Chapter 31 : Meeting

Chapter 31

A few days had passed since the auction, but the buzz surrounding Advay's record-breaking ₹11 crore signing with Royal Challengers Bangalore still hadn't died down. Every cricket analyst, fan, and journalist had something to say about it.

That afternoon, as Advay was going through his training routine at home, his phone buzzed with a new email from RCB management.

Subject: Welcome to RCB – Team Meeting Invitation

Dear Advay,

We're excited to have you as part of Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming IPL season! As part of our pre-season preparation, we're holding an online team meeting today at 6:00 PM IST.

The call will include team management, coaching staff, and key players, where we'll introduce new signings, discuss training plans, and set expectations for the season. Please join the meeting using the link below.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Regards,

RCB Management

Advay smirked slightly as he read the email.

Aditi, who had been sitting nearby, noticed his reaction. "What now? Another million-dollar deal?"

Advay shook his head. "RCB meeting. I'll be meeting the team today."

Aditi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Imagine logging into a Zoom call and seeing Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle just sitting there."

Advay chuckled. "We'll see who's there."

Later that evening, at exactly 6:00 PM, he sat at his desk, clicked the meeting link, and joined the call.

The screen loaded for a second before multiple video windows appeared—one by one, the faces of RCB's biggest stars popped up.

At the top of the screen, Virat Kohli was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, looking relaxed yet focused. Beside him, AB de Villiers had his signature easygoing smile, while in another window, Yuzvendra Chahal was already cracking jokes with someone off-screen. Further down, Chris Gayle, sporting his iconic sunglasses indoors, gave a casual nod as more players joined.

And then, all eyes turned to Advay Rai—the youngest and most expensive uncapped player in IPL history.

As the video call settled, the atmosphere was lively, with players casually chatting amongst themselves. The RCB management had also joined, but it was Virat Kohli who took charge, sitting with his signature confident posture.

"Alright, boys, let's get started," Virat said, clapping his hands together. "First off, welcome to all the new signings. We've got some fresh talent joining us this season, and I'm excited to have them on board."

He glanced at the screen, nodding as he listed the names.

"We've got Quinton de Kock behind the stumps, Colin de Grandhomme adding some firepower in the middle, and Umesh Yadav strengthening our pace attack. We also got two of the best young Indian fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini. And, of course—" Virat smirked slightly before continuing, "—the guy everyone's been talking about, our newest batting all-rounder, Advay Rai."

The screen filled with cheers and teasing remarks as players reacted. AB de Villiers smiled and gave a thumbs-up, while Chris Gayle, sitting back in his chair with sunglasses still on, chuckled.

"Big money player, huh?" Gayle smirked. "Eleven crores, maaan… even I didn't get that much in my first season."

Before Advay could respond, Yuzvendra Chahal jumped in with a grin. "Bro, do you even need to play? With that much money, just chill at home and let us do the hard work."

The group burst into laughter, while Advay simply smirked. "I'll play, don't worry. And I'll make sure I don't let you take all the wickets either."

Chahal dramatically held his chest. "Oye, did you hear that? The rookie is already coming after me!"

"Not my fault if you get hit for sixes," Advay added casually.

The entire call erupted in laughter, while Chahal threw his hands up. "Yaar, this guy is dangerous. Virat bhai, what have you brought into this team?"

Virat, grinning, leaned forward. "Well, we're about to find out soon enough."

As the laughter died down, Virat continued. "Alright, now that we're all here, let's talk about something fun. Who are you guys most looking forward to playing with this season?"

Chris Gayle stretched lazily. "For me? Always excited to smash bowlers alongside AB and Virat. But I wanna see how this kid—" he pointed at Advay, "—handles the heat. You ready for IPL pressure, young man?"

Advay smirked. "I don't feel pressure. I apply it."

A loud "Ooooooh!" echoed across the call, with several players laughing and nodding in approval.

Virat chuckled. "I like that."

AB de Villiers spoke up next. "For me, I'm looking forward to batting with Quinton. Two South Africans in the top order could be fun."

Navdeep Saini and Umesh Yadav both agreed they were excited to bowl alongside each other, while Quinton de Kock simply shrugged. "I just want to see Chahal get hit for sixes."

The team roared with laughter again as Chahal buried his face in his hands. "Bhai, why is everyone targeting me today?"

Virat shook his head with a smile. "Alright, alright, let's keep this going. Advay, what about you? Who are you most looking forward to playing with?"

