The ground was silent.
Not with emptiness, but with tension.
The scoreboard blinked zeroes, but the pressure already pulsed through the air like invisible static. It wasn't just a practice match. Not anymore.
This was a test of leadership.
And Raj was at the center of it.
He tightened the velcro strap on his glove and glanced over his team — a mix of seniors and juniors, many of whom hadn't played together seriously before. It was the first time Raj was officially captaining Team A in front of Coach Murali.
Across the pitch, Vikram stood with his arms folded. His smirk was gone. Today, his glare was sharp.
"Ready to be humiliated?" he called.
Raj didn't respond. He just turned to his teammates.
"We don't need big speeches," he said calmly. "Just focus. No egos, no blame. Play like you belong here — because you do."
They nodded.
[System Buff Active: Team Influence Radius +2%]
Effect: Slight morale boost to teammates during matches
The toss was called. Raj won.
"We bat first," he said.
Zayed opened with Raj.
The first few overs were cautious — nudging singles, absorbing pressure. Vikram's team bowled aggressively, but Raj read the field placements perfectly.
When Zayed tried to play a risky hook, Raj stepped in.
"Breathe. Let them come to you. We don't need hero shots."
Zayed nodded. "Got it, bro."
On the next ball, he drove a clean four through covers. Confidence restored.
Coach Murali watched from the boundary with narrowed eyes, arms crossed, saying nothing.
[Cricket Instinct Passive Activated]
Improved shot selection + Field pattern recognition
By the 8th over, Raj's team had built a decent platform — 56 for 1.
That's when it started.
Sabotage.
Vikram changed the ball.
It looked similar — but Raj's system flashed a silent warning.
[Grip Inconsistency Detected]
Ball weight mismatch: Increased chance of misreads
Raj frowned. A heavier ball could cause mistimed shots — especially for juniors like Nikhil who relied on timing, not power.
He turned to the umpire — a neutral teacher — and requested a ball check.
"Looks okay," the umpire shrugged.
Raj didn't argue. Instead, he adjusted the batting order — sending Harini in earlier.
"Play only ground shots," he whispered. "Trust your stance."
She nodded, quietly confident.
She played 10 deliveries, made 12 runs, and survived a sharp bouncer — drawing cheers from both teams.
[Mentor Skill Triggered: Player Growth Accelerated]
Final score: 92 runs in 12 overs. Not massive. But defendable.
When Raj gathered his fielders for the second innings, he noticed a few were distracted.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
One senior grumbled, "You skipped me in the batting order."
"I placed players where they'd do best today. It's strategy, not favoritism."
The boy looked away, unconvinced.
Raj inhaled deeply.
Leadership wasn't just about calls. It was about carrying the weight of decisions.
[System Prompt: Optional Leadership Challenge Initiated]
Objective: Regain trust of doubtful teammates before innings ends
Reward: +3% Morale Sync + Bonus Path Preview
Raj nodded to himself.
Time to win this match with more than runs.
He placed the senior — Ravindra — at short mid-wicket, a position that caught mishits.
Then, Raj adjusted the field using his Tactical Eye system perk. Shifted Zayed closer to backward point. Dropped Nikhil deeper.
When the bowler ran in, the first catch flew directly to Ravindra.
Clean take.
Cheers erupted. Confidence restored.
[Teammate Doubt Reduced]
Team Sync: +1%
Over after over, Raj guided each player silently, calmly.
And when the last over came with just 8 runs needed to win — Raj stepped in to bowl himself.
The first ball was a yorker. Dot.
Second ball — slower. Driven for one.
Third — edged. Caught behind.
Two balls later, final delivery.
Vikram was on strike.
Raj stared at him, calm.
Vikram's eyes burned with pride.
"You're lucky," he muttered.
"No," Raj replied. "I'm prepared."
He ran up. Slower ball. Outside off.
Vikram swung hard.
The ball sailed… high… spinning…
Straight into Harini's hands at long-off.
She caught it.
Match over.
Note:
Since this is a practice match, not an official inter-school game yet, Coach Murali allowed some non-selected juniors (including Harini) to assist or rotate as fielders to observe and evaluate their development.
[Match Victory: Team A Wins by 4 Runs]
System Alert: Leadership Trait Progressed to 60%
Coach's Favorability Increased: +5
Optional Reward Unlocked: Future Vision (Locked)
Coach Murali clapped once.
Just once.
But that was more than enough.
Later that evening, Raj sat alone near the school corridor, watching the sky darken.
His watch buzzed.
[System Bonus Triggered: Leadership Milestone Achieved]
Preview Unlocked: "RajCraft Academy" — A Future Cricket + Skills Foundation Brand
First Glimpse:
Logo: A phoenix rising from stumps
Mission: Develop local talent, no child left behind
Business Model: Training + Gear + Scholarships
Raj stared at the vision.
His dream… just got bigger.
"RajCraft Academy," he whispered. "It starts here."