Date: March 6th, 2012.
Location: India.
The sun rose over a nation that was already awake. The announcement of Siddanth Deva as the Vice-Captain of the Indian Cricket Team had taken over the news cycle completely, pushing politics and the economy to the back pages. It wasn't just sports news; it was a cultural shift.
The newspapers arrived on millions of doorsteps, their headlines screaming in bold, black ink.
The Times of India:
THE NAWAB IS NOW THE DEPUTY
In a bold move, BCCI appoints 20-year-old Siddanth Deva as Vice-Captain. The era of the Young Turks begins. Selectors signal a shift away from the 'Golden Generation' towards a ruthless future.
Hindustan Times:
GAMBLE OR GENIUS?
Dhoni backs Deva over Kohli. Is 20 too young to lead a team of veterans? Insiders claim Dhoni's vote was the deciding factor in the boardroom deadlock.
The Hindu:
The Logical Successor.
An analysis of Deva's captaincy stint with Deccan Chargers (4 wins in 5 games) proves he is ready. His tactical acumen in the IPL Final defense and the aggressive declaration at the MCG are cited as key indicators of a mature cricketing brain.
Dainik Jagran (Hindi):
YUVA JOSH, NAYI SOCH! (Youthful Energy, New Thinking!)
Deva bane Dhoni ke Saathi. Kya yeh 2015 World Cup ki tayari hai? (Deva becomes Dhoni's partner. Is this preparation for the 2015 World Cup?)
Deccan Chronicle (Hyderabad Edition):
OUR BOY LEADS THE WAY.
Hyderabad celebrates as the local hero ascends the throne. Giant cutouts of Deva erected at Charminar and Hi-Tec City. "He is the Nizam of Indian Cricket," says local fan club president.
While the newspapers reported the facts, the 24-hour news channels were dissecting the implications with hysterical fervor.
Channel: Times Now.
Show: The Newshour.
Topic: Is Deva Too Young?
Arnab Goswami: "The nation wants to know! Is 20 too young to lead? Siddanth Deva has been named Vice-Captain. He has the talent, he has the runs, but does he have the experience? We are handing the future of Indian cricket to a young man who just started his career! Is this a slap in the face to Virender Sehwag? Is this unfair to Gautam Gambhir? I have with me former selector..."
Panelist (Former Cricketer): "Arnab, calm down. Forget the age. Look at the impact. He won the World Cup. He won the IPL as captain. He scored hundreds in South Africa, New Zealand, England, and Australia. He isn't just a player; he is the best performer in the team right now. The board is rewarding excellence, not seniority."
Arnab: "But is he ready for the burden? The vice-captaincy is a stepping stone to the top job! If Dhoni gets injured tomorrow, this boy leads the team in a Test match! Are we ready for that?"
Panelist: "He has shown he can handle pressure. He defended low totals and chased big ones. He makes bold decisions. This is the right move. You invest in your best asset. Look at Graeme Smith, look at Stephen Fleming—they started young."
Channel: Star Sports.
Show: Cricket Connect.
Ravi Shastri: "It's a massive statement. The selectors are saying that this guy is the future. And why not? He has done everything asked of him. He bowls at the death, he bats in the top order, he fields in the hotspots. He drives the energy of the side. It's a great call. It tells Kohli, Raina, and Rohit—keep up. The standard has been set."
Sanjay Manjrekar: "It's interesting that they picked him over Virat. Virat led the U-19s. But Deva brings a certain calmness that complements Dhoni. It's the Ice and Ice combination, rather than Ice and Fire."
The internet was a battlefield. #ViceCaptainDeva was trending worldwide. Here is what the fans had to say:
@CricketNut99: "Deva as Vice-Captain? Bold move! The guy is a machine. 20 years old and ruling the world. Future is bright! 🇮🇳🔥 #TeamIndia"
@ViruFanForever: "This is disrespect to Sehwag. How can a kid lead a legend? BCCI has lost it. Experience matters! 😡👎"
@Kohli_FC: "Virat deserved it more. He led U19 to glory. But Deva is a brother, so we support him."