Advay leaned back, thinking for a moment before smirking. "I'd say Virat bhai and AB. If I'm opening with either of them, it's going to be destruction from ball one."

Virat nodded approvingly. "That's the attitude I want to hear."

AB de Villiers grinned. "Well then, let's make sure that happens."

Chahal, still riding the wave of laughter from all the teasing, suddenly grinned mischievously. "Alright, enough about the present. Let's talk about the past. Everyone here had a player they grew up watching and wanted to imitate, right?"

The group murmured in agreement, and Chahal clapped his hands together. "Then let's go around. Who was that player for you?"

Chris Gayle stretched his arms and smirked. "Easy. Brian Lara. Smoothest left-handed batsman ever. I used to copy his backlift all day long as a kid."

AB de Villiers smiled. "For me, it was Jacques Kallis. I wanted to be an all-rounder like him, strong in both batting and bowling."

Virat nodded. "Mine was Sachin Tendulkar. No surprise there. I watched all his matches, tried to copy his straight drive a thousand times in front of the mirror."

Chahal turned toward Umesh Yadav. "And you?"

Umesh grinned. "Zaheer Khan. The way he swung the ball both ways, I wanted to do that."

Navdeep Saini joined in. "Dale Steyn. His aggression, pace, and outswingers… man, I used to watch his spells and dream about bowling like that."

One by one, the players shared their childhood inspirations—Quinton de Kock mentioned Adam Gilchrist, Colin de Grandhomme named Brendon McCullum, and even the coaching staff chimed in with their own favorites.

Then Chahal smirked and turned toward Advay. "Alright, kid. You're up. Who did you idolize growing up?"

Everyone looked at Advay, curious about his answer.

Advay leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Well… when I was really young, maybe six or seven, I was a huge fan of Sunil Gavaskar."

A few players raised their eyebrows in surprise, and Virat chuckled. "Gavaskar? That's an old-school pick."

Advay nodded. "Yeah. My dad used to show me his innings, and I admired how he faced the best fast bowlers of his era without a helmet. That kind of grit stuck with me."

Chahal grinned. "And then? Gavaskar's style doesn't quite match the way you play now."

Advay smirked. "That's because by the time I was 14 or 15, my entire game changed. I became a huge fan of Jasprit Bumrah and AB de Villiers."

AB de Villiers raised an eyebrow in interest. "Oh? That's an interesting mix."

Advay nodded. "I used to watch Bumrah's yorkers every day, studying how he bowled them under pressure. I'd go to the nets and practice them again and again. But my real obsession was AB's batting."

The camera focused on AB as he smiled, clearly intrigued.

Advay continued. "I watched every possible highlight of AB—his scoops, reverse sweeps, 360-degree shots. Every evening, I'd go to practice and try to imitate his shots. I kept failing at first, but I didn't stop until I got them right."

Chahal whistled. "So, you basically tried to become AB?"

Advay smirked. "Tried. Still trying."

AB de Villiers grinned. "Well, that's quite the compliment. Let's see how well you've copied me when we hit the nets."

The group chuckled, while Chahal leaned back, satisfied. "Alright, I like this. This season, we'll call him 'Baby ABD.'"

Virat laughed. "If he plays like him, I don't care what we call him—as long as he wins us matches."

The conversation was still lively when someone on the call, possibly Umesh Yadav, chuckled and said, "Wait, wait. Advay, I gotta ask—why Gavaskar? I mean, he retired way before you were even born. Most kids your age grew up idolizing Sachin or Kohli."

The question made the others nod in agreement. It was rare for someone from this generation to have Sunil Gavaskar as their idol.

Advay leaned back slightly, his expression calm but thoughtful. "It's not just about watching his innings. Gavaskar sir was more than a legend to me—he was like a father figure."

The room went silent for a second. Even Virat, who had been casually listening, sat up a little straighter.

Advay continued, his voice steady. "He was the one who trained me for five years—every single day—from when I was eight years old until I turned thirteen."

The entire RCB squad went completely silent.

Yuzvendra Chahal blinked. "Wait, wait… what? Gavaskar trained you? Like, the actual Sunil Gavaskar?"

AB de Villiers raised an eyebrow. "You trained under one of the greatest batsmen in history for five years? That's insane."

Virat leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Hold on… how did that happen?"

Advay shrugged slightly. "It started when I was eight. He saw potential in me and decided to train me personally. He didn't just teach me batting—he taught me discipline, technique, and the mindset needed to handle pressure. Everything I know about cricket, I learned from him."

