The morning after UP's victory over Punjab, the cricketing press erupted. Every outlet carried the same headline:
"Sixteen-Year-Old Wins Match for UP." "Not Even 18, Already First-Class." "The Youngest Rocket in Vijay Hazare."
Clips of his batting cameo looped endlessly—six over long-on, six over square leg, six over midwicket. The fielding sprint at deep point was replayed in slow motion, commentators marveling at his speed.
But alongside the praise came sarcasm.
The Media Frenzy
On one panel, a former player leaned back and smirked. "Good knock, sure. But it's just one game. Let's see if he can do it again when the pressure's real."
Another analyst added, "Bowling five overs for 20 runs is tidy, but middle overs in a knockout match are different. Will he hold up then, or crumble?"
A journalist tweeted: "Sixteen years old, already hyped as the next superstar. Careful—cricket has seen many one-match wonders."
The debate wasn't about what he had done. It was about whether he could keep doing it.
Opposition Voices
Punjab's camp had their own words.
One senior batter, still frustrated after misjudging Nikhil's flight, told reporters: "He bowled well, but we underestimated him. Next time, we'll be ready. Let's see how he handles being targeted."
Another muttered, "Kid's fearless now. But fearless can turn into reckless when teams plan against you."
The sarcasm was sharp, the skepticism louder than the applause.
The Shock of His Age
Yet the fact that he was only sixteen kept dominating the headlines.
Fans searched for details:
Age: 16.
Already playing first-class cricket for UP.
Role: off-spinner, lower-order bat.
The revelation stunned many. He wasn't just a prodigy in age-group cricket. He was already in the senior system, balancing schoolbooks with scorecards.
Teammates' Voices
Inside the UP camp, the mood was different.
Ravi Teja: "He's fearless. Doesn't care who's bowling."
Karan Bhagat: "He's balanced. He calculates, doesn't slog."
Raghav Mehta: "He's annoying to bat against. His flight tricks you."
Mayank Rawat: "Kid's dangerous. He'll win us more games."
Siddharth Rao: "He's not chasing fame. He's chasing rhythm. That's why he'll last."
The contrast was stark—outside, sarcasm and doubt. Inside, trust and belief.
The Calendar
It was now mid-April. The Vijay Hazare Trophy had just another week left. After that, the cricketing calendar would shift gears.
The IPL loomed large, its lights and noise ready to dominate headlines. But before that, UP had two matches lined up—both crucial for their campaign.
Coach Bhatia reminded the squad: "Don't get distracted. Media will talk. Opposition will doubt. IPL will shine. But we still have two matches. Focus."
Nikhil's Reflection
That night, Nikhil sat quietly in his dorm room. Veer rested beside him. His phone buzzed with notifications—articles, mentions, clips. Some praised him. Some mocked him.
He didn't open them.
He opened his notebook instead.
He wrote:
"One game done. Two more ahead. Media doubts. Teammates trust. Focus stays."
He closed the book.
The noise was outside. The rhythm was inside.