Chapter 16: SVS v/s DSP [1]
The day of the first match arrived with a buzz of nervous energy.
[ Match : Shanti Vidya Mandir School ( SVS) Vs Delhi Public School ( DPS)]
The team boarded the school bus for the short trip to Delhi Public School (DPS) Guwahati's home ground.
The seniors, like Vikram and Gourav, were loud, full of boasts and bravado. Raghav sat quietly in the back, his small bat bag at his feet, his mind visualizing the bowler's arm, the white ball, his bat meeting it with a straight, defensive block.
He felt a different kind of pressure now. This wasn't a trial. This was a real match, the first entry in what he intended to be a long and legendary career. His father's words echoed in his head, "Don't let your studies suffer," a constant reminder that he was fighting a battle on two fronts.
As they arrived and began their warm-up drills on the unfamiliar field, a series of system notifications chimed in his mind, sharp and sudden.
Ding~
[System Notification: Host has successfully completed the Novice Period.]
[The 'World's Greatest Cricket System' is now operating at standard parameters.]
Raghav paused his stretching, a feeling of unease settling over him. 'Standard parameters?'
[System Store prices have been adjusted to standard rates.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Lottery.]
[New System Rule Implemented: Age-Based Stat Limitation.]
Raghav's heart dropped. He quickly commanded, 'System Store.'
The familiar menu appeared, but the numbers made him go cold.
[SYSTEM STORE]
[Stat Points:]
[Stamina (+1 Point) - 100 SP]
[Strength (+1 Point) - 100 SP]
[Batting Technique (+1 Point) - 200 SP]
[Bowling Skill (+1 Point) - 200 SP]
[Fielding (+1 Point) - 150 SP]
[Lottery:]
[Spin the Wheel: (Spin for a random skill, item, or stat reward) - 50 SP]
The prices had skyrocketed. His 15 available SP, which he had been saving, suddenly felt worthless.
He couldn't afford a single thing, not even the new Lottery. The easy days of buying stats after a single quest were gone.
'This... this changes everything,' he thought, his mind racing. 'The system isn't a cheat code... it's just a guide. The real work... the grind... is even harder than I thought.'
He then focused on the last notification. 'System, explain Age-Based Stat Limitation.'
[Age-Based Stat Limitation: The Host's current physical potential is capped by age to ensure stable, long-term growth and prevent bodily collapse.]
[Current Age: 12. Maximum Stat Cap for all physical attributes (STA, STR, BAT, BOWL, FIELD): 25.]
[Note: 'Cricket IQ' (27) is a mental trait derived from a unique anomaly (rebirth) and has been grandfathered in. It will not increase further until the age cap is raised.]
[Future Stat Caps:
Age 13 (35),
Age 14 (50),
Age 16 (60),
Age 17 (80),
Age 18 (85),
Age 19 (90).]
Raghav did the math, his 42-year-old mind processing the data.
His Batting was 14. His Stamina was 17. He was already more than halfway to his entire limit for the year.
He now understood why future rewards would be in decimals.
Progress from now on wouldn't be in leaps, but in tiny, hard-won fractions and the path to becoming the 'God of Cricket' had just become infinitely longer.
"Roi! Stop daydreaming! On the field!" Coach Sarma's voice shattered his thoughts.
The match was about to begin. The DPS captain, a tall, athletic boy in Class 9, spun the coin.
"Tails!" called Vikram.
The coin landed. Heads.
"We'll bat first," the DPS captain said with a grin.
A wave of groans went through Raghav's team. They were batting last. Chasing a score is always high-pressure.
DPS started strong and their openers were confident, punishing the loose balls from Gourav, who was bowling too fast and too angrily.
They put up a solid 124 runs for 4 wickets in their 20 overs. A very respectable score.
=========
"Alright, 125 to win," Coach Sarma said as the team gathered, wiping sweat from their faces.
"It's a good score, but it's not impossible. Vikram, Rohan, give us a solid start...Don't throw it away."
Vikram, annoyed from his expensive bowling spell, nodded. "We've got this, Coach."
He walked out with Rohan, the wicketkeeper. The DPS team was energetic, their cheering echoing across the field.
Vikram, true to his nature, tried to dominate. The first ball, short and wide, he smashed for four. The second, he tried to repeat the shot... but it wasn't a bad ball.
He mistimed it. The ball flew high, a simple catch for the fielder at cover.Vikram was out.
[The score: 4/1.]
A heavy silence fell over Raghav's team.
Suraj, the #3, walked in and was immediately intimidated by the fast bowler. He blocked, he panicked, and after six agonizing balls, he was clean-bowled.
[The score: 7/2.]
Rakesh, the #4, came in and, together with Rohan, tried to stabilize. They pushed the score to 28, but a moment of panic, a bad call for a single... Rakesh was run out by a mile.
[The score: 28/3, after 7 overs.]
"Roi! You're in!" Coach Sarma yelled.
Raghav felt his heart leap into his throat. He picked up his bat, his new stats feeling insignificant against the mountain they had to climb. 97 runs needed. Eight wickets in hand, but the top order was gone.
He walked past the jeering seniors, his face a mask of calm. As he reached the crease, he took a deep breath
'Quest: 30 runs and a victory.'
'Coach: Don't get out.'
'System: Age cap 25. The grind is the only way.'
The DPS fast bowler, smelling blood, grinned at him. "Ready to go home, kid?"
Raghav didn't reply. He took his stance and he analyzed the field. As with his Batting Technique of 14 settled his hands into the correct defensive grip.
The bowler charged in. The ball was fast, aimed right at the stumps.
Raghav's , old experience mind screamed 'DEFEND!' His 12-year-old body responded. He brought the bat down in a perfectly straight, dead block.
THOCK.
The ball dropped harmlessly at his feet.
The bowler frowned.
The next ball was just outside off. Raghav shouldered his arms and let it pass.
The over ended. Rohan, at the other end, gave him a small, relieved nod.
Raghav was an anchor. He wasn't scoring, but he was surviving.
He frustrated the bowlers. He pushed singles, giving the strike to Rohan, who managed to hit a few boundaries.
The Runs slowly crawled... 35... 42... 50...
They had been batting together for six overs.
Raghav's personal score was a painstaking 11 runs from 29 balls.
"This is boring!" the DPS captain yelled. "Let's get this wall out. Spinner! You're on!"
A new bowler, a short, tricky leg-spinner, was given the ball. Raghav watched him toss the ball in his hand.
His Cricket IQ flared, recognizing the grip, the potential for a googly, just like in the trials.
This was the first true test.
His debut, his quest, and his team's fate all rested on this next over.
(To be Continued)