Date: November 15, 2008 Time: 10:00 AM Location: MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai.
If Hyderabad was hot, Chennai was a sauna. The humidity hit Sai the moment he stepped off the train. It was a thick, wet heat that stuck your shirt to your skin within seconds.
The South Zone Camp was held at the legendary Chepauk. The 30 best players from five states (Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra) were gathered here.
The Head Coach was Mr. Ramachandran (from Tamil Nadu). He was a stern man with vibhuti (sacred ash) on his forehead and a clipboard that seemed permanently attached to his hand.
"Welcome to Chennai," Ramachandran said, his voice dry. "Here, we play spin. If you can't play spin, catch the next train back to your state."
He looked specifically at the Hyderabad and Karnataka boys. "You boys like fast bowling. Here, the ball turns square. Adapt or die."
The Hierarchy
The bias was subtle but visible.
Tier 1: Tamil Nadu & Karnataka players. (Technically superior, coaches' favorites).
Tier 2: Kerala & Andhra.
Tier 3: Hyderabad. (Seen as lazy, talented but undisciplined).
Sai stood at the back, drinking water. Standing next to him was a boy from Kerala. Unni. Unni was a fast bowler, chubby, cheerful, and sweating more than anyone else.
"I will melt," Unni whispered in broken English. "I am butter. I will melt."
Sai smiled. "Just drink water, Unni."
The Net Session: The Dust Bowl
Ramachandran Sir split the nets by state. "TN boys, Net 1. Karnataka, Net 2. Others, Net 3."
Others. Sai, Vihan, and Unni walked to Net 3. The pitch in Net 3 was a minefield. It looked like someone had taken a rake to the soil. Loose dust everywhere.
The Spinner They were facing a local net bowler provided by the TNCA. A 15-year-old spinner named Muthu. Muthu didn't look like a cricketer. He looked like a math student. But when he bowled...
Ball 1 (To Vihan): Muthu tossed it up. Vihan stepped out to drive. The ball landed in a puff of dust. It turned almost 90 degrees. It went through Vihan's legs and hit the stumps.
"Arey!" Vihan yelled. "How can it turn that much?"
Muthu didn't smile. He just took the ball back.
Sai's Turn Sai walked in. He knew Chepauk. He had watched Test matches on TV. The red soil crumbles. Don't drive. Play back.
Ball 1: Muthu tossed it up. Sai went deep into his crease. He waited. The ball turned sharply and bounced. Sai stood tall on his toes and patted it down with soft hands. [CLICK] Defense.
Ball 2: Muthu bowled flatter. Sai rocked back and punched it to cover.
Ramachandran Sir was walking past Net 3. He stopped. He watched the small boy from Hyderabad playing off the back foot.
"Feet movement," Ramachandran muttered. "Good. Who is your coach?"
"Daniel Raj, Sir," Sai replied, removing his helmet.
"Ah. Danny. Crazy fellow," Ramachandran grunted. "But he taught you to play back. Good."
It was a small victory. The "Other" had been noticed.
Chapter 26: The Roommate and The Sambhar
Time: 8:00 PM Location: TNCA Dormitory.
The accommodation was basic. Bunk beds in a large hall. Sai was assigned a bunk with Unni (the Kerala bowler).
Unni was currently unpacking a suitcase full of... Banana Chips.
"You want chips?" Unni offered. "My mother made them in coconut oil."
Sai looked at the chips. Fried. Trans fats. System Alert: Calorie Dense. Recovery inhibiting.
But Unni looked so hopeful. "One chip," Sai said.
They sat on the bed, munching chips. "These TN boys are arrogant," Unni said, wiping crumbs. "That spinner, Sundar, he laughed at my bowling action. He said I run like a potato."
Sai nodded. "Sundar is good though. Did you see his loop? He is the favorite for the Captaincy."
Sundar was the star of the camp. Tall, elegant, an all-rounder from Chennai. He drove a Honda City (just like Vihan), but he had the "local hero" aura.
"We have a selection match tomorrow," Sai said. "Probables A vs. Probables B. Sundar will be Captain of Team A."
"And us?" Unni asked.
"Team B. The Rejects."
Unni sighed. "I hope they serve good Sambhar at lunch."
Date: November 17, 2008 Location: Chepauk Outer Ground. Match: Team A (Favorites) vs. Team B (Underdogs).