@GullyCricketKing: "Imagine being 20 and telling Sachin Tendulkar where to field. Deva is living the dream! 😂🙌"
@DevaArmy_Hyd: "Hyderabad is burning tonight! Firecrackers everywhere! Our Prince is now the King-in-waiting! Take a bow, BCCI! 🐂🎆"
@CSK_Blood: "Dhoni chose him. That's all I need to know. If Thala trusts him, we trust him. Welcome to the leadership group, Sid! 💛💙"
@TrollCricket: "Gambhir right now: 'Main kya karu? Job chod du?' (What should I do? Quit my job?) 😂 Poor guy gets ignored again."
@BollywoodGossip: "First he wins the World Cup, then he wins KBC hearts, now Vice-Captain? Is there anything Siddanth Deva can't do? Maybe become PM next? 😍"
@RationalFan: "Risky. Very risky. One bad series and the pressure will crush him. Hope he has a strong support system. Good luck kid."
@TheDevilBat: "Arrogant? Maybe. Brilliant? Definitely. We need a leader with attitude. Ganguly had it. Deva has it. Aggression is the new way! 🏏💪"
@OfficeOfPappu: "Does the Vice-Captain get extra marks in college exams? Asking for a friend. #StudentAthlete"
@MahiRat: "The bromance between Dhoni and Deva just got official. The calmest leadership duo in history. Opposition captains will fall asleep waiting for them to panic. 😴"
@CricketChirp: "England and Australia bowlers are shaking. Now he sets the field AND hits you for six. Double trouble. 💀"
@SachinIstheGod: "As long as he respects Paaji, I am okay with it. If he drops Sachin, we riot. Simple. 😤"
@DesiMemer: "Deva walking into the toss like: 'Look at me, I am the Captain now (almost)'. meme.jpg"
@IPL_Lover: "Deccan Chargers fans are so smug right now. 'We told you so'. Yeah yeah, we get it, your boy is special."
@Politics_Observer: "A boy from a middle-class family from Hyderabad rising to the top post. This is the Indian Dream. Inspiring story."
---
Location: Shamshabad Farmhouse.
Time: 4:00 PM.
Deva switched off the TV. The constant noise was too much. He needed a break from being the "Future of India."
He walked to the garage. He walked to the back where the Tata Sumo Grande was parked. It was big, common, and unassuming.
He grabbed a basket from the kitchen—packed by Sesikala, who knew he was going out.
He drove out of the farmhouse, merging onto the Outer Ring Road. He wasn't heading into the city. He was heading towards the pick-up point.
---
Location: Krithika's House, Secunderabad.
Time: 3:45 PM.
Getting out of the house was harder than getting tickets for a final. Krithika stood in the hallway, adjusting her white kurti.
Her mother looked up from the TV serial. "Where are you going, Krithi? It's hot outside."
Krithika had the lie ready. "Riya's house, Amma. We have... MBA application forms to fill. It's a group study thing. I'll be late."
"Riya?" Her mother frowned. "Didn't Riya go to her grandmother's village yesterday?"
Krithika froze. She had forgotten. "No... that was Kavya. Riya is here."
Her mother looked suspicious, but before she could ask more questions, Anjali walked into the room. Krithika's younger sister leaned against the doorframe, smirking. She knew everything.
"She's right, Amma," Anjali said smoothly. "Riya is in town. I saw her Facebook status."
Krithika exhaled. "See? Bye Ma!"
She grabbed her bag and rushed out. Anjali followed her to the gate.
"Stop right there," Anjali said.
"What?" Krithika hissed. "I'm late!"
"You're going to meet Him, aren't you? The Vice-Captain."
"Shh!" Krithika looked back at the house. "Don't say it loud!"
"So what do I get?" Anjali asked. "For lying to Mom. Silence costs money."
Krithika groaned. "Fine. What do you want?"
"The blue dress," Anjali said immediately. "The new one. And you clean my room for a week."
"The blue dress is new!" Krithika protested.
"And your boyfriend is the Vice-Captain of India," Anjali countered. "Do you want me to tell Mom?"
Krithika gritted her teeth. "Fine. Take the dress. But if you spill anything on it, you're dead."
"Deal," Anjali stepped aside. "Have fun. Ask him if the team needs a cheerleader."
"Shut up," Krithika revved the engine.
She zoomed down the street, hoping the bribe was worth it.
---
Location: A quiet bus stop near Paradise Circle.
Krithika was waiting. She wrapped her scarf around her face to block the dust. She checked her watch. He was on time.
The Tata Sumo pulled up. The window rolled down.
Deva, wearing sunglasses and a cap, leaned over. "Hey. Need a lift? I hear the buses are slow today."
