**Day 15 – Kolkata, West Bengal**
Eden Gardens, 8:00 AM
For many, this is just a cricket stadium.
For 20 boys on a dream, it's the gateway to legend.
The Bat & Ball Core Squad arrives in black travel suits, stepping off the BCCI convoy bus. Cameras flash. Media swarms. Fans chant unfamiliar names — because India is starting to know them.
> "Aryan! Ek shot yahan bhi!"
> "Yuvraj bhai, six dekhna hai!"
> "Zayaan! Firecracker!"
The air is thick with humidity and hope.
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**Inside Eden Gardens – Team Briefing**
MS Dhoni stands in front of the squad.
> "Welcome to your first taste of history. This ground has seen Tendulkar's centuries… Ganguly's roars… and heartbreaks that made men stronger."
He turns to the giant digital board behind him.
> "Today, you'll play not just for trial… but in front of selectors, retired icons, and the people of Kolkata. Win the moment. Play for pride."
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**Match Setup – Two Squads Created**
Team A (led unofficially by Aryan):
Aryan, Yuvraj, Omkar, Danish, Tarun, Ankit, Samar, Irfan, Deep, Rishi
Team B (led unofficially by Zayaan):
Zayaan, Sai Menon, Rehaan, Rajveer, Aayush, Kartik, Jeet, Mahir, Saurav, Ishan
Format: 40-over internal match
Venue: Eden Gardens
Crowd: 40% capacity filled – public allowed for the first time
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**Toss: Zayaan wins – chooses to bat first**
Sai Menon walks out to open. Calm. Controlled.
Zayaan follows, full of energy and tension.
First over: Omkar bowls. Spins from ball one. Sai nudges calmly for singles.
Zayaan tries a big hit — gets lucky as it falls between mid-off and cover.
Commentator whispers from VIP box:
> "This isn't just talent anymore… they're crafting their narrative under pressure."
10 overs: 65/0
Zayaan begins to build rhythm — plays a stunning helicopter shot that echoes through the crowd.
But in the 13th over, Aryan fields a bullet at point and runs Sai out with a direct hit.
> Sai (nodding at Aryan): "Of course it's you…"
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**Middle Overs**
Rehaan and Aayush rotate well.
Omkar and Danish tighten with spin.
But Rajveer accelerates — 32(21) with finesse and guts.
Team B finishes at: **239/8 in 40 overs**
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**Chase Begins – Team A**
Aryan and Danish open. Yuvraj sent at 3.
Aryan remains unreadable. He leaves good balls. Blocks even better ones.
Yuvraj at the other end? Pure aggression — 24 off 10 balls before he miscues a pull and walks off, punching his gloves.
> Yuvraj (to Aryan): "He's yours now."
Danish rotates. Aryan builds.
By 25 overs: 132/2
Then: A collapse.
Zayaan brings himself in — bowls a surprise off-cutter. Danish edges it. Out.
Tarun and Irfan fall within 5 balls.
Suddenly: 138/5
Required: 102 off 13 overs
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**Aryan Holds the Fort**
He's alone. Crowd murmurs. MS Dhoni watches silently from the box.
Aryan starts dancing down the pitch. Drives. Sweeps. Cuts.
A calculated assault. No wild strokes. Just precision.
Omkar joins him. Blocks. Survives. Rotates.
Together, they stitch 64 in 7 overs.
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Final Over – 12 Required
Zayaan hands the ball to Rajveer.
First ball: Yorker. Aryan digs it out.
Second: Slower ball. Aryan flicks – four!
Third: Dot. Fourth: Single.
Omkar on strike. 7 needed from 2.
Omkar swings – six over square leg!
One run to win, one ball left. Omkar taps for a single. Victory!
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**Crowd Roars. Players rush. Aryan breathes deep.**
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**Post-Match Ceremony**
BCCI Chairman speaks:
> "This isn't about winning anymore. This is about identity. And we are starting to see… who you all are."
MS Dhoni adds:
> "Some of you played for runs. Some played for self. Few played for the game itself. Learn which one you are."
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**Evening – Eden Gardens Rooftop Café**
Aryan sits silently sipping tea. Zayaan walks over.
Zayaan: "You're not a wall. You're a mirror."
Aryan: "Then reflect something worth seeing."
They nod — respect finally brewing.
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**Next: Chapter 17 – "Flashlights and Flaws – When Media Picks Sides"**