The academy's turf pitch had never looked so alive.
Prince stood near the dugout in full whites — his crisp Kerala Academy kit neatly tucked, helmet hanging on one arm, Gray-Nicolls bat resting against the wooden bench. The sun was only just beginning to rise above the canopy of palms ringing the ground. A thin layer of mist hovered over the grass, curling around boundary flags like breath in the cold.
Today wasn't a drill. It wasn't a training match. It was the real thing.
The Year: 2008.The Match: Kerala U-12 vs. Delhi U-12 (Academy Division Friendly)The Venue: Century Cricket Academy Main Ground, Kaloor, Kochi.
His team was gathered nearby — some stretching, others sipping electrolytes or joking nervously. Across the field, the visiting Delhi squad unpacked kit bags with calm focus. Their coach — a towering North Indian man in sunglasses and a white sunhat — spoke in clipped Hindi to three boys Prince immediately recognized from reputation alone:
1. Ayush Badoni.Compact, precise, known for clean hitting even at age ten.
2. Ishan Kishan.Aggressive, already talked about in coaching circles for his fearless strokeplay and bold wicketkeeping.
3. Rishabh Pant.Left-hander. Power-hitter. Even at under-12 level, his name was known for that wild bat swing and unpredictability. He laughed loudly, chirped non-stop, and walked like the crease belonged to him.
But there were more — young prodigies from Delhi who would go on to make names for themselves. Prince didn't know their futures yet, but the System did.
As Prince leaned against the dugout fence, the System Interface activated.
Match Module Initiated.Opponent: Delhi U-12 Academy (North Division)Format: 25-over FriendlyRole: Middle Order Batsman (5), Seam Bowler (3rd)
Would you like to scan pitch and conditions?
Prince blinked. "Yes."
The interface unfolded like blueprints in his vision, creating a multi-layered readout:
🧠 PITCH REPORT – Century Cricket Academy Turf, Kaloor
Type: Natural Turf – Dry Top, Moist BaseHardness: MediumBounce: Slightly variable early, improves after 5 oversSpin: Moderate (grips after 15+ overs)Seam Movement: High in first 4 overs, reduces sharplyOutfield: Fast
Ideal Lengths (Seam): Full-to-good length just outside offIdeal Lengths (Spin): Fuller, attacking middle stumpBest Scoring Zones: Straight, cover, square leg
Suggested Batting Strategy:– First 5 overs: Cautious, read bounce– Overs 6–15: Accelerate through cover and straight drive– After over 15: Watch for low bounce, focus on placement
Prince stared at the report. It was more detailed than any coach's chalk talk. Even without knowing every nuance of the Delhi boys, he already had data that could tip the balance.
Then the System pinged again.
Body Scan: CompleteFatigue: 3% (Low)Hydration: OptimalMuscle Readiness: 85%Mental Focus: 94%
Would you like to initiate Body Control: Performance Mode?
Prince whispered, "Yes."
⚙️ Activating Body Control
Breath synchronization: 100%Cardiovascular rhythm: OptimizedMicro-muscle alignment: EngagedNeural latency: Reduced by 12%
Result: Reaction time improved by 9%, muscle fatigue delayedTime Limit: 45 minutes (can be extended with cooldown protocol)
The effects were immediate.
His arms felt lighter, his shoulders more stable. The tightness he hadn't even noticed in his lower back vanished. He exhaled slowly, and it felt as if his lungs had been washed clean.
Around him, the world sharpened.
The texture of the turf. The movement of boys jogging past. The feel of the bat handle against his palm. Everything had more presence.
He wasn't jittery. He wasn't floating. He was just… ready.
The Starting XI (Kerala U-12)
Coach Gautam gathered them near the dugout, reading from a small notepad. His tone was even but firm.
Arun Menon (Aru) – Right-hand opener, calm technique
Rohan Mathew (Ro) – Left-hand opener, disciplined anchor
Danish Jacob – Aggressive no.3
Samir Ahamed – Fast bowler, utility batsman
Prince Martin – Spin bowler, batting all-rounder
Faizal Koya – Middle-order bat, off-spin
Ricky John – Wicketkeeper
Sumesh Nair – Off-spin specialist
Sanneesh Joseph – Left-arm seam
Aarav Thomas – All-rounder
Akash Vinod – Slower pace, tail end bat
Gautam looked around. "You've all trained hard. This isn't a tournament match, but it's a real game. I don't care about the scorecard today. I care about decision-making, presence, and grit. Got it?"
A chorus of "Yes, sir" rang out.
Delhi U-12 Lineup (Partial)
Coach Shivas passed around the printout from Delhi's squad sheet.
Ayush Badoni – Right-hand opener
Ishan Kishan – Left-hand opener, WK
Rishabh Pant – Left-hand batsman, known for aggression
Arman Gupta – Leg-spin, Delhi prodigy (fictional)
Rahul Nayyar – Right-arm medium
Ritik Raj – Quick left-armer, future junior team pick (fictional)
Amit Sharma – Middle-order, power hitter8–11. Additional academy talents
The Delhi team carried themselves with quiet confidence. Badoni practiced backfoot punches off a hanging ball. Kishan adjusted his gloves like he was already wearing India blues. Pant was loud — laughing, teasing teammates, and casually smashing throwdowns over mid-wicket nets.
It was clear: this wouldn't be a walkover.
The Toss
Coach Gautam and the Delhi coach walked out with the umpires. Prince stood beside Faizal and Aru, waiting.
The coin flew into the air. Landed. Gautam nodded.
"We'll bat first."
Cheers erupted from the Kerala boys. Gautam turned to Aru and Ro.
"You're up."
Aru adjusted his pads. Ro clipped on his gloves without a word.
"Settle in," Gautam added. "You've seen the pitch. First 5 overs are tricky. Watch the bounce, keep your heads. We don't need fireworks. We need a foundation."
They nodded and jogged off toward the pitch.
Prince watched them from the dugout, mind already ticking through the System's data.
The ball would seam. The outfield would run fast. Aru's patience and Ro's timing were the perfect combo.
He sat down, adjusted his wrist guard, and whispered to himself.
"Let's begin."
The crowd was small — mostly academy staff, parents, and a few curious local players — but the energy was unmistakable. Every boy on that field knew what this match meant. It wasn't just practice anymore.
It was proof. Of progress. Of promise.
And for Prince, it was the first official page in the book of the life he was now determined to rewrite.