LBW : Love By World Cup

By Vinay Dhamnani

The mysterious debutant fast bowler, Alok, miraculously selected in the Indian World Cup squad, made heads roll with his uncharted batting prowess. Trailing off into unfamiliar territory, he has imaginary violins playing in the background for Sheena, who is the daughter of the President of the Indian Cricket Board. The skipper of the team, Vish, did not approve of the budding romance. The captain had his eyes not only on the World Cup but also on ruling Indian cricket by becoming the son-in-law of the most powerful individual in the game. His inquest almost derailed the already chaotic path to India's quest for a third World Cup. Will the enigmatic newbie be able to bat his way to becoming a legend and his lady's hero, or will his name be lost from the cricket history books and her heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9789356846050

Book preview

1. Fight Club

The first match of the World Cup, and we have been rather disappointed by India’s bowling performance so far in this game. The Indian captain won the toss and elected to bowl first on a good pitch, but the bowlers put in a shambolic performance by conceding 360 runs against Bangladesh. I don’t mean disrespect for the Bangladesh batters, they did a brilliant job out there, but this huge score is as much a fault of the Indian bowlers who missed the line & length from the first over when debutant Alok Kumar conceded 22 runs. His bowling numbers were embarrassing. He was taken for 87 runs for no wickets in 7 overs and the captain did not bother to finish off Alok’s ten-over quota. Not everyone can set fire on the big stage on their first outing, but after this ‘deer in headlights’ performance by the youngster Alok, we wouldn’t be surprised if we do not see him included in the starting XI for the rest of the tournament. The World Cup is the biggest cricket tournament and the selectors & the captain’s gamble to throw Alok right in the mix has not paid off well. The young gun had an imperious record in the U-19s game, but international cricket is different.…

Someone shut this fucking TV off, blasted Vishvesh in the dressing room, these commentators and their clichés. The team knew that they had not performed well and now the not-so-cool Captain had lost his cool.

Standing tall at 6 ft 2 inches, his muscular frame did not go well with his angular face and slightly protruded front upper teeth. A well-trimmed and maintained beard made him appear better than he actually looked.

Vish was infamous for his antics on & off the pitch, but there was no doubt that he was hugely respected and feared among the team. He was respected because of his technique & skill, batting average, and the sheer output of runs that had won so many matches for India. He was an absolute fan favorite and the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team with so many senior players. At 27 years old, he was a testament to the greatness he had achieved and the heights he could reach. His aggressive demeanor and clashes with the opposition players and umpire were well known.

But when things were not going well for his team, the Indian dressing room was not the place to be.

What an absolute shit-show was that, Vish blasted, who the fuck concedes 350 runs to Bangladesh. Absolute silence filled the dimly lit dressing room. No one dared to go near the food section on the far-left corner. All the players sat at their respective seats and looked elsewhere to avoid eye contact with the captain, especially the bowlers.

Calm down, Vish, the coach of the Indian cricket team, Peter intervened. Bowling & fielding are not their biggest strengths and with you and Rony in good form, we can chase this down.

Vish knew that the coach was right. The Indian team had chased totals much higher earlier and on a batting surface like Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, the target felt achievable for the formidable Indian batting unit.

Just to reiterate, Vish said loud and clear, Rony will open the game with Aniket. I will go one down. Sarang will come next. If another wicket falls before 35th over, then Sid comes in, otherwise, Manish, comes in to finish the game. Is this clear?

Although it was spoken & understood clearly, none in the room dared to mutter a word.

Rony and Aniket walked out to bat against a highly inspired Bangladesh team. The score they achieved was unimaginable when the game started. And none in the stadium or people following the match believed that India would lose 6 wickets for 150 runs in a World Cup opener chasing 361 against Bangladesh. There was a glimmer of hope for the Indian fans because Vish was batting well, but seething as wickets fell one by one on the other side.

The Bangladesh captain, Khaled, was aware that Vish could still take the match India’s way from this stage.

During the field changes between the overs, Khaled walked up to Yousaf, the bowler, and commented loud enough to be heard, The Indians have got their tails between their legs now… let’s finish this match quickly and enjoy the evening by the sea.

Khaled & Yousaf laughed without noticing Vish charging toward them with his bat held up like a sword. A spectacle was not very uncommon for Indian cricket fans who were used to seeing the captain’s belligerence. The scuffle was broken by the umpires and other Bangladesh players, but Khaled knew he had gotten into Vish’s head.

Vish had scored 18 runs off Yousaf’s previous over, and Khaled guessed that Vish would try to attack the off-spinner once again. The trap was set.

Two sixes off the first two balls and three fours on the next three balls sent the crowd’s roars in Wankhede Stadium from Churchgate to Borivali faster than a Virar local.

Fuck you, Bangladesh, go back to your holes, the chant rang around.

