The morning sun over Hyderabad signaled the official shift in the cricketing calendar. The international break was over. The Indian Premier League was here.
Siddanth Deva packed a single large duffel bag. He said goodbye to Krithika and his parents at the farmhouse and got into his car. He drove himself into the city, navigating the morning traffic until he reached the ITC Kakatiya hotel.
The hotel was the official base camp for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Large orange flags and team logos decorated the entrance. Security guards stood near the barricades to keep the fans and the media at a safe distance. The guards recognized Siddanth's car and immediately cleared the path for him to drive into the VIP parking area.
Siddanth parked the car, grabbed his duffel bag, and walked through the private entrance into the main lobby of the hotel.
The lobby was quiet. Most of the players had arrived the previous night or early this morning and were currently resting in their rooms.
As Siddanth walked toward the reception desk to collect his room key, the elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Two players walked out. Sanju Samson who was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans. Walking next to him was Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal was wearing a bright, floral print shirt, cargo shorts, and a pair of dark sunglasses even though he was indoors. He had a camera strapped around his neck.
Siddanth stopped and smiled.
"Going somewhere?" Siddanth called out.
Sanju and Chahal looked up. They immediately smiled and walked over.
"Captain!" Chahal said, giving Siddanth a quick hug. "Good to see you. You are late. We all got here last night."
"I live twenty minutes away, Yuzi. I didn't need to check in yesterday," Siddanth replied, shaking Sanju's hand. "How are you doing, Sanju?"
"I am doing very well, Sid bhai," Sanju smiled. "Just trying to get used to the Hyderabad again."
Siddanth looked at Chahal's outfit. "Are you going to a beach? We don't have beaches in Hyderabad."
"We are going sightseeing," Chahal explained, pointing to his camera. "We have a free day today. The first net session is not until tomorrow morning. Sanju has never really seen the city properly. I told him I would be his tour guide."
"You are going to be his tour guide?" Siddanth asked, raising an eyebrow. "You get lost in your own hotel floor."
Sanju laughed, shaking his head. "I told him the same thing. But he insisted."
"We were just going to take a cab and tell the driver to take us to some famous places," Chahal said. "But since you are here, and this is your home city, where should we go?"
Siddanth set his bag on the floor. He thought about it for a second.
"Do not go to the modern side of the city today. Hitec City is just traffic and office buildings," Siddanth advised them. "Tell the cab driver to take you straight to the Old City. Go to the Charminar."
"Is it crowded there?" Sanju asked.
"Very crowded," Siddanth confirmed. "But that is the experience. Walk around Laad Bazaar. The shops there are famous for bangles. You can buy something for your family."
"What about food?" Chahal asked immediately. "That is the most important part."
"When you are near the Charminar, look for Nimrah Cafe," Siddanth instructed. "It is right next to the monument. Go inside and order the Irani chai and the Osmania biscuits. You have to dip the biscuit in the tea. Do not eat anything heavy before that. After the tea, walk down the road to Shadab or Nayab and order the mutton biryani."
Chahal's eyes lit up. He pulled out his phone and started typing the names of the restaurants. "Irani chai. Osmania biscuits. Mutton biryani at Shadab. Got it."
Chahal looked up at Siddanth with a very serious, hopeful expression. "Sid bhai. Since you are the most famous person in this city... if we go to the restaurant and tell the owner that Siddanth Deva sent us, will they give us the biryani for free?"
Siddanth stared at him for a second. "No, Yuzi. Pay your own bill."
Sanju burst out laughing and pushed Chahal toward the exit. "Come on. Leave the captain alone. Let's go."
"I was just asking for a team discount!" Chahal complained as Sanju dragged him away. "See you later, Sid bhai!"
"Have fun. Don't eat too much spicy food, or you won't be able to run in the nets tomorrow," Siddanth warned them with a smile.
He watched them leave, then walked to the reception desk, collected his keycard, and took the elevator up to his floor.
He found his room, unlocked the door, and walked inside. It was a standard, comfortable luxury suite. He dropped his duffel bag on the bed and opened it. He took out his official Sunrisers Hyderabad training clothes. He changed out of his jeans and put on the black track pants and the orange team t-shirt.
He grabbed his room key and walked out into the hallway.
He took the elevator down to the second floor, where the team management had booked a large, private recreation room exclusively for the players.
Even before he reached the doors of the recreation room, he could hear the noise.
He heard the rapid, sharp clicking sound of a ping pong ball hitting a wooden table. He also heard someone shouting loudly with a thick Australian accent.
Siddanth opened the double doors and walked inside.
