Gill played Arshdeep and Khaleel very well, pulling drives and sweeps off with ease, using the crease well to play spin, and stepping out aggressively to punish Arshdeep on misplaced balls, it was a symphony of batting skill, on his last over, Prince once again returned to bowl, and he was now a shark smelling blood in the water, he could see the sweat form on Shubman Gill's brows as he watched Prince's wrist with rapt attention.
1st Ball: A brilliant, pacy yorker that landed so full it nearly cascaded into Gill's pads, he flicked it as quick as possible with sharp reflexes and as the ball cascaded into the net he breathed a sigh of relief, but soon paled once more as Prince counted the steps to his run up for the second ball.
2nd Ball: Prince once again ran in at full speed, stopping at nearly a no ball position but far back enough to not be one, the ball released from his grasp and hurled down to Gill's stumps, but this time, expecting another yorker, Gill played on his back foot,s troking the ball nicely with the middle of the bat for what coach Dravid noted as a four. Prince smiled at Gill's adaptability.
3rd Ball: Once again, a yorker, Gill stepped back and delivered a clean cover drive, albeit lacking power, Coach noted it down as 2 runs and moved on. Gill began to regain his confidence, and soon found a grin plastered to his face as Prince walked back nodding his head. Prince remained focus, silently happy at Gill's sudden confidence, he knew he could capitalise on it but waited for his chance.
4th Ball: Another Yorker, even faster, even straighter, but Gill with a slight smirk smashed it, this time up into the air, smashing into the top of the nets for a six, Gill smiled even broader seeing that he had "broken," Prince's stride, he clearly held hope that he'd make it out before Prince took his wicket.
5th Ball: Prince ran up, fast, faster than before, Gill tensed, more weight on his backfoot expecting a full delivery, Prince twisted his wrist and the ball left his hand, but Gill saw the change in wrist action too late, the ball took a shorter length, smashing downwards, a leg cutter, it spun off the ground and past Gill's outstretched bat, hitting the area between the middle and leg stump, making the bales smash into the ground as Prince silently pumped the air. No big celebration no screams of joy.
Gill was out for 42 off 35. A great batting display, but Prince had gotten the better of him with his pattern oriented bowling attack.
As Gill walked back to the others to take of his pads, Coach Dravid called up the next batsman.
"Washington Sundar!"
Sundar walked to the crease rather calm and composed, ready to face Prince who bowled this time with more quick variation, making Sundar play vastly different cutters and swing deliveries, testing the waters and see if he would be able to adapt to every different type of ball, in the end, the intense and rapid change of bowling meant that Sundar only managed to get 2 runs off Prince's first over. He played well against Khaleel, timing shots perfectly until Arshdeep dispatched him on his second ball. Sundar was out for 15 off 144.
As Sundar walked back and took off his pads, Dravid called out to Prince, "Ok Prince, take a break, Sundar will bowl now."
And bowl he did.
Sundar was a different weapon with the ball, composed but not as calm, he knew exactly how to catch the batsmen off guard with his spin and he made sure the batsman knew when they fell into his trap.
He bowled a maiden to Riyan Parag, before taking his off stump in the last over, Parag went out 45 off 36, but he only hit 5 runs off Sundar. When it was Sai Sudarshan's turn to bat, Sundar slowed the pace even more, baiting out a usually calm and composed player, and in the second over when Sudarshan swung, the ball flipped deceptively under the bat and smashed into his stumps, Sudarshan went out for 18 off 14.
The batsmen were all done and the bowlers were tired, especially in the case of Sundar and Prince who had put in batting and bowling displays, Dravid had called it a day, and soon called in a huddle, the players sat sprawled in a crescent on the warm grass in front of Dravid as he spoke.
".... okay guys so that's it really, tomorrow is your fitness aptitude test and yes... there will be a yoyo test for all of you too!"
The group collectively groaned and Dravid chuckled as the coach pulled out of the NCA grounds.
Once they were back in the hotel, prince trudged quietly to the gym tucking his music into his ears as he lifted light weights and walked on the treadmill to cool down, little did he know, the others were watching him, he didn't realise until ten minute's later, the entire gym was being used by the team to cool down, weights lifted and treadmills ran on, Prince smiled at what he had managed to invoke in the team.
The others left early and Prince walked back to his room from the gym alone, as he entered the lobby of the hotel, he heard some light commotion and in walked a man who was dressed rather well and soon Prince's confusion at who would be checking in at this time of the night was masked with genuine surprise, he watched as a man who he had always admired walked to the reception with his family, Sourav Ganguly.
He was with his wife Dona and his daughter Sana, the legend of Indian Cricket finished at the reception and walked with his family in Prince's direction and stopped in front of him. "Hey young man, do you know the way to floor 4?"
Floor four was where Prince stayed with the team and after a second of deliberation Prince answered politely, "Of course sir, just this way, I am going there too."
Prince walked and the family followed, until after a couple minutes of silence Ganguly spoke up, "That cannot be right though friend, floor 4 is reserved for BCCI purposes unless you're here for... the under nineteen selecting camp yes that's right! You're the kid from Kerala!"
Prince smiled before answering, "Yes sir, my name is Prince Martin,"
"Ah yes I've heard all about you, I wish my daughter took some interest in cricketing like you young ones but no she is dead set on business," he mock sighed and his daughter Sana swatted at him with a pout.
Prince led them to their rooms and made sure they were alright and as he left Ganguly stopped him, "Thank you Prince, you have a bright future, I have no doubt you'll be selected for the under nineteens and even the senior team in no time."
"Thank you so much sir," Prince muttered in thanks and returned to his room closing it and for once breathing in a deep gust of air before instantly texting Aru about what happened, he took a shower and changed into a comfortable hoodie and shorts before going to Aru's room, they were soon joined by Gill and Tilak, until the entire squad was in Aru's room passing around snacks and cans of fizzy drinks, Prince had only water and got slack for it for an hour from Parag and Arshdeep.
The boys eventually fell asleep in Aru's room, a tangle of limbs as some slept horizontally, some slept vertically, the air full of camaraderie and a sense of purpose.