The transition from international duty to franchise cricket was always a jarring, chaotic shift in the calendar. Forty-eight hours ago, Siddanth Deva had been standing in the middle of the Eden Gardens, holding the ICC World T20 Trophy amidst a sea of blue. Today, the world has abruptly shifted to a vibrant, blazing orange.
The 2016 Indian Premier League was upon them.
Inside the sprawling Shamshabad farmhouse, the morning air was cool and quiet. Siddanth sat at the massive oak dining table, dressed in his official Sunrisers Hyderabad training kit. Across from him sat Arjun Reddy, the CEO of NEXUS, who was rapidly tapping away on a sleek, prototype NEXUS tablet.
"I reviewed the server logs from the World Cup Final," Arjun said, not looking up from his screen. "Vibe held up, but barely. We're going to need to commission the new data center in Pune earlier than expected if your fanbase keeps growing at this rate."
"Handle it," Siddanth nodded, taking a sip of his black coffee. "But before you get entirely consumed by the Q2 tech deliverables, I need you to initiate a new subsidiary."
Arjun finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Subsidiary? Under what division?"
"Entertainment," Siddanth said, his tone entirely pragmatic. "The animation and VFX studio. I spoke to Rajamouli. And pitched my Animated Ramayana trilogy."
Siddanth set his coffee mug down. "I had VEDA scrape GitHub, ArtStation, and various indie developer forums over the last forty-eight hours. It has compiled a highly vetted list of unknown gems—raw, brilliant digital artists, 3D modelers, and VFX supervisors who aren't bound by massive corporate contracts. I want you to headhunt them. Offer them an industry-standard salary, but keep it strictly under NDAs. I don't want the media knowing NEXUS is entering the cinema sector until we officially announce the movie."
Arjun's eyes widened slightly, a competitive smirk forming on his face. "Building a world-class animation studio from scratch using undiscovered talent. I love it. Consider it done, Sid. I'll have a preliminary team assembled and set up in a secure wing of Hitec City by the end of the month."
"Good," Siddanth said, standing up.
He walked out to see that his parents were already there. He bent down, touching their feet.
"Have a good season, Siddu," Vikram Deva smiled, patting his son's shoulder. "Bring the IPL trophy back home."
"Don't eat too much hotel food," Sesikala added immediately, adjusting the collar of his orange training jersey. "I will send Rahul with home-cooked meals twice a week. And make sure Arjun eats properly too."
She wasn't talking about Arjun Reddy.
Standing near the heavy wooden doors of the farmhouse, holding a sleek cricket kit bag, was a towering seventeen-year-old boy. Arjun Tendulkar looked slightly nervous but incredibly eager. The young left-arm pacer had flown into Hyderabad a few days prior, specifically to train under Siddanth during the IPL season, a mentorship that had begun the previous year.
Because Arjun was not yet an officially contracted player for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, BCCI and franchise protocols dictated he couldn't stay at the ITC Kakatiya team hotel or use the official team transport. Instead, he was staying in a guest suite at the Deva estate.
"I will take care of him, Amma," Siddanth smiled. He looked at the teenager. "You ready, Arjun?"
"Yes, Sid bhai," Arjun Tendulkar nodded vigorously.
"My driver will drop you off at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at training time," Siddanth instructed. "Wait in the pavilion until I arrive, then you can enter the ground with the team."
"Understood."
Siddanth climbed into the back of his heavily armored NEXUS SUV. Rahul, his PA, sat in the front passenger seat, signaling the driver. The vehicle smoothly merged onto the Outer Ring Road, heading toward the ITC Kakatiya hotel, the official base camp for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
---
When Siddanth walked into the exclusive, privately booked lounge area of the hotel, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The room was buzzing with international stars, domestic rookies, and support staff. But the moment the Captain walked in, a sense of respect washed over the room.
