chapter 7 - future training .

Rohan responded promptly to the coach's call, making his way over to where the coach was engaged in conversation with a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his late 40s.

"Coach, did you call me?" Rohan inquired politely, his tone respectful.

"Yes, Bade. Did you mention that you haven't played cricket before?" The coach's question seemed curious.

"That's correct, sir. I haven't played cricket anywhere," Rohan replied with a sincere tone.

"Alright. Show me the way you were holding the ball just now," the coach requested.

Rohan felt a sense of understanding wash over him as he realized the reason behind the coach's inquiry. Suppressing his awareness of the system's reward for his ball-holding technique, he demonstrated the ball-holding posture he had used earlier.

The coach exchanged a glance with the middle-aged man before continuing, "Okay, Rohan. Where did you learn to hold the ball like that?"

Rohan managed to come up with an excuse, "Oh, this? I was watching a pace bowler ahead of me who was holding the ball like this, so I just copied his style. Is there any issue, sir?"

The coach's intrigue seemed evident, and he exchanged another look with the middle-aged man. "Alright, Rohan. Let me introduce you to your bowling coach, Mr. Ram Tadpade. He was a notable bowler in his time, representing India from 2004 to 2009. He'll be overseeing your bowling coaching from now on."

Rohan greeted the new bowling coach with a polite, "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Likewise, Rohan. Now, go back and practice ball catching on the field. I'll call you in a bit," Coach Ram directed him.

Rohan complied, joining the field for ball catching practice. However, his attention remained on the coaching discussion unfolding in the background.

As Rohan had left the vicinity, the head coach turned to Coach Ram. "So, what's your impression of him?"

Coach Ram responded with a smile, "He lacks balling stance knowledge, is uncertain about his run-up steps, and his body isn't fully prepared. Despite that, he does possess some speed suitable for a 12-year-old. Moreover, he exhibits a natural swinging ability, along with good situational awareness. He's a raw talent that needs refining."

The head coach nodded, acknowledging Coach Ram's assessment. "It seems you're satisfied with this new addition. Alright, I want you to polish this gem for the upcoming state level tournament."

Coach Ram let out an embarrassed chuckle, saying, "Mahesh, you know I retired just a year ago, and I had plans for a vacation with my family. Considering it's already October, we have only four months to prepare."

The head coach raised his hands, displaying a sense of helplessness. "We have no other choice, Ram. There's a scarcity of pace bowlers with both speed and swing in the U14 category this year. I'm not asking for perfection, just enough to contribute in the U14 Championship."

Coach Ram's expression reflected his understanding of the situation. "We'll see about that. But what about the wicketkeeper for that match? If Rohan is bowling at pace, we need a reliable keeper to catch those deliveries."

The head coach contemplated this issue, responding, "How about Vikas? He has experience as a keeper in the U12 matches."

Coach Ram concurred, "That sounds reasonable. He's an experienced choice."

As the discussion continued, Coach Ram expressed concern about balancing Rohan's school commitments with the additional training. The head coach assured him that he would contact Rohan's parents and school to arrange an early release for practice. Despite his reservations, Coach Ram accepted the challenge.

Later, Coach Ram approached Rohan, who was engrossed in ball-catching practice. "Anything you need, sir?" Rohan inquired respectfully.

"Starting today, Rohan, your training will involve bowling practice with me. You can concentrate solely on that and not other activities. When does your school end?" Coach Ram questioned.

Rohan's enthusiasm was palpable as he responded, "My school hours are from 10:40 AM to 4:50 PM, sir."

After considering the timing, Coach Ram proposed, "Alright, from today, your training with me will begin at 3:00 PM for the next two weeks."

Surprised yet excited, Rohan raised a concern, "But what about school..."

Coach Ram waved his hand dismissively, reassuring Rohan, "Don't worry about that. We'll communicate with your parents and school to ensure you can leave at 2:30 PM and join practice. However, remember, you can't afford to fall behind in your studies due to this arrangement."

Rohan was content with the arrangement, knowing he had already completed his graduation from Ruia College. Confidently, he asserted, "No problem, sir. I won't lag behind and will make sure I excel in my studies."

As training resumed, Coach Ram provided Rohan with some initial instructions and introduced the concept of different run-up steps used by bowlers. The conversation between them was briefly interrupted by Rohan's query to the system about his bowling style. The system offered Rohan the option to choose a bowling action from renowned bowlers, and Rohan eventually settled on Dale Steyn's classic style.

With Coach Ram's guidance, Rohan embarked on his training journey, beginning with understanding the basics of bowling. Although he had initially questioned the abundance of additional information, the system explained that with professional training, data would become more extensive and tailored to his improvement.

The chapter concluded with Coach Ram informing Rohan that for the next two weeks, he would be focusing intensively on training, preparing him for a practice match against Matunga Jeamkhana. As they both delved into the training, Rohan's journey towards becoming a skilled pace bowler began.

- END -