Bangalore District Cricket Ground – August 1995
U-10 State Level Tournament Match 1
Aryan's Age: 4 years, 7 months
The stands weren't packed, but they were loud.
Parents, coaches, curious school scouts, and neighborhood cricket enthusiasts lined the boundary ropes. Some came with notebooks. Others came with snacks. A few just came to watch the show—especially after hearing rumors of a four-year-old prodigy who tore up the trial match like a seasoned player.
Aryan Varma adjusted his gloves and took a deep breath behind the dugout.
His jersey was two sizes big, his cricket pads had to be custom-fitted, and he wore the smallest helmet in the inventory. Yet when he walked, there was a calm in his stride that none of the other players had.
He wasn't here to prove himself.
He was here to execute.
> [System Sync – Active]
Match Mode Initiated – U-10 Tournament (District Level)
Objectives:
– Score 30+ runs in the match
– Bowl 3 overs, take at least 1 wicket
– Maintain strike rate above 120
Bonus Goal: Create "impact moment" to attract attention
Rival Alert: Rehan Sharma – Also selected, playing next match
Public Perception: Curiosity (Level 1)
---
Coach Sandeep placed a hand on Aryan's shoulder.
"You'll be batting at three today. Keep it simple."
Aryan nodded. "I'm ready."
"Remember—it's different from trials. These bowlers are not going to be gentle."
Aryan smiled slightly. "Neither am I."
The Bangalore U-10 team had won the toss and decided to bat.
The openers walked out, both aged nine, tall and lanky. Aryan sat quietly, visualizing the innings. He knew the bowling attack: two medium pacers and a leg-spinner who'd taken 5 wickets in a recent zonal match.
He'd watched every clip. Simulated every ball in the system.
Now he just had to act.
The crowd stirred as a wicket fell in the 4th over.
"Batsman No. 3 – Aryan Varma," the announcer said, slightly confused, almost amused.
"Is this a prank?" a father in the crowd muttered.
"That kid looks like he should be in kindergarten!"
"Just watch," Coach Sandeep whispered to himself.
Aryan took guard.
The field adjusted.
The bowler, a 10-year-old named Kartikeya, grinned and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Hope you brought your teddy bear, little boy."
Aryan said nothing.
First ball. Good length, seaming away.
Aryan watched it through.
Second ball. Back of length.
Crack!
A punch through point. It raced to the boundary.
The crowd fell quiet.
Third ball. Yorker attempt.
Whack!
Flicked effortlessly through midwicket. Another four.
The murmurs began.
"Who is this kid?"
"He's timing it like a senior player!"
Kartikeya changed tactics—bouncer.
Aryan bent and ramped it fine.
The crowd gasped.
Not just for the shot—but the audacity of a four-year-old attempting a ramp shot in his debut game.
By the end of his first over, Aryan was 14 off 6.
By the 10th over, he had 37 runs off 25 balls.
> [Objective Completed: 30+ runs]
Strike Rate: 148
Style Bonus Activated – Clean Shotmaking
Crowd Engagement: Level 2
In the 12th over, a leg-spinner was brought on. He was good—sharp turn, clever variations. Aryan respected him, rotating strike, reading from the hand, waiting.
Then came the moment.
A slightly tossed-up ball. Aryan stepped out.
Boom.
A six over long-off. Clean. Elegant. Textbook.
The ground erupted.
Someone in the stands shouted, "That's not a baby! That's a little lion!"
The nickname stuck.
> [System Update]
New Public Tag: "Little Lion"
Reputation: Noticed (Level 3)
Bonus Unlocked: Local Media Mention
+Team Morale Boost
+Coach Affection Increased
Aryan finished his innings with 48 runs off 34 balls before getting caught trying to reverse sweep. A standing ovation followed. Even opposition players applauded.
Coach Sandeep looked on, stunned and proud.
In the dugout, Aryan drank water calmly.
He wasn't celebrating.
He was calculating.
"I missed a 50. Should've waited one more over to target the sweep."
The others stared at him, speechless.
This wasn't just talent. It was a cricketing brain from another world.
---
Second innings.
Bangalore defending 142.
Aryan was given the 7th over.
He marked his short run-up.
First ball – a slower ball.
Batsman missed it completely.
Second ball – cutter outside off.
Nick. Caught behind.
Wicket!
Third ball – off-cutter. Dot.
Aryan gave away just 4 runs in his first over with a wicket.
He bowled two more tight overs. Even fielded like a panther—cutting boundaries, diving full-length.
By the end of the match, he had 1 wicket for 10 runs in 3 overs.
> [System Update]
Bowling Objective Complete
Match Summary:
– 48 (34)
– 3-0-10-1
– 2 run-outs saved in field
Match Rating: 9.2/10
Coach Feedback: "Untouchable performance."
Tournament Standing: Man of the Match – Aryan Varma
---
After the game, a young journalist named Rakesh from Karnataka Junior Sports approached Sandeep.
"I want to write a feature. Who is this boy? Where did he come from?"
Sandeep smiled. "Write whatever you want. Just remember this—he's just getting started."
Back home, Aryan barely reacted to the praise.
He opened his notebook, tracked his flaws:
– Missed timing reverse sweep
– Could have used paddle against spin
– One slower ball went too short
– Didn't anticipate second slip fielder
He underlined one sentence:
> "Good isn't enough. Great is the goal."
---
That night, the system buzzed.
> [Match Mode Complete]
All Objectives Achieved
Reward: Skill Boost + 7 Batting, +5 Bowling, +3 Reflex
Title Earned: "Tournament Starter"
Nickname: Little Lion
Reputation Gain:
– Team: Deep Respect
– Coaches: Full Trust
– Public: Buzzing
– Media: Feature Incoming
Rival Reaction: Rehan Sharma – Alerted
> New Arc Triggered: Zone Stage Rivalry
Meet Rehan again in next tournament match (Head-to-Head Battle)
Aryan sat in bed, staring at the ceiling.
He could feel it.
One match down.
Hundreds more to go.
But today?
He'd taken his first real step toward legend.
And the roar of the Little Lion had just begun.