Sitting on a plush sofa, holding a cup of coffee, was David Warner. The explosive Australian opener, and Siddanth's trusted Vice-Captain, immediately stood up. But instead of a standard greeting, Warner had a look of dramatic betrayal on his face.
"Mate!" Warner boomed loudly, walking over and throwing his arms around Siddanth. "You break the internet with a secret, blockbuster proposal video, and your own Vice-Captain has to find out by scrolling Twitter?! I thought we were brothers!"
The entire lounge erupted into laughter.
"Sorry, Davey," Siddanth chuckled, patting the Australian's back. "It was a closely guarded secret."
"It better have been," Warner complained playfully. "But I'm telling you right now, I demand a VIP invitation to the bachelor party. And I expect it to be legendary."
"I'll put you on the guest list," Siddanth promised.
He moved through the room, greeting the squad. It was a formidable lineup. He shook hands with Moises Henriques and welcomed Ben Cutting, whose raw power was a massive addition.
He then spotted a familiar, wiry figure playing a game of chess on his phone in the corner. Yuzvendra Chahal, the wily leg-spinner.
"Captain!" Chahal called out, standing up. "Congratulations on the World Cup and the engagement! The whole country is talking about you."
"Thanks, Yuzi," Siddanth smiled, shaking his hand. "Hope you've been working on your flippers. The pitches in Hyderabad are going to grip this year."
"Always ready, skip," Chahal winked.
Siddanth then walked over to a young, exceptionally talented wicket-keeper batsman. Sanju Samson stood up respectfully.
"Welcome to the Orange Army, Sanju," Siddanth said, shaking his hand warmly. "Settle in. We have a lot of work to do this season."
"Thank you, Sid bhai," Samson replied, his eyes shining with genuine excitement. "It's an honor to play under you."
Finally, Siddanth approached the far corner of the lounge. Sitting quietly was Dale Steyn.
The South African fast-bowling legend had struggled with injuries and form over the last year. During the retention window, Tom Moody and VVS Laxman had suggested releasing Steyn to free up international slots and budget. But Siddanth had placed a hard veto on the decision.
"You don't buy Dale Steyn just for his current form," Siddanth had told the management. "You keep him because having Dale Steyn in the dressing room talking to our young Indian pacers about seam position is worth more than any price tag."
Steyn stood up as Siddanth approached, offering a firm, deeply respectful handshake.
"Congratulations on the World Cup, Sid," Steyn said, his intense eyes softening slightly. "And... thank you. I know the management wanted to move in a different direction this year. I appreciate you backing me."
"You don't need to thank me, Dale," Siddanth replied sincerely. "Form is temporary, class is permanent. We have a lot of young fast bowlers here. They need to learn what it means to be ruthless. There is no one better to teach them that than you."
Steyn nodded slowly, a renewed fire lighting up in his eyes. "I won't let you down, Skip."
Ten minutes later, Tom Moody called the entire squad into the adjoining conference room. After the coaches discussed logistics, Moody yielded the floor to the Captain.
Siddanth stood at the front of the room. He didn't use a whiteboard. He simply made eye contact with every single player.
"In 2014, we built a fortress." Siddanth's voice was calm, but carried a cold, undeniable weight. "Last year, we fell short. This year, we are taking our trophy back. We play for the badge on the front, not the name on the back. We are a family, but on that pitch, we are a firing squad. Let's get to work."
The room erupted into applause, the energy instantly shifting to absolute readiness.
---
The following morning, the sun beat down heavily on the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. The SRH squad had taken over the practice facilities.
Over by the spin nets, Siddanth stood observing Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal was tossing the ball up beautifully, inviting the domestic batsmen to drive, before dipping the ball late to catch the outside edge.
"Good flight, Yuzi," Siddanth called out. "Don't be afraid to get hit for a boundary. If you toss it above their eyeline, you force the false shot. Keep them guessing."
Siddanth then moved toward the wicket-keeping drills. Sanju Samson was practicing taking throws from the deep. Siddanth motioned for the fielding coach to pause the drill and walked over to the young player.
