Expectations were heavier than the bat in Rudra's hands.
They sat on his shoulders, invisible yet undeniable, carried by every chant rising from the stands and every anxious glance toward the scoreboard.
The crowd had changed its rhythm.
Earlier, they had celebrated boundaries.
Now, they counted dots.
Action Anand (Voice tightening):
"Every ball feels bigger now, folks. Bangalore needs composure… and they're looking at one boy to deliver it."
Rudra marked his crease again.
The sun hung low, its glare cutting across the pitch, testing eyesight and patience alike.
Rudra (Thinking):
Expectation is dangerous.
It makes good players rush and great players hesitate.
I will do neither.
Mumbai's bowler returned with renewed intent, angling the ball into the body.
Rudra read the wrist position early and defended softly, deadening the ball near his feet.
Dot ball.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Sher Shrivastava (Laughing):
"Arre bhai, shant ho jao! Pressure cooker ka dhakkan mat kholna—warna sab ud jaayega!"
At the non-striker's end, Rudra's partner shuffled nervously, glancing toward the dugout.
The scoreboard flashed again.
Required: 52 runs off 48 balls.
Major Rathore (Blunt):
"This is no longer about technique. This is about temperament. And temperament is where young players crumble."
The next delivery was slower, deliberately teasing.
Rudra waited, adjusted mid-shot, and nudged it toward mid-off.
He called for a quick single.
The throw came in sharp, skidding low.
Safe.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
🟢 [Decision Speed] EXP +30
🟢 [Running Between Wickets] EXP +20
Between balls, Rudra turned toward the crowd briefly.
Not to acknowledge them—but to absorb their energy without letting it dictate his actions.
Rudra (Thinking):
They want a savior.
I will give them stability.
Mumbai sensed the stalemate and made another adjustment.
A slip was removed.
A deep square leg came into play.
They were preparing for the release shot.
The bowler ran in again, pitching it full just outside off stump.
Rudra leaned into the stroke, bat coming down straight.
The ball pierced the gap between cover and extra cover, racing across the outfield.
Four.
The stadium erupted.
Action Anand (Roaring):
"THERE IT IS! CLASS UNDER PRESSURE! That's not a boundary—that's a statement!"
Sher Shrivastava (Delighted):
"Wah beta wah! Yeh shot nahi tha—yeh silencer tha!"
Rudra exhaled slowly as he walked back to his mark.
One boundary was enough—not to dominate, but to remind everyone that control still rested with him.
SYSTEM UPDATE:
🟢 [Batting – Technical] EXP +45
🟢 [Composure Under Fire] EXP +50
The over ended with Bangalore still alive, still breathing.
Rudra looked once more at the scoreboard.
Required: 46 runs off 42 balls.
Rudra (Thinking):
Expectation acknowledged.
Expectation managed.
He adjusted his gloves and prepared for the next phase.
The match was no longer about survival.
It was about ownership.
End of Chapter 42
Next Chapter:
🔥 Chapter 43: When the Crowd Holds Its Breath
—A sudden twist, a dangerous gamble by Mumbai, and a single moment that could shatter the chase or seal Rudra's rise.