The last ball of Yousaf’s over, a slow & flighted delivery – come and hit me – it would have said if the ball could speak. Vish answered it with a smack. The ball went up & up in the air. A fielder came underneath to take a catch, and the whole of India gasped.

The catch was taken. Vish was out. Pending a miracle, Team India was on track to lose against Bangladesh for the first time in cricketing history.

The Wankhede stadium had not been this silent since the night of April 2, 2011, the World Cup final, when Sri Lankan fast bowler Latish Malinga had taken the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. The Bangladesh players celebrated the wicket like they had won the World Cup at that moment.

Vish used his choicest of curses as he walked back to the dressing room.

I could bat better than that, Vish overheard a janitor say to another while returning back to the dressing room. The janitor looked young and had an athletic body. I will drown you in the toilet, you bastard, Vish spoke angrily as he entered the dressing room and threw his bat against the lockers; the bang sound echoed loudly in the silent stadium. The janitor avoided eye contact and rushed to the washroom and began cleaning. No eye contact was made inside the grim Indian dressing room with the recently arrived captain as the screaming and swearing continued. And another Indian wicket fell.

Vish had now lost it and started throwing things around.

Calm down. It’s just game one, Peter ordered. Vish sat back on his seat, still murmuring curses.

Alok, called out Peter, Pad up, you’re next.

Vish turned towards Alok in anger and blasted, Make sure, you at least score the number of runs you conceded in your first over.

The seemingly shy young bowler almost broke down on hearing those words. He gathered all the courage he could at the moment and requested, Coach, I need to use the washroom. Do you mind if I go after Rehan?

Ah, the classic anxiety shit, Vish barked, resulting in murmured laughter, but one stare from the captain and the silence was restored. The coach nodded and Alok rushed to the washroom.

For a guy playing his first international cricket match, those were not the correct words to say, the coach said to Vish after Alok left.

I got carried away coach, I will give the new boy my match fees today that is left after deduction from the brawl with asshole Khaled, responded the captain arrogantly.

Alok Kumar, a 21-year-old, left-hand fast bowler, a rare commodity in India, made a big name for himself after being declared the Man of the Tournament when he helped his team win the U-19 World Cup. He had taken 27 wickets in the tournament surpassing all previous records. The call-up to the World Cup was a big surprise even for him.

A lot of heads turned when he was called up for the World Cup. He will be our surprise package, the selectors had announced qualifying his selection, he has the raw pace and the right amount of talent to succeed.

Alok looked nothing like a cricketer. Underweight when he was born, he continued to be lanky throughout the twenty years of his life. His face looked dorky enough without needing the nerdy glasses. He was born & brought up in a middle-class Indian household in a small Indian city just on the border of the state capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur. Like most, Alok’s parents expected their kids to excel in their studies and choose to become an engineer or a doctor.

But, unluckily for his parents, Alok fell in love with cricket after watching Ishant Sharma’s magical fast bowling spell in the famous Perth Test against Australia. At that moment, he decided that he wanted to become a fast bowler. Ishant Sharma became his idol.

When the captain tossed the ball to him to bowl his first over, his father’s words, You will never make it big in cricket, echoed through his ears.

In his life, he had not wanted to prove anyone more wrong than his dad. ‘You know what, dad, I made it. I am here, wearing the Indian jersey with my name on the back, playing for my country, while you still are sitting on your couch watching me on television.’ Thoughts kept rushing in his head as he bowled wide after wide and conceded 22 runs in his first over.

There was no coming back, as he gave one of the worse debut performances for India. 7-0-87-0 – the numbers didn’t lie; it was a horrendous performance. That is what people would remember him for – another face in the crowd who could not make the jump from U19 to the international level. And he knew that there would not be another chance for him after this match.

Alok returned from the washroom looking equally nervous and confident. He quietly started getting ready to bat. If it was his last game in this World Cup and for Team India, he wanted to make the most of it.

A small partnership developed between Rehan & Sarang as the lifeless Indian innings dragged to 200. Few in the crowd were still hopeful of a comeback, but the hopes died soon when there was a mix-up while running between the two batsmen, and Rehan was run out.

Vish wrapped his hands around Alok and said, Just go there and do your best. There are not many chances for us to win this game, so don’t be nervous. Alok’s negligible confidence multiplied exponentially after hearing encouraging words from the captain.

The last Indian batsman came out to bat with the score reading 205 for 9 after 35 overs. 155 runs were required in 15 overs. Even the most optimistic Indian fans had lost hope. A few in the audience left the stadium, disappointed. Most of the people following the game on television switched the channel to watch Bigg Boss. Bangladesh players felt they were already there.

With nothing to lose, Alok & Sarang started smashing the Bangladesh bowlers. The scoreboard kept ticking. India needed 117 runs off the last 60 balls of the game.

