It was a breezy Saturday morning in Bangalore, and Coach Sandeep had just finished setting up cones for Aanya's cricket practice.
He was adjusting the stumps when Aryan—now a confident three-year-old—walked onto the garden pitch, holding his small bat like a professional walking into Wankhede.
"Still glued to that bat, huh?" Sandeep chuckled, half-amused. "You want to try again?"
Aryan nodded once.
Sandeep tossed a soft tennis ball gently.
Thwack.
Aryan met it with a crisp backfoot punch that flew straight past the cones.
Sandeep paused, blinking. "Okay… lucky shot."
Second ball. Slightly faster.
Aryan shifted his weight and timed a flawless cover drive.
Third ball. A slower loopy one.
Aryan danced down the track and lofted it clean over mid-off.
Sandeep's eyes widened. "Wait a minute…"
> [System Status: Batting Simulation On]
Shot Selection: Optimal
Footwork Score: 92%
Reaction Time: 0.42 seconds
+5 XP – Batting
Batting Skill Leveled Up → Level 4
New Perk: Elegant Timing (Passive)
Sandeep walked over, kneeling to Aryan's level. "Where did you learn to play like this?"
Aryan gave a cheeky smile and said, "From watching… and practicing at night."
Rajan laughed from the porch. "He's just copying what he sees on TV."
Sandeep didn't respond. His coach's instinct had been triggered. He'd trained hundreds of kids—but no one had Aryan's balance, his reading of the ball, his control.
This wasn't copying.
This was talent.
Raw. Refined. Dangerous.
---
Over the next few days, Sandeep secretly began experimenting.
He made the sessions longer. He introduced movement drills, varied the pace of his deliveries, and switched between spin and swing.
Aryan passed every test.
With ease.
In fact, he thrived under pressure. The tougher the drills, the more he shone.
Even while fielding, his throws were sharp, accurate, and calculated.
> [System Status]
Wicketkeeping Progress: 89% (Unlocked Soon)
Reflexes: Level 2 → Progress 98%
Game Sense: Level 2 → 70%
One afternoon, Sandeep set up a reflex-catch drill using a rebound net, assuming Aryan would miss most of the balls.
Aryan caught 9 out of 10.
One-handed. Mid-air. Without flinching.
Sandeep nearly dropped his whistle.
"Rajan sir," he said later that evening, serious now, "I think your son is… gifted. Not just smart. Truly athletic. I've never seen a three-year-old move like that."
Rajan smiled, half-proud and half-worried. "He's full of surprises. Do you think he should start formal training?"
Sandeep looked at Aryan, who was busy tying his shoelace with total focus.
"No," Sandeep said. "He shouldn't just train. He should be groomed. Professionally. From now."
---
A few days later, Aryan was taken to a local club nets facility. Not to play—just to observe.
But the moment they handed him a bat, something changed.
Teenagers and even a few young district players started bowling to him. Laughing at first. Then trying harder. Then trying full pace.
And Aryan?
He kept sending the ball racing through gaps like he'd grown up doing this.
A silence fell as everyone watched.
Sandeep stepped forward and said aloud, "You're going to do something big, Aryan. Bigger than anyone expects."
Aryan just smiled and nodded.
> [System Update]
New Reputation Unlocked: "Bangalore Wonderkid"
Public Awareness: Very Low (Local Level)
New Objective: Trial for State U-10 Before Age 6
Reward: Skill Boost + Coach Guidance (Advanced)
The foundations had been laid.
He now had a coach.
He had credibility.
And slowly… the world was beginning to whisper his name.