The recreation room was spacious. It had comfortable sofas, a large television, a pool table, and a table tennis table set up in the middle of the room.
Four players were gathered around the table tennis table.
David Warner and Kane Williamson were currently playing a match. Ben Cutting and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were sitting on the sofas nearby, holding bottles of water and watching the game.
David Warner was sweating. He was holding his paddle tightly, bouncing on the balls of his feet, glaring across the net. He looked like he was playing the final of the World Cup.
On the other side of the net, Kane Williamson looked completely relaxed. He was not sweating. He stood calmly, holding his paddle with a loose grip.
Warner served the ball aggressively, hitting it hard and fast with heavy spin.
Williamson did not move his feet much. He simply reached out and blocked the ball, returning it perfectly over the net, dropping it just short of the edge of the table.
Warner lunged forward to reach the ball and hit it into the net.
"Point," Williamson said softly, offering a polite smile.
"Mate, that is impossible!" Warner yelled, throwing his hands in the air. "You didn't even swing your arm! How did you get that much backspin on a block?!"
"Just adjusting the angle of the paddle, David," Williamson replied calmly, picking up the ball.
Siddanth let out a short laugh.
The four players turned their heads toward the door.
"Sid!" Bhuvi said, standing up from the sofa with a smile.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Warner said, dropping his paddle on the table and walking over.
Siddanth stepped into the room. Warner gave him a tight, rough hug. Ben Cutting walked over and shook his hand firmly. Kane Williamson stepped away from the table and offered a warm handshake. Bhuvi hugged him last.
"Good to see you all," Siddanth said, looking around at the core leadership group of the team. "When did you guys get in?"
"I got here yesterday morning," Warner complained, wiping his forehead with a towel. "I have been waiting for you since yesterday. It was getting boring sitting in the hotel room watching television. I was about to call your phone and ask if I could come to your house."
Siddanth chuckled. He pointed at the table tennis table and the score counter on the wall. "It looks to me like you are having plenty of fun here."
"Nah, this is just warmup," Warner waved his hand dismissively. He pointed an accusing finger at Williamson. "And it is not fun playing against him. He is a machine, Sid. He does not miss the table. I try to smash the ball past him, and he just taps it back. It is frustrating."
Williamson smiled politely. "David hits the ball very hard. It is a good challenge."
"See? He even insults me politely!" Warner groaned, throwing himself onto the sofa next to Bhuvi.
"Don't worry, Davey, I will play with you later," Siddanth laughed, taking a seat on the armchair. "How is the body feeling, Ben? Ready for the season?"
"Feeling great, Skip," Ben Cutting nodded. "Had a good break. Ready to hit some big sixes."
They sat and talked for a while. The conversation naturally shifted to the upcoming season and the balance of their squad.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad had built a reputation as the most difficult team to score runs against. Last season, their bowling attack had been a fortress. Dale Steyn brought extreme pace and experience. Trent Boult provided the lethal left-arm swing. Yuzvendra Chahal controlled the middle overs with leg-spin. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the master of the death overs with his yorkers. And Siddanth himself had won the Purple Cap, taking the most wickets in the tournament with his aggressive, fast bowling.
"The management made some big moves in the auction this year," Bhuvi noted, taking a sip of water.
"Yeah," Siddanth agreed. "We needed to increase our bowling depth even more to handle injuries and different pitch conditions."
"Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi," Warner listed the names. "The two guys from Afghanistan. I faced Rashid in a league match a few months ago. His arm speed is ridiculous. You cannot pick his googly from his hand."
"And we bought Mohammed Siraj," Siddanth added. "A fast bowler."
"Siraj?" Cutting asked. "I haven't seen much of him."
"He is a local boy from Hyderabad," Siddanth explained. "He plays domestic cricket here. He has good pace and hits the deck hard. He will be a great addition to our fast bowling group."
"Our net sessions are going to be a nightmare for the batsmen," Warner laughed, shaking his head. "Facing you, Steyn, Boult, Bhuvi, and now Rashid Khan just for practice? I might start wearing two helmets."
While they were talking, Siddanth heard more ping pong balls bouncing from the other side of the large recreation room.
There was a second table tennis table set up near the back windows.
Siddanth looked over. Four younger players were gathered around that table, playing a doubles match.
He recognized Arjun Tendulkar immediately. Playing alongside him was Siddarth Kaul, the energetic domestic fast bowler. Barinder Sran, another left-arm pacer, was on the opposite side.
And playing with Sran was a young man Siddanth had not formally met yet. He was tall, lean, and had an intense look in his eyes even while playing a casual game.