Alok started slowly, playing a supporting role to Sarang, who scored the majority of the runs.

The Bangladesh Captain, who was so close to tasting victory, grew impatient. In between the overs, Khaled walked up to Alok and said, Poor kid, did you wet your pants after what we did to you earlier today. The Bangladesh players fielding near the pitch started laughing. Alok ignored the taunts and looked away.

Vish noticed the sledging from the dressing room and gave back a few cuss words from the balcony. The TV cameras focused on the Indian captain. There was more drama off-pitch than on-pitch for the Indian fans.

On the pitch, Yousaf bowled the 44th over with Alok on strike.

6 6 4 4 2 6

Alok scored 28 runs from Yousaf’s 43rd over, looked up towards the dressing room and gave a broad smile.

The tables had turned.

India now needed 54 runs from 6 overs, a much more achievable target. Alok accelerated his innings and slowly the television channels switched back on to the match from Big Boss.

Every run was being cheered for by the few fans who chose to stay in the stadium. The game, which felt like a disappointment, was about to become one of the greatest comebacks in Indian cricket history.

The runs kept flowing until India needed 17 runs off from the last 2 overs.

The anxious captain, Khaled, took matters into his own hands and went on to bowl the penultimate over, wanting to save his strike bowler, Maharoof, for the final over. But it was an exercise in vain.

Alok smashed three consecutive sixes and sealed the victory for India.

Who’s wetting the pants now… Alok remarked to the Bangladesh captain as he ran and hugged Sarang in happiness.

Vish ran out of the dressing room and the whole Indian team and fans went berserk celebrating the victory.

Alok was judged Man of the Match for his match-winning contribution of 87 runs not out from 39 balls. He lived to see another day in the starting XI. He became a national hero overnight.

Back in the dressing room, the celebrations continued long after the presentation. A champagne shower was bestowed upon Alok, led by the captain. After the initial hysteria had died down, Peter walked into the room.

Great innings there, Alok, Peter congratulated Alok.

Thank you, sir, Alok smiled sheepishly.

But I was wondering, where did this knock come from? I mean, you were selected only for your bowling. Your batting record in junior tournaments is abysmal? Alok did not expect to be questioned after giving such a performance.

Slightly taken aback, he said, I just went with the flow and played each ball like it was my last. I did not check the required run rate or the number of runs needed to win. I just enjoyed myself as the captain asked me to. Vish was beaming like a proud father whose son had won a race on a school sports day.

The next match for Team India was against the current World Champions, England, in three days. Vish knew that a victory in this match was important to maintain the lead in the points table and a reminder about the team’s strength in depth over their rivals.

Three days until the next game, the celebration of this victory continued back in the team hotel. The clock ticked 2 AM and the private conference room ‘Vienna’ of the Taj Palace in Mumbai was not asleep. The DJ played all the party tracks from his collection, the champagne was flowing, and all the players & coaching staff of the team were in high spirits.

Suddenly, the music stopped, and all eyes turned toward the DJ. The enterprising captain had taken the stage. Let’s call upon the stage, the hero of tonight, Alok… Alok walked toward the stage amidst thunderous applause from his teammates. Come on, young boy, this is your night. Where is your drink? asked Vish. Alok was nervous and replied, I do not drink.

Vish appeared stunned. He signaled to DJ to play the music and pulled Alok aside. You don’t drink? Why buddy, any specific reason?

I have never tried, never wanted to, responded Alok.

Not even when you won the U-19 World Cup? questioned Vish.

No sir, my teammates were drinking, but I did not, Alok replied.

Why don’t you try some tonight? Vish extended the glass of champagne in his hand.

Thank you, but I don’t want to. I would like to go to my room and relax, said Alok and started walking towards his room.

I bet you are a virgin as well… A burst of laughter was the last potshot Alok heard before he left the party.

The players started leaving one by one for their respective rooms, some were left alone, and some were accompanied by guests that they did not arrive with.

Vish was the last one to leave, covered in sweat & vomit, smelling like a sewer rat. He was carried to his room by two security guards who dumped the captain of the Indian Cricket Team into his bed.

The next morning, the headlines were expected to be about Alok Kumar and his performance in the game or his redemption from a horrible bowler to a useful all-rounder.

‘ALOK KUMAR: ZERO TO HERO TO ZERO’, cried aloud the Times.

‘YOUNG GUN MISFIRES ON THE PITCH AND THE TEAM HOTEL, CAUSES A DRUNKEN BRAWL’, read the headlines in The Express.

According to the news reports, at around 3 AM, Alok Kumar had gotten into a fracas with a few cricket fans in the Purple Lounge Bar of Hotel Taj Palace. The eyewitnesses present at the spot gave an account of the fight which happened.

