A/N: If you like the story, remember to give a review. It'll motivate me to continue with same passion ✌️😁
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The official Mumbai Indians social media pages and news tickers on Sony Max flashed the update:
It dropped in the middle of a busy afternoon:
[OFFICIAL: Mumbai Indians have completed their squad for the 2013 season with the signing of two uncapped players: Jasprit Bumrah, a right-arm pacer from Gujarat, and Rocky Rudra, a right-handed batter from Odisha.]
In reality, the moment was much quieter.
Rudra and Bumrah stood in a small office at the Wankhede.
John Wright pushed two folders across the desk.
"The paperwork is done," Wright said, looking between the two youngsters.
"Most of the board thinks I'm gambling. One kid with a bowling action like a slingshot and another who was playing Maidan cricket six months ago. Prove me right."
Bumrah stared at the MI logo on the folder, his fingers tracing the edge of the paper.
Rudra didn't hesitate.
He signed his name, Rocky Rudra, with a steady hand.
He wasn't thinking about the money.
He was thinking about the look on Sujit Sir's face when he found out.
___
The news didn't cause a celebration.
It caused confusion.
In 2013, before everyone had high-speed internet in their pockets, these names were ghosts.
The reaction was exactly what you'd expect from the passionate, often cynical IPL fanbase.
On CNN-IBN, the sports ticker scrolled the names repeatedly.
The anchors didn't even have photos of the boys to show.
"Mumbai Indians have opted for unknown quantities. Rocky Rudra? There's almost no footage of him outside of some local Odisha U-19 clips. It's a strange move for a team that already has the greatest batting lineup in history."
___
The Cricket Talk Shows.
On a late-night sports panel, the experts were skeptical.
"I don't get it," one analyst said, throwing his hands up.
"MI has Tendulkar, Ponting, and Rohit. Why are they wasting slots on a boy from Odisha and a pacer nobody has heard of? Is the scouting department on vacation?"
___
Extraaa Innings T20
The screen flashes the vibrant blue and yellow Sony SIX "Breaking News" sting, followed by a split-screen graphic titled
Samir Kochhar (Anchor):
"Welcome back to the studio! We have some late-breaking team news coming in from the Mumbai Indians' camp. With the big names like Ponting and Tendulkar leading the way, MI has decided to inject some serious youth into the squad today. Harsha, they've just announced two massive new signings!"
Harsha Bhogle (Expert):
"It's a bold move, Samir. We're looking at Jasprit Bumrah, a young quick from Gujarat with an action unlike anything I've ever seen, it's slingy, it's unorthodox, and it could be a nightmare for batters who haven't faced him.
And then there's Rocky Rudra. He's a right-hand batter who has been turning heads in the Odisha & Mumbai domestic circuit. Talk about a 'hit-the-ground-running' situation! To be in a dugout with Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar at 18 or 19 years old? That's the stuff dreams are made of."
Navjot Singh Sidhu (Expert):
"Thoko Taali! These kids aren't just joining a team. They're joining an army! Rocky Rudra... with a name like that, you expect him to come out and start swinging for the hills from ball one! Let's see if these two young lions can handle the heat of the IPL kitchen!"
___
The Twitter/Social Media Storm.
@CricketFanatic: "Bumrah? Rudra? Are these even real players or did MI just generate them in a video game? 😂 #IPL2013 #MumbaiIndians"
@MIPaltan_Official: "Trust in John Wright. Remember how he found talent for India? Let the kids play before you judge!"
@CuttackCricketer: "ROCKY RUDRA! Odisha represents! The Wankhede isn't ready for the Rudra-storm! 🌪️💪"
___
The Newspaper Headlines (The Times of India).
"MI'S DESPERATE GAMBLE?"
"Inside sources say Ricky Ponting personally supervised the trials of Rocky Rudra. While his stats in the A-Division are impressive, the jump to the IPL is a mountain. Along with unorthodox pacer Jasprit Bumrah, MI seems to be betting on 'Raw over Refined."
___
At the local tea stalls near Azad Maidan, the club cricketers looked at the newspapers in disbelief.
"Wait, isn't that the kid from the A-Division? The one who hit that massive pull shot last week? He actually made it? Straight from the dirt to the MI dugout?"
___
In Cuttack, the news hit like a lightning bolt.
At the OCA academy, Sujit Sir didn't say a word.
He just pinned the newspaper clipping to the notice board.
The news spread like wildfire in Cuttack.
Neighbors rushed to Grandma Rita's house.
"Nani! Rocky is on the news! He's been selected for Mumbai Indians!"
Grandma Rita had tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.
She always knew he was 'Rudra' (the formidable), but now the whole world was about to find out.
___
Behind the stadium walls, the atmosphere was different.
The fans were skeptical and the news was doubtful, but the reality was set.
Rocky and Jasprit weren't just names on a list anymore.
They were the "Scout's Secret."
In the dressing room, seeing their jerseys hanging next to names like Tendulkar and Ponting made the pressure real.
Rocky looked at the 'RUDRA' nameplate.
No more software engineering.
No more tea stalls.
It was time to play.
For a better future.
.
.
.
(A/N: This is reactions chapter, so it's short.)
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