It was Mohammed Siraj.
Siddanth stood up from his chair. "I am going to go say hello to the new guys."
Warner, Kane, and Bhuvi followed him.
As the senior group walked toward the back table, Siddarth Kaul noticed them first. He stopped bouncing the ball and stood up straight.
"Captain," Kaul said respectfully.
Arjun, Sran, and Siraj immediately stopped playing. They turned and looked at Siddanth. There was a clear look of respect, and a little bit of nervous intimidation, in the eyes of the younger players. Siddanth was not just their team captain; he was the captain of the Indian national team and a recent World Cup winner.
"Don't stop playing on my account," Siddanth smiled, walking up to the table. He gave Arjun a quick hug. "Good to see you back, Arjun. Have you been practicing your yorkers?"
"Yes, Sid bhai. Every day," Arjun smiled, looking happy to be back in the camp.
Siddanth shook hands with Kaul and Sran.
Then he turned to Mohammed Siraj. Siraj looked very nervous. This was his first major IPL contract, and he was suddenly standing face-to-face with the biggest name in Indian cricket.
Siddanth didn't offer a formal handshake. He stepped forward and pulled Siraj into a friendly, brief hug.
When he pulled back, Siddanth did not speak in English or Hindi. He spoke in the local Dakhini dialect of Hyderabad.
"Miya, team mein aagaye. Kaisa lagra?" Siddanth asked with a warm, casual smile. (Miya, you have joined the team. How does it feel?)
Hearing his local dialect from the national captain instantly broke the ice. The nervousness on Siraj's face vanished, replaced by a massive, genuine smile.
"Bahut accha lagra, bhai," Siraj answered, relaxing his shoulders. "Bas aap ke saath khelna tha. Dream pura ho gaya." (It feels very good, brother. I just wanted to play with you. A dream has come true.)
"Net mein pura zor lagana hai kal se," Siddanth told him, patting his arm. "Darna nahi kisi se." (You have to put in your full effort in the nets from tomorrow. Don't be scared of anyone.)
"Nahi darta, bhai. Pura jaan laga dunga," Siraj promised confidently. (I won't be scared, brother. I will give it my all.)
"Good," Siddanth nodded. He looked at the table and the paddles in their hands. "So, who is winning this match?"
"Arjun and I are crushing them," Kaul declared proudly, pointing his paddle at Sran and Siraj.
"Crushing us?" Sran argued immediately. "The score is ten to nine! You are winning by one point because Arjun got a lucky edge on the table!"
"A point is a point," Arjun grinned.
"Let's make it interesting," Siddanth said. He looked back at Warner. "Davey, you and I against the winning team. Winner stays on the table."
Warner's eyes lit up. He marched over and grabbed a paddle from the rack on the wall. "Oh, you kids are in trouble now. The captain and the vice-captain are teaming up."
The junior players looked excited at the challenge. Kaul and Arjun quickly finished their game against Sran and Siraj, winning the final two points.
"Alright, step aside," Warner said, walking to his side of the table with Siddanth. "Prepare to lose."
The doubles match began. It was absolute chaos.
Siddanth and Warner were terrible as a doubles team. They had zero communication. They constantly bumped into each other while trying to hit the ball.
Arjun served the ball. Warner tried to return it, but Siddanth stepped in front of him to hit it with his backhand. Their paddles clashed together in the air, and the ball bounced harmlessly onto the floor.
"Mine! I said mine!" Warner yelled, glaring at Siddanth.
"You didn't say anything, Davey!" Siddanth laughed, backing away to let Warner take the next shot.
Kaul served the next ball. Warner hit it hard, sending it over the net. Arjun returned it with a fast smash. Siddanth reached out and blocked it perfectly, dropping it just over the net. Kaul dove to save it but missed.
"Yes! That is how we do it!" Warner cheered, high-fiving Siddanth aggressively.
They played for thirty minutes. The recreation room filled with loud laughter, trash talk, and the sound of paddles hitting the table. Kane Williamson sat on a nearby chair, watching the match with a smile, occasionally clapping when someone made a good shot. Bhuvi and Siraj sat together, talking about bowling grips.
Eventually, Siddanth and Warner lost the game to Arjun and Kaul, mostly because Warner kept trying to hit every ball as hard as he could, sending half his shots flying off the table.
"The table is too small," Warner complained, throwing his paddle down in defeat. "If it was a regular cricket pitch, we would have won."
"Sure, Davey," Siddanth laughed, wiping his hands on a towel.