Few fans came up to congratulate Alok Kumar for his performance in the game. Alok Kumar was gracious enough until one of the guys said something that upset Kumar and he asked them to leave him alone. The exchange of words quickly escalated into a throw of fists. The onlookers clicked pictures and recorded videos of the incident until the bouncers intervened.

#CannotHandleSuccess & #ThrowRowdyPlayersOut were the trends on social media. Alok received very little support from the media, which left no stone unturned to portray him as someone too big for his shoes.

A disciplinary team meeting was called by Peter in the morning, as most players anticipated.

Where is Vish? Peter roared when the captain did not report to the meeting at reporting time.

No idea, coach. We have not seen him since last night, replied vice-captain Rony.

Ramandeep, go and check on Vish, the visibly irritated coach ordered. The young spinner left immediately.

Peter Andrewson, the recently appointed coach of the Indian Cricket Team, was no pushover. Being one of the best batsmen during the eighties and the most successful English captain ever, his credentials & records were indisputable. He was a bit of an authoritarian when it came to his coaching & management skills.

It was said during his time as the England captain that no player dared to speak against him and those who did would receive the infamous hair-dryer treatment. He was also infamous for a pie-throwing incident in the English dressing room in the 1980s when one of the English players had thrown a pie onto the face of the Australian coach. Although it was never revealed, who was the player who had taken aim. The anonymous dressing room sources pointed towards the current Indian coach.

The Indian Cricket Board appointed Peter as the coach for two reasons. First, his acclaim and credential proved that he was the most qualified candidate, and second because they believed that he could keep Vish’s temperament in control.

Peter managed the first requirement of his job well as India won the Asia Cup, which was his first tournament as the coach of this team. The second part was proving much tougher than Peter had imagined. Vish was just a younger version of himself with the full backing of his team, selectors, and the board and much more popularity among the social media millennials.

I am sorry, I am late. What did I miss? Vish entered the room with Ramandeep, hungover from last night. A few players flinched but did not try to show anything on their faces.

Ok, so we have read about the misdemeanor from one of our boys. Before jumping to conclusions, I’d like to hear from Alok about the incident last night, demanded Peter.

Alok, you are a mystery… your junior record suggests that you have no batting prowess, but you smash 90 runs in 40 balls. When I offered you a drink, you said you don’t drink but created a ruckus later. What is the matter with you? said Vish as he walked towards Alok and wrapped his arm around his shoulders.

I am sorry; this will not be repeated, said Alok with faint tears in his eyes. Peter observed a guy who had been in a drunken fistfight the previous night. Alok had no visible scratches or injury marks on the face whatsoever.

We would like to know what happened last night? Peter asked.

It was my fault; I lost my cool. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am ready to apologize to the team, the cricket board and publicly, replied Alok.

I will not tolerate this kind of behavior under my watch. Alok will be suspended for the next two games of the World Cup. For future games, your selection will be based on merit.

Alok fell to his knees, crying. The dream had turned into a nightmare.

The news about Alok’s suspension does not go out of this room. We don’t want any unnecessary controversies & distractions during a World Cup run. Just inform the media that Alok has picked up a minor injury during training and will be out for 8-10 days. This meeting is over, stormed Peter out of the room.

The rest of the players walked out of the meeting room and headed for breakfast.

Vish pulled Alok up, It is OK, champ, only two matches. Do you know how many matches I have missed through suspension? I lost count… Alok smiled as they both left the meeting room. A bond had developed between the captain and the youngster.

In a country with free internet, high unemployment, people with ample free time, and a media that needs fodder to blow such issues out of proportion, there would be no respite for Alok.

The video clip of Alok punching a guy and getting kicked and beaten by the same guy and his friends was played on repeat on all news channels, and the social media trial declared Alok guilty. The same people who revered him last night and made him a hero started calling for his head.

This was when Alok realized that fame could push you from the peak of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Marianna Trench in seconds.

Alok was hanging in the air between the mountain and the ocean. He knew he did not have much rope left.

❒

2. The Twelfth Man

There was someone who was about to throw a new leash of rope at Alok. It was the captain who was impressed by the new boy. Vish could see through Alok – he had nothing but desire & hunger for playing. The way he kept his head in a high-pressure situation, did not react to the taunts and sledges, and, more importantly, gave it back to Khaled like a boss. Vish saw a lot of potential in Alok.

Making it to the Indian Cricket Team from a middle-class family with no high-profile contacts was a testament to the determination and hard work of years. Many young players fail to perform in their debut match. Vish knew that Alok’s poor bowling performance against Bangladesh was just a case of nerves.

At Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport Terminal, while waiting for the flight to Bangalore, Vish walked up to Peter and said, "Coach, I feel you are being harsh on Alok. He is a young boy, and mistakes can happen.