"Sanju, walk with me for a second," Siddanth said.
Samson took off his helmet, following the captain to the side of the nets.
"Everyone in the media praises your batting," Siddanth began, his tone highly analytical. "They talk about your timing and your power. But I want to be very clear with you... I bought you at the auction for your gloves."
Samson looked slightly surprised. "My keeping, bhai?"
"Yes," Siddanth nodded. "Keeping comes first for me. From behind the stumps, you have the best seat in the house. You see the entire field. You can read the pitch better than anyone, you can watch the batsman's feet move, and you can see the bowler's revolutions out of the hand."
Siddanth placed a hand on Samson's shoulder. "I want you to concentrate on mastering your keeping first. I want you to learn how to read the flow and momentum of the game from behind the stumps. If you can read the game defensively as a keeper, your cricket IQ will double. And when your cricket IQ doubles, your batting will naturally elevate to a world-class level without you even trying. Read the game, Sanju. Don't just react to it."
(A/N: I prefer a world-class keeper who knows Batting, than a world-class batter who knows keeping)
"I understand, Captain. I'll focus on the gloves."
"Good," Siddanth smiled.
Siddanth then walked over to the main fast-bowling nets.
In the adjacent net, Arjun Tendulkar was steaming in from the top of his mark.
Siddanth watched the young left-armer closely.
Two years ago, Arjun's action had been slightly raw, his run-up lacking rhythm. But Siddanth had given him a strict training regimen.
Arjun hit the crease. His front arm pulled down sharply, his wrist snapped, and the ball rocketed down the pitch, angling beautifully across the batsman, beating the outside edge by an inch.
Siddanth nodded quietly. The pace had visibly increased, likely touching the mid-130s now. His line and length were highly disciplined. It wasn't great yet, but it was undeniably good.
A few feet away, Tom Moody and VVS Laxman were also watching the adjacent net.
"Is that Sachin's boy?" Moody asked, lowering his sunglasses.
"Yes," VVS Laxman replied. "Sid brought him in last year. But look at his seam presentation now. It's incredibly upright."
"He's grown into his frame," Moody observed. "Pace is up. He's got potential."
"Alright, boys, gather up!" the bowling coach called out. "Target practice. Yorkers only. Base of the middle stump."
A single stump was placed in the empty net. The elite pace battery of SRH lined up: Siddanth Deva, Dale Steyn, Trent Boult, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Siddarth Kaul.
Bhuvneshwar went first, delivering a dipping yorker that clipped the base. Steyn fired a 145 kmph missile that missed by a fraction of an inch. Boult crashed the ball into the lower half of the wood.
Then, it was Siddanth's turn.
Siddanth jogged in, bowling at a controlled 135 kmph, focusing purely on precision.
He released the ball. CRACK.
The ball hit the exact dead-center base of the stump, violently uprooting it.
The coach reset the stump. Siddanth walked back, turned, and bowled again. CRACK. Exact same spot.
He did it a third time. Then a fourth. Then a fifth. He bowled ten deliveries. Every single ball, without missing by a millimeter, landed precisely on the base of the middle stump. It was flawless repetition that defied human error.
The domestic players watching from the sidelines were mesmerized. Siddarth Kaul shook his head in disbelief. Even Dale Steyn raised an eyebrow, deeply impressed.
"Right, I think the stump has had enough, Sid," Tom Moody chuckled.
Siddanth walked over to sit on the cooling boxes next to VVS Laxman and Moody.
"He's improved," Moody noted, gesturing toward Arjun Tendulkar in the adjacent net. "Compared to last year, it's night and day."
"Yeah," Siddanth nodded, grabbing a water bottle. "He's put in the hard yards."
VVS Laxman leaned in, lowering his voice. "Sid... what do you think about signing him?"
Siddanth paused.
