The target was fixed.
The scoreboard stood tall above the ground like a silent judge.
Team A – 142/8 in 20 overs.
A decent total.
Not massive.
Not small.
But in cricket, numbers on the board always behave differently during a chase.
When a team bats first, the players think only about scoring.
But when a team chases, every run comes with a shadow.
Pressure.
And pressure has a strange ability.
It makes 143 feel like 200.
The players of Team B slowly walked toward their dressing room after the innings break began. Some were discussing the bowling spells, others were quietly drinking water and recovering their energy.
Today, two bowlers had stood out.
Arjun and Raghav.
Both had bowled with discipline and control. Their tight overs had stopped Team A from reaching a much bigger score. Many expected the score to go beyond 160, but the pressure created by those two bowlers had restricted it.
Now the responsibility shifted.
From bowlers…
To batsmen.
The coach wrote the number on the strategy board inside the dressing room.
143
He circled it once.
"That's the target."
The room was silent for a moment.
Everyone stared at the board.
Some players nodded confidently. Others knew something important.
Targets like these are tricky.
If you play too slowly, the required run rate climbs like a mountain.
If you attack blindly, wickets fall.
And once wickets start falling…
Even a simple chase becomes dangerous.
The Team B captain stood up from his chair.
"Listen."
All players looked toward him.
"This is not a big target. But don't take it lightly. Build the innings properly. We have twenty overs. No need for panic."
The players nodded.
Across the room, Ravi, the usual opening batsman, had already begun preparing himself. He tightened his gloves and adjusted his helmet strap. He had opened the batting many times before, and he understood the importance of the first few overs.
Beside him, the captain himself was also getting ready.
Normally, these two would walk out to start the innings.
The plan was already set.
A calm and balanced start.
But just as the captain picked up his bat and began moving toward the door, a voice stopped him.
"Wait."
The voice was firm.
Everyone turned.
It was Coach Karn.
Karn stepped forward slowly.
He was not a man who spoke unnecessarily. But when he did, players listened.
His sharp eyes moved across the room before stopping at the captain.
"I want to see Arjun bat."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The captain blinked in surprise.
"Arjun?"
Karn nodded calmly.
"Yes."
He turned his gaze toward the field outside the dressing room balcony.
"The powerplay is the best time to attack."
Then he explained his thought.
"Only two fielders are allowed outside the boundary during the powerplay. That means there are huge gaps inside the field."
He paused and looked toward one player sitting quietly near the corner.
Arjun.
"He is a natural power hitter."
Some players exchanged glances.
Most of them had seen Arjun's batting during practice sessions.
When he connected the ball…
It travelled very far.
But Arjun was known mainly for his bowling.
Sending him to open the innings during a chase was a bold decision.
Karn continued speaking.
"He already bowled brilliantly today."
Everyone knew that was true.
Arjun's spell had built pressure on Team A when they were trying to accelerate.
Karn crossed his arms.
"But I want to see something more."
The room remained silent.
"If he performs with the bat too… then we take him to the club tournament."
Now the words carried weight.
The club tournament was not just another local match.
It was where talented players got noticed.
A place where careers sometimes began.
The captain looked toward Arjun.
Arjun was sitting quietly, listening to everything.
His expression didn't change.
But inside him…
Something had started burning.
The captain thought for a few seconds.
Then slowly he nodded.
"Alright."
He turned around and called out.
"Arjun."
Arjun looked up.
"You and Ravi are opening."
For a moment—
The entire dressing room froze.
Some players looked shocked.
Others stared at Arjun with curiosity.
Opening the innings in a run chase was always a serious responsibility.
But for someone who was mainly seen as a bowler…
It was unexpected.
Ravi chuckled slightly as he stood up.
"Well… looks like we're partners today."
Arjun slowly stood from his chair.
He picked up his helmet.
He didn't show excitement.
He didn't show nervousness.
But inside his chest, his heart was beating harder.
This was not just another chance to bat.
This was a test.
A moment that could change how everyone saw him.
Bowler…
Or all-rounder.
He adjusted the strap of his gloves.
Then he walked toward the exit.
Ravi followed beside him.
As they stepped out of the dressing room tunnel, the sound of the crowd slowly grew louder.
The stadium was alive again.
People clapped as the two batsmen walked onto the field.
The bright sunlight covered the ground, and the grass shined under it.
Above them, the scoreboard reminded everyone of the challenge.
Target – 143
Ravi took his position at the non-striker's end.
Arjun walked toward the striker's crease.
He bent slightly and tapped his bat on the pitch twice.
The pitch looked dry.
Not too slow.
But not extremely fast either.
From the other end, the bowler of Team A began marking his run-up.
He was their strike fast bowler.
Karthik.
Tall.
Aggressive.
And known for intimidating batsmen.
He rolled his shoulders and looked directly at Arjun.
Karthik smiled slightly.
"So you're opening today?"
Arjun didn't answer.
He simply looked toward the field placements.
Slip.
Point.
Mid-off.
Mid-on.
Square leg.
Deep third man.
And deep fine leg.
Exactly what Karn had predicted.
Because only two fielders were allowed outside the boundary.
Huge spaces existed in the outfield.
Perfect for attacking shots.
From the dressing room balcony, Coach Karn leaned forward.
His eyes were fixed only on Arjun.
This was the moment he wanted to see.
Could the boy handle pressure?
Could he dominate the powerplay?
Or would he collapse under expectations?
The umpire raised his hand.
The fielders settled into position.
Ravi adjusted his stance at the non-striker's end.
Karthik turned and began his run-up.
Each step echoed across the pitch.
The crowd slowly became silent.
This was the beginning of the chase.
But for Arjun…
It was the beginning of something much bigger.
Karthik accelerated toward the crease.
His arm rotated powerfully.
The ball left his hand at high speed.
Arjun watched it carefully.
The red ball travelled quickly through the air before pitching just outside off stump.
Arjun leaned forward slightly.
For a brief moment, the entire stadium seemed to pause.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound of bat meeting ball echoed sharply across the ground.
The shot was clean.
Powerful.
The ball shot past the cover fielder like a bullet and raced across the grass.
The crowd gasped.
The fielder chased desperately.
But it was too fast.
The ball reached the boundary rope.
FOUR.
The stadium erupted.
Cheers exploded from the stands.
Ravi smiled from the other end.
"That's the start we needed."
Arjun didn't celebrate much.
He simply walked back to his crease calmly.
But inside…
The fire had started.
From the dressing room balcony, Coach Karn slowly nodded.
The boy had just announced himself.
And the run chase had officially begun.
But the real battle…
Was only starting.