The morning sun hadn't yet burned through the Lucknow haze when Nikhil Srivatam arrived at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium. The pitch was still under covers, the nets were being set up, and the outfield shimmered with dew.
He was early.
Again.
Veer tucked under his arm, notebook in his kitbag, and a quiet rhythm in his walk.
He wasn't in the playing XI.
But he trained like he was.
The UP senior squad had scheduled a full-day training session ahead of their next Vijay Hazare fixture. Karnataka had been edged out, but the next opponent—Hyderabad—was known for spin-heavy tactics and aggressive middle-order batters.
Coach Ramesh Bhatia had split the squad into three units: batters, pacers, and spinners.
Nikhil was assigned to the spin group.
He didn't speak.
He just padded up, marked his run-up, and began.
The Off-Spin Session
Siddharth Rao, his mentor from the Training camp, led the spin drills. He stood behind the stumps, arms folded, eyes sharp.
"Today we work on control," he said. "Not magic. Not mystery. Just control."
Nikhil bowled in sets of six.
First set—too full. Second set—better flight, but wide. Third set—tight line, dipping length, subtle drift.
Siddharth nodded. "Now bowl like you're defending 12 in the last over."
Nikhil adjusted.
He slowed his arm. He changed his seam angle. He bowled a flatter one, then a looped delivery, then a quicker dart.
Ravi Teja, keeping behind the stumps, grinned. "That's the over I'd trust."
The Senior Eyes
From the adjacent net, Mayank Rawat and Vivek Agnihotri were watching.
Mayank, the right-arm pacer, leaned on his towel and said, "Kid's not just spinning. He's thinking."
Vivek nodded. "He's setting up batters without bowling to them."
Divakar Singh, the vocal allrounder, walked past and muttered, "Still not in the XI though."
Mayank replied, "Yet."
The Batting Drill
Later in the day, Nikhil was asked to bowl to the top-order batters in a simulation net.
Raghav Mehta, flamboyant and competitive, took strike.
First ball—Nikhil tossed it up.
Raghav danced down and lofted it over extra cover.
Second ball—flatter, quicker.
Raghav missed the sweep.
Third ball—looped, drifting in.
Raghav defended.
He turned to Nikhil. "You're annoying."
Nikhil smiled. "That's the job."
Karan Bhagat stepped in next.
He was quiet, methodical, and hard to deceive.
Nikhil bowled five deliveries.
Karan played four with soft hands.
The fifth—he stepped out and chipped it back.
Caught.
Karan nodded. "Good variation."
Siddharth Rao clapped once. "That's a wicket in disguise."
The Tactical Briefing
After lunch, the squad gathered in the strategy room.
Coach Bhatia pulled up Hyderabad's batting chart.
"They attack spin early. Especially their No. 4 and No. 6. We need containment."
He looked at Siddharth.
Siddharth looked at Nikhil.
"Srivatam, walk us through your field for a left-hander trying to sweep."
Nikhil stood.
"Short fine leg. Deep square. Deep midwicket. Slip if it's turning. No cover—tempt the loft."
No one interrupted.
Ravi Teja added, "That's the trap we used in zonals."
Coach Bhatia nodded. "Good. We'll use it."
The Evening Session
As the sun dipped, the squad moved to the center wicket for match simulation.
Nikhil wasn't in the bowling rotation.
But he stayed.
He helped Siddharth set cones for fielding drills. He threw balls for catching practice. He shadowed deliveries behind the nets.
Rajeev Menon watched from the stands.
He didn't take notes.
He just watched.
The Night Reflection
Back in the dorm, Nikhil sat with Veer on the windowsill.
He replayed the day.
The drills. The field placements. The quiet nods.
He didn't feel overlooked.
He felt sharpened.
Then he whispered to Veer:
"The spotlight's not the goal. The grind is."