the future.

The next morning, Rohan woke up at 5:00 am and prepared for net practice, which began at 6:30 am. Carrying his equipment in a bag, he arrived at the ground by 6:15 am. To his surprise, Coach Manjrekar was already present on the field.

Rohan greeted his coach, saying, "Good morning, sir."

Coach Manjrekar was intrigued by Rohan's early arrival and asked, "Oh, Rohan, right? You came early to the ground. Are you excited for your future?"

"Yes, sir," replied Rohan calmly.

The coach further questioned, "Rohan, have you played any sports before?"

Rohan answered, "No, sir, but I have played kabaddi in school."

"Okay, so you're entirely new to cricket, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright then, can I call you 'Bade' for short? It's simpler to address you that way."

Rohan nodded in agreement, and Coach Manjrekar continued, "Okay, Bade, you can call me 'Coach.'"

"Yes, Coach," Rohan responded.

"Before we begin, Bade, you need to understand that I don't tolerate disobedience or laziness. Clear?"

Rohan nodded, acknowledging the importance of respect and discipline in cricket.

"Alright, Bade, get changed and be back in 10 minutes."

Following the instructions, Rohan changed into a white t-shirt and white track pants, returning to the ground within the given time. Around 30 to 40 children were participating in warm-up exercises in a circular formation. Rohan joined the warm-up routine, which lasted for 15 minutes.

After completing the warm-up, Rohan returned to Coach Manjrekar, who instructed him to do five rounds of SPG (approximately 4.6 km) around the ground. Rohan diligently completed his rounds and reported back to the coach.

"Finished? Remember, whether in the morning or evening, you have to follow the same warm-up routine to keep your body in shape and prevent cramps."

"Yes, Coach," replied Rohan.

Coach Manjrekar then informed Rohan that they would assess his bowling performance in the net. Rohan received a message from the system as he retrieved a cricket ball from his bag.

[Task - Impress your coach by bowling pace bowling.]

[Reward - Yorker bowling talent]

[Penalty - None]

[Note - First impression is the last impression]

[Accept / Decline]

Surprised by the reward, Rohan accepted the quest. He joined a group of bowlers for net practice, noticing an older player named Suraj Deshpande who introduced himself to Rohan. They chatted briefly, and Rohan learned that Suraj was an accomplished batsman who had played for Ranji Trophy.

As practice commenced, Rohan took his stance to bowl. Though he lacked professional training, he imitated others' bowling run-up, which consisted of 13 steps. He held the ball in his right arm, gripping it with his middle and index fingers on either side of the seam. He started his run-up, aiming for an outswing delivery near the batsman's chest.

Meanwhile, Saffiq, an experienced batsman, prepared to face the bowl. He initially underestimated Rohan's pace but was surprised as the bowl swung away and disturbed his shot. The ball hit the inside edge of the bat, crashing into the stumps.

Amidst the excitement, Rohan heard a message from the system.

[Quest completed]

[Reward - Yorker talent acquired]

Joyful and satisfied, Rohan realized that his hard work was paying off. Coach Manjrekar called him over, and Rohan eagerly approached.

Note from the author: I apologize if there are any discrepancies in the novel's description, as I am new to writing. I am grateful for the support and feedback from readers. Please continue to support the story, and feel free to provide suggestions or corrections in the comments. Thank you for your understanding and encouragement.