Day 4 – Announcement: "Red Zone Challenge"
At sunrise, the players gathered at the main dome.
On the giant screen, Coach Deshmukh's face appeared, voice razor-sharp.
> Deshmukh:
"The program enters its first official elimination phase. Welcome to the Red Zone Challenge. You've all been watched. Judged. Broken down.
Now… we mix control with chaos."
Shock rippled through the group.
Behind Deshmukh, a list began to scroll:
> "MATCH SETUP: PLAYER CHALLENGES"
Each of you will face a player ranked higher or lower than you — one-on-one.
The winner gets an immunity card. The loser enters the Red Zone.
Three eliminations will happen after this round.
This wasn't random anymore.
This was survival cricket.
---
Pairings (Highlighted)
1. Aryan Raj vs Yuvraj Rathore
2. Sai Menon vs Aman Sheikh
3. Omkar Shinde vs Anurag Desai
4. Laksh Verma vs Dev Tyagi
5. Iqbal Nawaz vs Deep Kalra
These weren't just matches.
They were personal.
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Match 1 – Aryan vs Yuvraj – 1 vs 1 – 5 Overs Batting Each
Yuvraj was already smirking in the dressing room.
> Yuvraj:
"Now we'll see who's just a 'calm boy' and who's a real player."
Aryan responded with silence, as usual — adjusting his sleeve, stretching.
---
Yuvraj Bats First
Aggressive from Ball 1.
First over — two fours and a six.
> "Come on, Aryan! Take notes, yeah?"
But Aryan's fielding placements were perfect.
On Ball 12, Yuvraj mistimed a shot, caught at long-off.
Score: 32 off 3.4 overs
He punched his helmet walking off.
---
Aryan's Turn
Yuvraj bowled to him — short, fiery balls.
Aryan blocked. Dodged. Let it build.
Then, in over 3, he exploded:
Flick over fine leg: four.
Late cut through third: four.
Straight drive — six.
Crowd of analysts murmured.
Aryan was reading Yuvraj like a machine.
Final score: 34 off 4.1 overs
Aryan wins.
Yuvraj clenched his fists, but no fight broke out.
> Mentor's Note:
"He outplayed emotion with calculation. Again."
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Other Highlights
Sai Menon bowled a maiden over under pressure and won.
Omkar Shinde took two wickets with his spin variation — cool, deadly.
Iqbal sledged Deep into collapsing. Mental dominance.
But the biggest upset?
Laksh Verma lost — clean bowled trying a ramp shot. Again.
> "He's not learning. Too flashy," murmured Ganguly in the mentor box.
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Post-Challenge Board
Three players now entered the Red Zone — two steps away from elimination.
1. Deep Kalra
2. Laksh Verma
3. Anurag Desai
Their footage will now be broadcasted inside the dorm halls — as a warning.
> "Weakness on display," said the screen.
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Late Night – Aryan's Notebook
He scribbled:
> "They attack what they fear. Fear creates noise. I remain silent."
Next: Chapter 7 – Enemies Emerge, Alliances Form