Sania said, "Wake up, cutie," with her typical sweet and naughty giggle.
Arjun blinked at the clock on the side table as he woke up. 6:30 a.m. With a quiet groan, he extended his arms and got out of bed. He went to the bathroom to freshen up, his eyes drowsy and his heart full of resolve.
He took a short bath and then went to the kitchen. His morning ritual was straightforward: he set a vessel on the stove and filled it with milk. He returned to his room, changed into clean clothes, and came back in time to turn off the heat while the milk simmered. He filled a steel tumbler with it and took a silent sip while gazing out the window, already preparing for what was to come.
When finished, he focused and closed his eyes.
He was back in the system space in a flash.
With her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her lips, Sania stood anticipating his arrival.
"Good morning, Sania," Arjun said courteously.
She winked and said, "Good morning, little boy."
Arjun let out a sigh. "Can you not call me that?"
"Nope," she said firmly, her smile expanding.
He let it go and started to walk toward the distant stadium. He turned to her as they arrived at the pitch. "Should we start?"
Sania's face changed from playful to professional
.
"You made a great choice in selecting Sachin Tendulkar as your footwork coach," she remarked. Balance, accuracy, and the capacity to play with equal mastery on the front and back foot were the cornerstones of his footwork. The first significant step to becoming a Cricket God is learning this.
The open field changed as she snapped her fingers. The pitch was surrounded by rising nets.
Arjun's mouth fell open a little. "It was like magic."
Sania grinned. Welcome to your training arena. Pad up now. I'm calling for your coach.
Arjun hurried to get ready. The hologram of Sachin Tendulkar appeared in front of him as he stepped onto the turf. Wearing the famous number 10 India jersey, he appeared just as Arjun had remembered: composed, determined, and legendary. Even the focused glint in his eyes and the subtle movements and bat taps seemed genuine.
Arjun found it hard to believe. He muttered, "God of Cricket... and now, my personal coach."
The voice of the Sachin hologram was serene but authoritative.
"Stand next to the Stump" shoulder-width apart. Head still, shoulders in line. The bat is positioned directly behind the rear foot. Raise your elbows. Control and equilibrium. The stance should be repeated.
Arjun shifted, attempting to imitate the position.
Sachin gently but firmly corrected, "No— front elbow up." "Once more."
"A hundred times correctly repeat the stance."
"One hundred?!" Arjun nearly burst out laughing, but refrained. He nodded, his teeth clenched.
"This is what it takes," he told himself. I have to work for it if I want to earn it.
He started to adopt the same posture. Sachin would remark, "Your head is off-balance," after a few repetitions. Begin anew.
"The bat is positioned incorrectly."
"Better. Hold it that way.
"Relax, the shoulder is too tight."
Indeed. That's a tidy position.
It continued without end. He started to feel exhausted from the mental strain of repeatedly perfecting his posture. Although his Iron Body ability prevented physical exhaustion, what about mental exhaustion? He was overburdened. After almost five hours, Sachin nodded at last.
"That's 100. Good. Take a break."
Sania showed up next to him. "You deserve to relax. Let's take a three-hour break.
Arjun left the room. After grabbing his phone and placing an order from a nearby restaurant, he hurried to the shower. He was more refreshed by the cold water than he had anticipated.
He devoured the food like it was a feast because he was so hungry by the time it arrived.
After a brief nap, he returned to the system space after three hours.
He stood in the nets once more. To mimic the evening glow, the stadium's lighting had been slightly changed.
He was greeted by Sachin's voice.
"Pay attention to my feet. Don't merely observe the bat. Observe my movements and balance. The foundation of every shot is footwork."
Arjun observed the master's textbook straight drives, compact backfoot punches, and flicks that were perfectly balanced.
"Try playing in the 'V,'" Sachin said. The bowling machine released a ball. The ball skewed toward mid-off, but Arjun hit it with a bat.
"Once more," Sachin uttered.
Although they were a little better, the subsequent deliveries lacked fluidity.
"The weight must rest on the balls of your feet — not your toes or heels — in order to move athletically," Sachin clarified after pausing. Your movement starts with that little round muscle close to the base of your big toe. That serves as your launching pad.
Your weight moves to your heel when your legs are straight, which slows you down. Knees should be bent. Keep your engine room running and your weight ready.
Consider Bradman, who lived on the balls of his feet and had quick, accurate, and effective footwork.
Arjun blinked. "Bradman... I could have also learned from him. Was my choice incorrect?
Sania's voice echoed from the side before Sachin could say anything.
Look at you, already questioning your decisions. Calm down. Tendulkar's footwork is flawless; it's technical, balanced, and flexible. You made a wise choice.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Arjun laughed. "All right, all right. I apologize. Let's go on.
And he did. Arjun returned to training with a sharpened mind and steady feet, gradually developing the footwork of a future cricketing legend.