Krithika pulled down her scarf. She grinned. "I don't get into cars with strangers. Especially ones driving a tank."
"It's a Sumo," Deva laughed. "Get in, Shorty."
She hopped into the passenger seat. The cool AC hit her.
"So," she said, buckling her seatbelt. "Mr. Vice-Captain. This is your chariot? I expected something faster."
"Fast cars get noticed," Deva said, easing the car back onto the road. "This blends in."
"Where are we going?" she asked. "Please don't say the water cooler."
"Further," Deva smiled. "Anantagiri Hills. Vikarabad. About 70 kilometers. No signal. No media. Just trees."
"A long drive," she said. "Okay."
"I figured we needed to talk," Deva said, eyes on the road. "Without me wearing a mask."
The city faded away, replaced by the rocky terrain and scrub forests. The road was quiet.
"So," Krithika broke the silence. "Vice-Captain. That's a big deal."
"It is," Deva admitted. "Lot of responsibility."
"Are you scared?"
Deva glanced at her. "Yeah. A little. Leading the team... if Dhoni steps off, it's on me. Everyone is watching. If I mess up, they will tear me apart."
"They won't," she said.
"How do you know?"
"Because you are you," she shrugged. "You don't panic about exams, you don't panic about movie popcorn, but you don't panic on the field. I saw you at the stadium. You ignored me to stop a boundary. You know how to focus."
Deva chuckled. "You're still mad about the ignore, aren't you?"
"I will be mad about that forever," she said. "But... it proved a point. You prioritize the job. That's why they picked you. You don't get distracted."
"I try not to," Deva said.
"You're weirdly calm," she observed. "Most guys your age would be posting about it on Facebook. You're just... driving a Sumo."
"I like driving," Deva smiled. "It helps me think."
They reached Anantagiri Hills as the sun began to dip. Deva drove off the main road, parking at a secluded viewpoint overlooking the valley.
It was private. Just the wind and the trees.
Deva opened the back of the Sumo and pulled out the basket.
"My mom packed snacks," Deva said.
"Your mom is the best," Krithika said, hopping onto the tailgate.
They sat on the back of the car, drinking coffee from paper cups, watching the sky change colors.
"This is nice," Krithika said. "Quiet."
"I needed quiet," Deva exhaled. "Since the announcement... my phone hasn't stopped ringing. Everyone wants something. Interviews, sponsors, distant relatives."
"Is it annoying?"
"It's tiring. Sometimes I forget what day it is. Sometimes I just want to be... Siddarth Reddy again."
"Siddarth was fun," she smiled. "He had a simple life. Pass the exam, eat the popcorn."
"He had a very annoying study partner," he teased.
"She was a bit of a headache," Deva agreed. "But, best partner ever."
"Hey!" She hit him on the shoulder jokingly.
"Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, the coffe will spill."
He put his cup down. He turned to face her.
"Krithika," Deva said.
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to be busy. The Asia Cup. Then the IPL. It's going to be crazy."
"I know," she said. "I saw the schedule."
"I can't be Siddarth anymore," he said. "The mask won't work. People know my face too well now."
"I figured," she said quietly.
"But," Deva reached out and took her hand. "I still need the Headache. I need someone to tell me I'm an idiot when I play a bad shot. I need someone who doesn't care about the Vice-Captain title."
Krithika looked at him. "You need a reality check."
"I need you," Deva corrected.
The air between them felt charged.
"I'm not going anywhere," Krithika said, squeezing his hand. "I have a Season Pass, remember? Unlimited Biryani."
"And unlimited access," Deva added. "To me."
She laughed. "Don't push your luck. You are still on probation."
They sat there as the sun vanished. Two young people sitting on the back of a car, holding hands.
The drive back to the city was filled with music. Deva played the playlist she had made him. They sang along to bad Bollywood songs, laughing when they missed the high notes.
He dropped her off a street away from her house.
"See you," Deva said.
"See you," she said. She leaned into the window.
She pecked him on the cheek. Quick.
"That's for the coffee," she whispered.
Then she ran towards her gate.
Deva sat in the car for a minute, touching his cheek. He smiled.
He put the car in gear and drove back to the farmhouse. The news channels were still talking about his appointment, analyzing his stats, debating his future.
But driving through the dark roads of Hyderabad, Siddanth Deva wasn't thinking about the captaincy. He was just thinking about the girl who liked his coffee.