As predicted: Team A Captain: Sundar (TN). Includes Vihan Reddy (HYD) and the best Karnataka batters. Team B Captain: A wicketkeeper from Andhra. Includes Sai and Unni.
The First Innings Team A batted on a fresh pitch. Vihan Reddy scored a fluid 40. Sundar scored a magnificent 60. Team A Total: 240/5 in 50 Overs.
It was a mountain of runs on a turning track.
The Chase Team B started disastrously. The Karnataka fast bowlers in Team A ripped through the top order. Score: 45/4.
Sai walked in at Number 6. The sun was at its peak. 35 degrees Celsius. 90% humidity. Sai was sweating so much his gloves were slippery.
The Spin Web
Sundar brought himself on to bowl. Off-spin. Tall action. Bounce.
Sai took his guard. Sundar set a "Test Match" field. Slip, Leg Slip, Silly Point. He wanted to squeeze the Hyderabad kid.
Ball 1: Sundar tossed it up. Drifted in, turned away. Sai defended. The ball popped up but landed safe. Bouncy.
Ball 2: Sundar bowled a "Doosra" (the one that goes straight on). Sai read the hand. No wrist cock. He played inside the line. The ball slid past the outside edge.
"Ohhh, well bowled skipper!" the keeper chirped.
Sai tapped the pitch. He is too good to just block. If I block, a ball with my name on it will come eventually. I need to disturb his length.
The Innovation
Ball 3: Sundar flighted it. Sai pre-meditated. He swept. But not a normal sweep. He went down on his knee and reached forward—smothering the spin before it could bounce. The Slog Sweep.
[RESONANCE]
Thwack.
It wasn't elegant. It was brute force (as much as a 10-year-old could muster). The ball flew over mid-wicket. One bounce. FOUR.
Sundar stopped. He stared at Sai. Playing a slog sweep on a turning track against the captain? Disrespect.
Ball 4: Sundar fired it in faster. Angry. Sai expected it. He rocked back. Late Cut. The ball zipped past the slip fielder. FOUR.
Sundar was a tactical genius, but he was used to batsmen respecting him. Sai was treating him like a machine to be dismantled.
The Partnership
Sai found a partner in the Andhra keeper. They rotated the strike. Sai reached 40. Then 50.
The heat was brutal. Sai felt dizzy. The "System" was flashing red warnings. Dehydration. Core Temp Critical.
"Water," Sai gasped between overs. Unni ran out with a bottle. "Drink, Sai! You are killing them! Sundar looks angry!"
Sai drank. "I need... sugar." Unni handed him a packet of Glucose powder. Sai poured it straight into his mouth.
The Climax
Team B Score: 200/8. Target: 241. Equation: 41 runs needed off 5 overs. Wickets were falling. Sai was running out of partners.
Sai was on 72 Runs. He was cramping in his left calf. Every time he ran, he limped.
Over 47: Sai hit a boundary. Then he tried to run a two. His leg seized up. He collapsed mid-pitch.
"Sai!"
The physio ran on. Ramachandran Sir watched from the boundary. "Cramps," Ramachandran noted. "He played 90 balls in this heat."
Sai lay on the grass. The physio stretched his leg. Pain. Dissonance.
"Retire hurt, son," the physio said. "You did enough."
Sai looked at the scoreboard. 215/8. 26 runs needed.
If he went off, Team B would lose. The tailenders couldn't bat. If he stayed... he couldn't run.
Sai looked at the umpire. "Runner, Sir?"
"No runner allowed for cramps in selection trials," the Umpire said coldly. "Fitness is part of the test."
Sai stood up. He hobbled. "I will bat."
He couldn't run twos anymore. He had to hit boundaries.
Over 48: Sai stood on one leg. He hit a cover drive. FOUR. He couldn't run. He blocked the next four balls.
Over 49: Last wicket fell at the other end. Team B All Out for 225.
They lost by 15 runs. Sai remained Not Out on 82.
The Verdict
Sai limped off the field, supported by Unni. The Team A players were celebrating the win. But the coaches weren't looking at the winners.
Ramachandran Sir walked up to Sai. He didn't offer water. He didn't smile.
"You are from Hyderabad?" Ramachandran asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"You don't play like a Hyderabadi," Ramachandran said. "You play like a street dog. You don't let go of the bone."
He turned to his assistant. "Put his name on the list. First XI."
Sai collapsed onto the bench, exhausted, dehydrated, but smiling. Unni hugged him. "Street Dog! That is a compliment in Tamil!"