"We have an open spot for a domestic uncapped player," Moody added. "We need a backup left-arm seamer. Having him in a professional environment for two months will accelerate his development immensely."
Siddanth looked at both men. He didn't immediately advocate for the boy.
"It's up to you guys," Siddanth stated objectively, stepping into his role as Captain. "I will be biased because I've been a mentor to him. You evaluate him strictly on his cricketing merit. If you think he has potential, you sign him. I will support whatever decision you make."
Moody and Laxman exchanged a look of respect for his professional integrity.
"He has a high ceiling," Moody finally said. "We sign him. But we have to be clear: he is a developmental prospect. We will not guarantee him any game time this season. He is here to learn, carry drinks, and bowl in the nets."
"That's perfectly fair," Siddanth nodded.
"Alright," Laxman smiled. "Since he's under eighteen, we'll need his legal guardian to sign the contract."
Siddanth grinned. "I'll make the call."
Siddanth walked toward the quieter pavilion area. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Sid. How is the camp going?" Sachin Tendulkar's calm voice answered.
"Going well, paaji," Siddanth smiled. "Actually, I'm calling because Tom Moody and VVS Bhai have been watching Arjun bowl. They want to officially sign him to the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for this season."
Silence hung on the line.
"They want to sign him?" Sachin finally asked, his voice thick with pride.
"Yes, paaji. But I have to be completely transparent. They see him as a developmental prospect. They are not guaranteeing him any game time this season."
"That is exactly what he needs," Sachin said firmly. "He needs to earn his stripes. Being in that dressing room... it is the greatest opportunity. Thank you, Sid."
"Don't thank me, paaji. I stayed completely out of the decision." Siddanth grinned mischievously. "I have to ask, though... isn't the Mumbai Indians management going to be furious? The son of the MI Icon playing for Hyderabad?"
Sachin burst out laughing. "Let them be mad! If they wanted him, they should have scouted him. Don't worry about Mumbai, I will handle them."
"Perfect. Can you come down to Hyderabad to sign the contract as his guardian?"
"I'll fly down tomorrow morning with Anjali," Sachin promised.
"Excellent. And paaji... let's keep it a surprise for Arjun."
---
The next morning, the lobby of the ITC Kakatiya was in a state of pandemonium.
The moment Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali stepped out of their luxury sedan, the hotel staff and guests abandoned their posts. A massive mob instantly formed for selfies. Sachin gracefully navigated the chaos, protected by security, and made his way to the fourth floor.
Siddanth was waiting outside the executive boardroom. He respectfully touched their feet.
"Thank you, Siddanth. For everything you've done for him," Anjali Tendulkar smiled, placing a deeply affectionate hand on his cheek.
"Come on inside, ma'am. The management is waiting," Siddanth smiled.
Inside the boardroom, Tom Moody, VVS Laxman, and the SRH owners exchanged warm greetings with the legend.
"Where is he?" Sachin asked.
"He doesn't know you're here, or that we're signing him," Siddanth grinned. "I told him to come to the hotel for a 'party.' He should be here any second."
Fifteen minutes later, the heavy boardroom doors clicked open.
Arjun Tendulkar walked in. He looked up and froze completely.
Sitting at the far end of the table, flanked by the Head Coach and the franchise management, were his parents.
"Dad? Mom? What... why are you guys here?" Arjun stammered.
Sachin stood up, walking over and placing a heavy hand on the teenager's shoulder. "Arjun. Tom and VVS are very impressed with your progress. Sunrisers Hyderabad wants to officially sign you to their squad for the 2016 IPL season."
Arjun's jaw literally dropped. He looked at his parents, then slowly turned his head to look down the table at Siddanth.
"Sid bhai... is this true?"
Siddanth smiled warmly. "It's true, Arjun. You earned it."
The franchise lawyers quickly slid the official contract across the table. Sachin took a gold pen and formally signed the document, officially making his son a professional cricketer.
