2013 – National College Ground, Basavanagudi
Coach Murali's Chalkboard Briefing – Morning of the Match
The locker room smelled of liniment and ambition.
Coach Murali stood in front of a small whiteboard propped up on two kit bags. His whistle hung from his neck like a pendulum of judgment. The boys gathered around, fresh from warm-ups, sweat glistening on their foreheads. The air felt heavier than usual—something was brewing.
Murali didn't waste time.
"Listen up," he barked. "Last match, I rotated the order. Arjun opened. Varun adapted. That was a test of versatility. Today, we go in structured. Pratyush and Nikhil open. Varun at one-down. Aditya after. Then Arjun."
Some murmurs rose, subtle, like shifting gravel.
Arjun blinked. Batting three down?
Murali continued. "This isn't about hierarchy. It's about roles. Arjun—today you anchor middle. You steady. Not blast. Build."
Arjun nodded once. No protest. He trusted Murali.
The coach moved his magnet pieces on the board. "And remember, this team—Swarnabhoomi Strikers—they've got a leggie. Tall, high action, bowls into the pads but gets drift. Don't go hard. Play him late."
He paused, eyeing the team.
"One more thing—this is not a warm-up match. Their captain's under KSCA radar. Expect fight. Now go out and give me control."
Toss Time – And Trouble
The sun was blazing as the coin flew. Harsha, Rising Youth's captain, called tails. It was heads.
Swarnabhoomi Strikers chose to bat first.
On cue, their openers marched out confidently—one of them, Kiran Thakur, had reportedly made 78 off 39 balls just last week.
Arjun adjusted his cap and jogged to the boundary. The chase would be big.
Bowling Innings – Fireworks and Frustrations
Harsha opened the bowling with Ravi. The first over was tight—just 5 runs and a streaky inside edge.
But the second over, from Ravi, broke the silence. Kiran stepped out and lofted him straight down the ground for six. Then a pull. Then a square cut. 16 runs.
Third over: Harsha brought himself on. Got one to nip back in and hit the pads. Big shout—given. Early breakthrough. 29/1.
Parth bowled the fourth—nagging lines, cutters into the pitch. He got a thick edge that raced for four, but followed it with a dot and then a smart slower one to trap the other opener plumb. 38/2.
By the 10th over, the Strikers were 93/2. Their number four, Rahul, began teeing off. Slogged Parth for six. Reverse-swept Varun for four.
It was then that Murali called for Arjun.
"Two overs max," he said. "Mix it."
Arjun nodded. First over—decent. Bowled one quicker through the air, Rahul miscued and Harsha took a low catch at long-on.
Wicket!!
But the second over—oh, the second.
A short ball pulled for four. A wide. Then a tossed-up delivery slog-swept into the trees. A desperate attempt to float one wide—cut away again. 17 runs in the over.
Murali gave him a brief glance. Nothing more. Just a whistle blown sharply as a signal to switch.
By the 18th over, the Strikers were 158/5. A few big hits in the end, and they finished at:
178/6 in 20 overs.
Arjun tied his shoelaces tighter than ever.
Innings Break – The Quiet Between Storms
Sitting under the gulmohar tree near the nets, Arjun stared at his gloves. Varun sat beside him, sipping ORS.
"We've chased more," Varun said calmly.
Arjun didn't answer.
Murali walked over, arms folded. "It's not about chasing the number. It's about chasing the moment. Win this over. Then the next. Build."
He tapped Arjun's shoulder.
"Watch their leggie. He's not Murugan Ashwin, but he's clever."
Chase Begins – Early Thrust
Pratyush and Nikhil opened. The first over went for 12. A boundary from Nikhil, and a misfield helped.
Second over—8 more. Running between wickets was crisp.
Third over—big breakthrough. Pratyush mistimed a lofted drive. Caught at mid-off. 27/1.
Varun walked in, composed as ever.
In the fourth over, Nikhil tried to heave across the line—clean bowled. 36/2.
Aditya came in, stabilized briefly.
By the end of 5 overs:
Score – 60/2.
At the crease – Varun (18 off 10), Arjun (4 off 3).
Middle Overs – Leg-Spin Web
The sixth over brought in the leg-spinner—Dinesh Nair. Tall, fluid, with a cocked wrist.
First ball to Arjun—floated, full. Arjun went for the sweep. Missed. Rapped on pads. Appeal denied.
Second ball—shorter, Arjun tried to cut. Edge! Dropped at backward point.
He exhaled.
From the other end, Varun played serenely. Flicks, cover drives, the occasional uppercut.
"You're planting early," Varun muttered during a drink break. "Wait for the release. Play it off the pitch."
Arjun nodded.
But Dinesh was on fire. He bowled a flipper that kept low. Arjun jabbed. Inside edge. No run.
Next ball—a tossed-up googly. Arjun didn't pick it. Got hit on the pad. Another appeal. Again not out.
The fielders chirped.
"Overrated Murali project!"
"Batting by favouritism!"
Arjun gritted his teeth.
Turning the Corner – With Help
In the 10th over, Varun took charge.
He skipped down and lofted Dinesh inside-out for four.
Then a sweep behind square.
Arjun finally connected a flick against the off-spinner at the other end. His timing was coming back. Slowly.
In the 12th over, he danced down the track and drove a floater for four past extra cover.
Varun grinned. "Now we're talking."
But the leggie wasn't done. He bowled one wide of off. Arjun chased it—edge again! Dropped again at slip.
Two lives.
Final Push – Grit and Grace
At the end of 15 overs:
Score – 132/3.
Varun: 49 off 33.
Arjun: 31 off 28.
Arjun switched gears. He pulled a short one over square. Then cut another for four.
Varun brought up his fifty with a picture-perfect straight drive.
But in the 19th over, he tried to clear long-off—caught. Out for a brilliant 66 off 42 balls.
Arjun was now on 44 off 35. 12 needed off 6.
First ball – full toss. Flicked. Two runs.
Second ball – dot.
Third – scoop! FOUR.
Fourth – single.
Fifth – another two.
Last ball – required 3. Arjun heaved… inside edge… past keeper!
Four!!
Victory!!
Post-Match
Murali walked over, clapped once.
"To struggle and still finish—that's growth."
He looked at Arjun.
"You're not afraid of spin. You're afraid of not controlling spin."
Then at Varun.
"Good knock. But next time—stay till the end."
They both nodded.
As they walked off, Arjun whispered, "Thanks for the tip… back-foot play helped."
Varun grinned. "Told you. Legs don't lie, wrists do."
Scorecard – Rising Youth SC Innings
Batsman Runs Balls 4s 6s SR
Varun Shetty 66 42 7 1 157.1
Arjun Desai 58* 40 5 0 145.0
Pratyush 9 7 1 0 128.5
Nikhil 17 11 2 0 154.5
Aditya (WK) 12 13 1 0 92.3
Harsha (C) 4 3 0 0 133.3
Extras 14 — — — —
Total 180/5 in 20 overs
Rising Youth SC Bowling
Bowler Overs Runs Wkts Econ
Harsha 4 33 1 8.25
Ravi 3 28 0 9.33
Parth 4 29 2 7.25
Arjun Desai 2 20 1 10.00
Varun Shetty 4 31 1 7.75
Result: Rising Youth SC won by 5 wickets