Chapter 28: Dream Come True

As I stepped into the office, I was greeted by the warm aroma of tea and the sight of three people gathered around a table, sipping away. The chairman, with a welcoming smile, introduced me to them.

"Vipin, allow me to introduce you to Vijay Prasad and Mukul Chand." I couldn't help but feel excited to get to know these individuals and learn more about their tea-drinking rituals.

I shook hands with the two gentlemen, greeting them with a warm smile. The chairman then turned to me, and with a curious gleam in his eye, he began to speak.

"You may be wondering why I've summoned you here today. I believe we haven't met before." I nodded in agreement, my curiosity piqued at the thought of what lay ahead.

The chairman then gestured towards Vijay and Mukul, indicating it was their turn to take the floor. "Gentlemen, if you will," he said with a nod, signaling that the stage was theirs. I leaned in, eager to hear what they had to say.

One of the gentlemen, Vijay, stood up and approached me. Despite my young age of 16, I already stood at a height of 175cm with a well-toned physique that exuded strength and power. Vijay, who was slightly taller than me, looked down at me with a friendly smile.

Vijay marveled at my recent performance in the Ranji Trophy, where I broke every record in sight.

"Your performance was nothing short of phenomenal," he said, with a hint of awe in his voice. "How did you do it? Are you really only 16 this year?" I could tell from the way he was speaking that he was truly impressed, and I couldn't help but feel proud of my accomplishments.

I confirmed that I was indeed only 16 years old, and Vijay seemed even more impressed.

"That's truly remarkable," he said.

"What's your secret? How do you maintain such a fit and powerful build at your age?" He added that most all-rounders he had met were generally slow to medium pace, making my combination of speed and accuracy even more rare and impressive.

Vijay seemed to realize that he was getting sidetracked and quickly corrected himself. "I apologize, I seem to have gone off track here," he said, as Mukul pointed out his diversion.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Vijay stepped forward and handed me an envelope with the BCCI symbol emblazoned on it.

"We're here to extend an invitation to you for the selection test of the Indian Cricket Team's tour of Pakistan," he declared with excitement.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing - an opportunity to represent my country and compete at the highest level of the sport was a dream come true.

Overcome with excitement, I jumped up and asked in disbelief, "Are you for real? You're not kidding, right?" The thought of being selected for the national cricket team was a lifelong dream, and the fact that it was within reach was almost too good to be true.

I quickly regained my composure and apologized for my outburst.

"I'm sorry for my behavior just now. I just can't believe I might get to play for India." I was filled with joy and beaming with smiles, but my excitement was short-lived as I soon realized there was no scheduled series for the U19 Team India.

Confused, I asked the chairman, "But sir, there doesn't seem to be a scheduled U19 series between India and Pakistan. Have I misunderstood the invitation?" I searched for the schedule of the U19 team, but I couldn't find any mention of an upcoming tour to Pakistan. The chairman and the two gentlemen looked at each other with a smile.

Mukul then stunned me with a revelation.

"You will be making your debut for the senior team. They have a series scheduled in Pakistan," he announced, leaving me in disbelief.

The thought of playing for the senior Indian Cricket Team, the very team I had always dreamed of representing, was overwhelming.

I was struck speechless and could only manage to say, "Thank you," as tears of joy streamed down my face. This was a moment I would never forget, a true turning point in my cricketing journey.

As the two men prepared to leave, Mukul offered some encouraging words. "Don't fret, but make sure you have all your documents ready by tomorrow and pass them to the association. You'll get your ticket to the team's training place via post. We'll be waiting for you," he advised, shaking hands with the chairman before exiting the room.

I stood there, still in shock and filled with gratitude for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I knew that I had a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I was determined to give it my all and prove my worth in the trials.

I was elated when I received the news of my selection for the Indian cricket team. After years of hard work and dedication, my dream was finally becoming a reality. I felt a rush of emotions - joy, excitement, and pride.

As I sat down to absorb the news, I thought about all the sacrifices I had made over the years to get to this point. The long hours of practice, the missed birthday parties and family gatherings, the injuries and setbacks - it had all been worth it.

I thought about my father, who had always been my biggest supporter. He had always believed in me and my talent, even when others had not. I wished that he was here to share this moment with me.

I was also filled with a sense of responsibility. I knew that this was a huge opportunity and that I had a lot to prove. I was representing my country and I wanted to make them proud. I was determined to work even harder to ensure that I was ready for this challenge.

As I reflected on my journey so far, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for everyone who had supported me along the way. I was ready to take on this new chapter in my life and give it my all.