Siddanth stood up, reaching under the table. He pulled out a freshly printed, vibrant orange Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey. Emblazoned on the back in bold black letters was ARJUN, and below it, the number 24.
"Put it on," Siddanth instructed.
Arjun pulled the jersey over his head, a massive, disbelieving smile breaking across his face. The SRH media manager stepped into the room with a DSLR camera, snapping the official announcement photo of Arjun standing proudly between his parents and his captain.
---
After the official media duties, Siddanth escorted Sachin, Anjali, and Arjun back to the Shamshabad estate for lunch.
By early evening, the Tendulkars departed for the airport to fly back to Mumbai, while Arjun officially moved into the ITC Kakatiya team hotel.
Siddanth sat in his hotel room working on his Ramayana Project when the phone buzzed.
The caller ID read: S.S. Rajamouli.
"Siddanth, hello!" the director's energetic voice boomed. "I spoke to him. He is extremely intrigued by the animation concept."
"That is great news, sir. When can we meet?"
"Tomorrow evening," Rajamouli confirmed. "He has invited us to his guest house in Jubilee Hills for dinner. Bring your laptop and your test footage."
Rajamouli paused, his tone turning gravely serious.
"Siddanth, one crucial piece of advice. Do not eat lunch tomorrow. If you go to Prabhas's house, he will feed you fifteen different types of Godavari curries, and it is considered a personal insult if you stop eating before you pass out."
Siddanth laughed out loud. "I'll keep that in mind, sir. Send me the location. I'll be there."
---
Breaking the News
At exactly 8:00 PM, the official Sunrisers Hyderabad social media accounts across Twitter and Vibe simultaneously uploaded the picture of Arjun Tendulkar wearing the Orange jersey, standing next to Sachin, Anjali, and Siddanth Deva.
The caption read: The Orange Army grows! Welcoming young left-arm pacer Arjun Tendulkar to the Sunrisers Hyderabad family! 🦅🧡 #OrangeArmy #SRH
The internet exploded instantly.
@CricketCrazy99: WAIT WHAT?! The son of the Mumbai Indians ICON is playing for Hyderabad?! MI management must be punching the air right now! 😭😭😭
@SRH_Fanatic: IN SIDDANTH DEVA WE TRUST! He stole the World Cup, and now he's stealing Mumbai's future! Welcome to the Orange Army, Arjun! 🦅🔥
@MumbaiPaltan_4Life: I feel sick. Seeing a Tendulkar in an Orange jersey feels illegal. Why didn't we scout him?! 💔
@HarshaBhogle (Verified): A wonderful moment for young Arjun Tendulkar. Training under Siddanth Deva, Dale Steyn, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a masterstroke for his development. Wishing him the best! 🏏
@Sachin_RT_FanClub: I feel so old right now. I remember watching him as a toddler in the stands. Now he has an IPL contract! Good luck, Arjun! 🥺
@VirenderSehwag (Verified): The Tendulkar legacy continues! But Arjun, remember, your captain hits 150kph in the nets... wear a good helmet! 😂🔥
@CricketMemeLord: Mumbai Indians owners frantically calling Sachin right now like: "Sir, what is the meaning of this?!" 💀
@BoriaMajumdar (Verified): Huge news! Arjun Tendulkar officially signs his first IPL contract. With Dale Steyn in the SRH dressing room, the young left-armer will learn from the best.
@MI_Blood: This is a betrayal! (Just kidding, happy for the kid. But he better come back to Mumbai next year!) 😡💙
@CricBuzz (Verified): Breaking: Arjun Tendulkar joins Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 17-year-old pacer will train under Captain Siddanth Deva for the 2016 season. Read more...
@Rahul_Cricks: The power of that photograph. The God of Cricket and the Devil of Cricket in one frame, handing over the jersey. Iconic. 📸🔥
@Sunrisers_Hyd_Official: The future looks bright. Welcome home, Arjun. 🧡🦅