Hard Coaching, Harder Comebacks

In the cricket-crazy town of Ranaganj, two boys - Aryan and Kabir - were selected for the prestigious under-19 state camp. Both had skills, dreams, and a solid friendship. But as weeks passed, their routines started to look very different.

Aryan’s day began before the sun rose. By 5:00 a.m., he was running laps - followed by focused net sessions, hours of drills, diet charts, and even post-practice video analysis. His evenings were for ice packs and early dinners. Phones? Parties? Binge nights? “Coach Roy won’t even let him breathe,” the others joked.

Kabir was disciplined too - but in a ‘balanced’ way. He trained hard - but evenings were for chai, reels, and laughing with the squad. “Aryan’s coach is ruthless, yaar,” Kabir would say. “You need space to live. Can’t be just cricket and protein shakes!”

Others agreed. “What’s the point if you burn out before the league?” “Aryan’s being used like a machine!” “Coach Roy is too old school.”

Aryan heard them all. He never reacted. Just nodded, smiled faintly, and got back to his routine. One thing Coach Roy had said stayed with him - “Extraordinary results need extraordinary effort. You want average, be comfortable. You want to stand out, be consistent.”

Then came the big match. Selectors in the stands, broadcasters on-site - it was the moment every player had waited for.

Kabir bowled a decent spell but tired by the 12th over. His usually calm fielding felt offbeat. Aryan, on the other hand, came in sharp. His very first over saw a bouncer that sent the opener ducking, followed by a clean bowled. The crowd went wild. Later, when the team was collapsing at 68 for 5, Aryan walked in calmly.

First five balls - defensive. Then - boom - a six over deep mid-wicket. The next over - another one, clean and straight. He scored 58 not out off 22 balls, took three wickets, and led the team to a jaw-dropping win.

Back in the dressing room, Kabir looked at Aryan, half-laughing, half-in awe, “Bro, you were insane out there.”

Aryan grinned, unwrapping his fingers from the tape. “This is what Coach was training me for. Not just to play - but to be ready when it counts.”

Kabir nodded, quieter this time. “Maybe being overused wasn’t so bad after all... Maybe he wasn’t being hard - just preparing you for the pressure none of us saw coming.”

Flash: In careers and life, the mentors who push you the hardest often see a version of you that even you don’t. Their methods might feel intense or even unfair in the moment - but when the pressure rises, it’s that foundation that holds strong. Sustainable success isn’t accidental - it’s crafted through persistent habits, focus, and grit. Anyone can shine once - but those who stay consistent over time are the ones who truly grow. After all, success without persistence is a myth.

Moral: A mentor who stretches your limits may look harsh today - but builds your readiness for tomorrow.

Tough mentors don’t create easy days - they create unstoppable players!!