The Unknown

Chapter Eleven

Due to some political issues, the final of the tournament was canceled. Arjun was not bothered by this development as he had already made a significant impact with his performance.Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had convened to discuss the formation of the India-A cricket team, which would play against West Indies. The panel consisted of five members:1. Mr. Patel2. Mr. Srivatsav3. Mr. Jay Vardhan4. Mr. Kumar Swamy5. Mr. Ravindra Narayan

Srivatsav initiated the discussion, emphasizing the need for talented players to face West Indies. Patel proposed a list of potential candidates, but Srivatsav expressed concerns about their statistics and health issues. Amid the deliberation, Ravi put forward a new name, "ARJUN." The room fell into a brief silence. Kumar expressed that he had never heard this name before, to which Ravi confirmed that it was the same Arjun who had performed exceptionally well in the Day Club Tournament. Srivatsav remembered Arjun and praised his skills as a hardcore hitter and a useful bowler. He suggested giving Arjun a chance, but Patel and others expressed reservations about sending an inexperienced player to West Indies, citing the prestige of the matter. Jay intervened, noting that Arjun would be participating in the Ranji selections the following week. Kumar suggested that they could agree to consider Arjun if there was an assurance that his stats would remain consistent for at least two Ranji seasons.

Srivatsav expressed uncertainty about giving such an assurance, given that they hadn't seen Arjun play directly. Patel emphasized the significance of their decision, as it would reflect on the country. Eventually, Patel's suggestion to select Ramesh was agreed upon by all members, and he was chosen for the India-A team. Ravi later informed Amir about the selection process, and Amir expressed relief that Arjun had not been picked due to concerns about his lack of experience. Ravi was puzzled by Amir's reaction and noted that it was a missed opportunity. Amir, however, emphasized the importance of avoiding the possibility of Arjun's performance decline and how that would impact his career. Ravi believed that times had changed and that talent was now valued over other factors. Amir agreed but remained cautious.

The day after Arjun's non-selection, Ravi informed Amir about Arjun's opportunity to participate in the Ranji selections, which they would attend in the coming days.In the academy, Chotu praised Arjun for his recent performance, and they discussed his chances of making it to the Ranji team.The following day, Arjun, Amir, and Ravi traveled to Hyderabad for the Ranji selections. As expected, Arjun was selected for the Ranji team. He was filled with confidence as he prepared for his first known match.

However, his confidence went down when he discovered that his team captain was none other than Rashid, the former academy mate who had faced legal troubles due to drug-related issues.