The IPL auction was not about cricket.
It was about belief.
Belief with money behind it.
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## 🏛️ IPL AUCTION – MUMBAI (2008)
Crystal chandeliers.
Muted conversations.
Nervous ambition.
Team owners sat with paddles.
Coaches whispered.
Agents pretended calm.
This was the first time Indian cricket met capitalism head-on.
Aarav Malhotra's name sat midway on the list.
Not hyped.
Not ignored.
Dangerous position.
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## 📋 PLAYER PROFILE – ON THE SCREEN
**Name:** Aarav Malhotra
**Age:** 21
**Role:** Top-order batter (No. 3)
**Secondary Skill:** Medium pace
**Base Price:** USD 50,000
Notes scrolled beside his name:
- Test century vs South Africa
- Successful T20 debut series
- Plays pace well
- Composed under pressure
The auctioneer looked up.
"Next lot."
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## 🔔 THE HAMMER RISES
"Base price, fifty thousand dollars."
Silence.
Aarav watched the live feed from home, sitting between his parents.
His mother clasped her hands.
His father didn't blink.
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## 🟦 FIRST PADDLE – ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
RCB's table moved first.
Coach Ray Jennings leaned toward the owner.
"He fits No. 3. Indian core."
The paddle lifted.
"Fifty thousand from Bangalore."
The silence broke.
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## 🔴 COUNTER – DELHI DAREDEVILS
"Seventy-five thousand."
Delhi entered.
Young Indian batter.
Future face.
They saw the same thing.
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## 🟨 CHENNAI SUPER KINGS JOIN
MS Dhoni wasn't at the table.
But his presence lingered.
CSK's paddle rose.
"One hundred thousand."
Now it was real.
Aarav's mother exhaled sharply.
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## 🔥 BIDDING WAR – INTENT REVEALED
RCB didn't hesitate.
"One fifty."
Delhi paused.
CSK consulted.
This wasn't a gamble anymore.
This was **projection**.
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## 🧠 RCB STRATEGY – INTERNAL
"Top order Indian bat."
"Plays fast bowling."
"Long-term No. 3."
The owner nodded.
"Two hundred."
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## 🔔 FINAL CALL
"Two hundred thousand dollars going once…"
Delhi dropped out.
CSK hesitated.
"Going twice…"
CSK shook their head.
"Hammer!"
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## 🔨 SOLD
**Aarav Malhotra – ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE**
**Price:** USD 200,000
Applause followed.
Measured.
Respectful.
Aarav didn't react.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Remember," he said quietly,
"This doesn't change how you bat."
Aarav nodded.
"I know."
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## 🟥 RCB DRESSING ROOM – LATER THAT DAY
Aarav entered wearing the red jersey for the first time.
Familiar faces.
- Rahul Dravid
- Jacques Kallis
- Anil Kumble
Legends.
Different roles.
Same room.
Dravid spoke first.
"No. 3 is yours. Earn it."
That was the welcome.
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## 🏏 ROLE DEFINED
RCB didn't want fireworks.
They wanted structure.
- Dravid to anchor
- Kallis to balance
- Aarav to **control the middle**
Clear.
Unforgiving.
Perfect.
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## 📱 MEDIA SHIFT – QUIET BUT NOTICEABLE
Headlines appeared.
**INDIA'S NEW NO. 3 JOINS RCB**
**TEST TEMPERAMENT MEETS T20 MONEY**
Aarav ignored them.
The season was coming.
Words wouldn't bat for him.
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## 🧠 STATUS UPDATE
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✔ IPL CONTRACT: SIGNED
✔ BATTING POSITION: NO. 3
✔ EXPECTATION LEVEL: HIGH
**NEXT PHASE:**
➡ First IPL Match
➡ Franchise Pressure Begins
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The IPL didn't buy a name.
It bought a **trajectory**.
And Bangalore had placed their bet.
Now—
Aarav Malhotra had to make numbers speak.