Chapter 40: IPL contract

After emerging victorious in the finals, the admiration and appreciation from fellow cricketers, especially Kevin Pietersen, meant the world to me. Pietersen, who had been a guiding force in my previous journey, expressed his delight in my exceptional all-round skills and even took to Twitter to commend my performance. The flood of nostalgic emotions and overwhelming pride in my accomplishments fueled my determination to continue pursuing my goals.

However, along with the heartfelt praise, I also witnessed a sudden change in the attitude of some family members who had previously ignored us. They shamelessly attempted to ingratiate themselves with me, seeking to bask in the glory of my triumph. Among them, my uncle stood out with his false display of happiness, his eyes concealing an underlying fury that disgusted me. Despite my intense urge to give him a piece of my mind, the sight of my parents' genuine joy compelled me to rise above these petty individuals and prioritize the happiness they brought to my life.

The World Cup, a remarkable event that concluded in November 2012, set the stage for the subsequent IPL Auction scheduled for the second week of December. This timing presented a perfect opportunity for me to participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, held in December for undisclosed reasons. Representing my home state of Andhra Pradesh, I embarked on this thrilling journey, single-handedly leading my team to victories. Throughout the tournament, I displayed exceptional form, emerging as the top scorer with two centuries and three half-centuries, while also clinching the title of the highest wicket-taker with twelve scalps. Although we narrowly missed clinching the trophy in the finals, our remarkable performance stood as the best in the history of our team's participation in the tournament.

As the eagerly awaited IPL Auction commenced, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and confidence. While I believed in my abilities and the possibility of being picked by any team, my heart yearned to play alongside legends like AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, and Chris Gayle for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. As the hours ticked by and my name failed to be called, I decided to seek solace and clarity at the nearby Lord Shiva temple. Lord Shiva, my beloved deity, had always been my pillar of strength, and the mere sight of His divine image brought me immense calmness and reassurance. After pouring my heart out in prayer, I returned home to a jubilant scene of embraces and teary-eyed parents. In that moment, the price tag attached to my name mattered little to me. All that occupied my mind was the question of which team had chosen me. To my delight, it was the Royal Challengers Bangalore who had placed their faith in me. Just as I was beginning to process this news, my friend Amruta rushed in, breathless with excitement, to reveal that I had been auctioned for a staggering 7 crores. The sheer magnitude of the figure left me astounded, yet it brought an overwhelming sense of relief, knowing that my financial concerns had been completely alleviated