The afternoon passed quickly. More players trickled into the recreation room as they arrived at the hotel. Shikhar Dhawan walked in, loud and energetic, immediately hugging everyone and joining a game of pool.
At 6:00 PM, the team manager walked into the room.
"Gentlemen," the manager announced. "The welcome meeting starts in thirty minutes in the main conference hall on the ground floor. Please change into your official team polos and head down."
The players left the recreation room and went to their suites to change.
Half an hour later, the entire Sunrisers Hyderabad squad was gathered in the large conference hall. The chairs were arranged in neat rows facing a small stage. The room was full of energy. The domestic players, the international stars, and the coaching staff all sat together.
Tom Moody, the tall head coach, and VVS Laxman, the team mentor, stood near the stage.
Siddanth walked into the room. He walked to the front and took a seat in the first row next to David Warner and Kane Williamson.
Tom Moody picked up a microphone and stepped onto the stage. The room went quiet.
"Welcome, everyone, to the start of a new season," Moody began, his deep voice filling the hall. "We have a lot of familiar faces here today, and a few new ones. Last season, we built a very strong foundation. We showed everyone how hard we can fight. This season, our goal remains the same. We focus on our process, we support each other, and we compete."
Moody looked down at the front row. "I will let the captain officially welcome the squad. Siddanth, the floor is yours."
Moody stepped down and handed the microphone to Siddanth.
Siddanth stood up. He walked up the short steps onto the stage. He did not bring any notes. He looked out at the fifty people sitting in the room. He saw his fast bowlers, his spinners, and his batsmen. He saw young kids experiencing their first IPL camp and veterans.
"Good evening, boys," Siddanth said, his voice calm.
"I don't want to take too much of your time tonight. We have early morning nets tomorrow, and that is where the real talking happens," Siddanth started, pacing slowly across the stage.
"First of all, I want to welcome back the core group. We fought hard last year. We know our strengths, and we know our roles. But a team is only as strong as its newest members."
Siddanth looked toward the middle rows, where two players were sitting together.
"I want to give a special welcome to Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi," Siddanth said.
Rashid and Nabi smiled and nodded respectfully from their seats.
"You guys bring incredible international experience to this squad," Siddanth told them. "Afghanistan has been playing fantastic cricket, and we are very lucky to have your skills in our dressing room. Do not feel like outsiders here. From today, this is your family. If you need anything, on or off the pitch, you come to me or any of the senior players."
Siddanth then looked toward the back of the room, where the younger domestic players were sitting.
"I also want to welcome Mohammed Siraj," Siddanth said. "A local boy. It is a big step up, Siraj, but you earned your spot here through your performances. Bowl fast, learn from the seniors, and back yourself."
Siraj beamed with pride, sitting up straight in his chair.
Siddanth stopped pacing. He stood in the center of the stage and looked at the entire squad.
"This tournament is long. It is exhausting. You will be traveling every three days, sleeping in hotels, and playing in extreme heat," Siddanth told them, his tone turning serious. "There will be days when we win easily, and there will be days when we get hit for boundaries and lose."
"I only ask one thing from every single man in this room," Siddanth stated clearly. "When you cross that boundary rope and step onto the pitch, give everything you have. Dive for the ball. Run hard between the wickets. Bowl your best delivery even if your legs are tired."
"When you walk off the field at the end of the night, whether we won or lost, I do not want any of you to have a single regret. Do not walk into the dressing room thinking, 'I should have tried harder for that catch,' or 'I should have run faster.' Leave it all out there. Empty the tank."
Siddanth paused, letting the message sink in.
"But most importantly," Siddanth smiled, his fierce expression softening. "Enjoy it. We get to play a game for a living. We get to play in front of thousands of fans who love this team. Enjoy every moment on the field with your brothers."
Siddanth raised his right hand in the air.
"Alright, boys! Stand up!" Siddanth ordered loudly.
Every single player and coach in the room stood up instantly from their chairs.
"You know the drill," Siddanth called out, holding his hand high. "Orange Army on three!"
"One!" Siddanth shouted.
"Two!"
"Three!"
"ORANGE ARMY!" fifty voices roared in unison, the massive shout echoing off the walls of the conference hall, shaking the windows.
Siddanth smiled and stepped off the stage, handing the microphone back to the team manager. The formal meeting broke up into excited chatter. The players began walking toward the dining hall for the team dinner.
The camp had officially begun. The energy was perfect. The squad was united, and the captain had set the tone. Tomorrow, the talking would end, and the grueling work in the nets would begin.
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A/N: Check put my new fanfic Multiverse: Essence of Gacha