**Day 21 – National Cricket Academy, Bangalore**
The five chosen warriors arrive.
New jerseys. New rooms. New pressure.
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### 🎙️ Media Frenzy
Cameras flash.
Journalists throw questions.
> Reporter: "Aryan Raj, how does it feel to be India's Next-Gen Opener?"
> Aryan (quiet): "It's not done yet."
> Reporter: "Omkar, spin wizard of the trials – what's next for you?"
> Omkar (calm): "Watch. Learn. Adapt."
Sai, Rehan, Krunal stay silent — the storm of attention new, uncomfortable.
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### 🏏 The Legends Arrive
In walks **Rahul Dravid**, followed by **MS Dhoni**, and surprise entry — **Virat Kohli**.
> Dravid: "Welcome to the real game. You impressed the system. Now impress the world."
> Dhoni (smiling): "Forget the past trials. Here… you'll break mentally first, then technically."
Kohli stands in front of Aryan.
> Kohli: "You play slow. Safe. That won't win India matches in T20. Are you ready to change… or be left behind?"
Aryan stares — unsure, but burning inside.
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### 🧩 The India Camp Schedule Revealed
1. **Fitness Test 2.0 – No Fail Allowed**
2. **Media Handling Drill – Face the Fire**
3. **International Net Challenge – Facing Bumrah, Siraj, Kuldeep**
4. **T20 Simulation – Chasing 200 in 18 Overs**
Failure in any — immediate drop.
Dravid warns:
> "This camp cuts deeper than the Pool League. Your mental walls will shatter. And only the brave will last."
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### 🔥 Internal Conflict Brews
- **Sai vs Rehan** – silent tension. Leadership instincts clash.
- **Omkar vs Krunal** – spin master vs finisher in the nets.
- **Aryan vs Himself** – change or stay calm?
Zayaan watches from the fence — not called to camp — seething, plotting for revenge in domestic leagues.
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### 🌑 Night – India Camp Dormitory
Aryan sits alone by the window.
Omkar walks in, sits silently.
> Aryan (softly): "They want me to change."
> Omkar: "Change… only if you want. Not for them."
They nod — a silent pact.
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### 🎯 The First Test – Tomorrow Morning
6:00 AM – Fitness Death Drill.
Push-ups. Sprints. Rope climbs.
No limits. No mercy.
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### 🎬 Final Scene – Coach's Room
Dhoni and Dravid whisper.
> Dhoni: "Kohli's right. Aryan's style needs fire. But force it too soon… and we'll lose him."
> Dravid: "Let him burn in pressure. Fire will form naturally."
They watch the player profiles glowing on the screen.
> "Only three… maybe four… will survive this camp."
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🏏 **Next: Chapter 37 – Fitness Death Drill: The Camp's First Casualty**