Chris Gayle let out a low whistle. "Damn, no wonder you got that much money in the auction."

Chahal shook his head in disbelief. "Bro, I thought you were just some U-19 prodigy, but you've been trained by a literal legend? That's unfair to the rest of us."

Advay smirked. "You're just realizing that now?"

The team burst into laughter, but the respect in their eyes had shifted. This wasn't just a young player with talent—this was someone molded by one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

Virat smiled, nodding. "Well, that explains a lot. If Gavaskar backed you, I have no doubts about you."

AB grinned. "Now I'm even more excited to see you bat in the nets."

The energy in the call had changed. Advay wasn't just the ₹11 crore signing anymore—he was someone who had already earned the respect of some of the greatest cricketers in the world.

A few days had passed since the online team meeting, and Advay had settled into a light training routine at home, keeping himself sharp. Then, one afternoon, as he was finishing up a workout, his phone buzzed with a new email from RCB management.

Subject: RCB Pre-Season Training – Official Invitation

Dear Advay,

We hope you're doing well. As part of our pre-season preparations, we are officially assembling the squad for training at the RCB Training Grounds in Bengaluru on February 10, 2018.

This camp will focus on fitness assessments, net sessions, team strategies, and bonding activities to prepare for the upcoming IPL season. All players are expected to report on time.

Please confirm your availability, and let us know if you need any assistance with travel or accommodations.

Looking forward to seeing you in action!

Regards,

RCB Management

Advay smirked slightly as he read the email. The real work was about to begin.

Aditi, lounging on the couch nearby, noticed his expression and raised an eyebrow. "What now? Another ₹10 crore deal?"

Advay shook his head. "RCB wants me at the training ground on February 10."

Aditi grinned. "Oh, so it's finally happening. You get to show off in front of Kohli and AB."

Advay simply smirked. "I don't need to show off. I just need to play."

He clicked Reply and typed a short response:

Confirmed. See you on February 10.

With that, his journey with Royal Challengers Bangalore was officially about to begin.

February 9, 2019 – Rai Mansion, Bengaluru

The evening sun cast a warm glow through the massive windows of Advay's room as he and Aditi stood amidst a mess of cricket gear, clothes, and travel essentials scattered across the floor. His large duffel bag lay open on the bed, half-packed, while his RCB training kits, shoes, and gloves were neatly stacked beside it.

Aditi sighed dramatically, holding up one of his jerseys. "I swear, you're hopeless at packing. You do realize you're not just going on a vacation, right?"

Advay smirked as he tossed his batting gloves into the bag. "That's why you're helping, isn't it?"

Aditi rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Otherwise, you'd probably show up with just your bat and forget everything else."

She picked up a pair of Advay's RCB training jerseys and folded them before placing them in the bag. "You've got all your cricket gear, right?"

Advay nodded. "Bats, pads, gloves, helmets, everything's in the kit bag."

Aditi paused and smirked. "And what about casual clothes? Or are you planning to wear RCB merch 24/7?"

Advay chuckled. "I wouldn't mind, honestly."

Aditi huffed and went to his wardrobe, pulling out a few casual t-shirts and jeans. "You might as well dress like a human when you're not training." She tossed the clothes into the bag before glancing at him. "By the way, you nervous?"

Advay zipped up his kit bag and shrugged. "Nope."

Aditi raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You're about to train with Kohli, AB, and an entire IPL squad for the first time, and you don't feel even a little pressure?"

Advay smirked slightly. "Pressure is for people who aren't prepared."

Aditi shook her head, laughing. "I should've expected that answer."

Once everything was packed, Aditi looked at him with a teasing grin. "Alright, superstar, all set for your first day as an IPL player?"

Advay slung his kit bag over his shoulder and grinned. "More than ready."

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February 10, 2019. The morning air in Bengaluru was crisp as Advay arrived at the RCB training facility, his cricket bag slung over his shoulder. The towering structure of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium stood before him, a place where legends had played—where he had once been a spectator, dreaming of this very moment.

Now, he was walking in as a player.

Stepping onto the lush green practice grounds, he immediately spotted Virat Kohli near the nets, stretching while chatting with a few coaches. Without hesitation, Advay made his way over.

Virat glanced up, spotting him, and smirked. "Look who finally decided to show up."

Advay returned the smirk. "I was always on time. You're just early."

Virat chuckled, nodding in approval. "Good answer. You look ready." His sharp gaze ran over Advay before he added, "First day in RCB colors. How's it feel?"

Advay shrugged slightly. "I'll let you know after I hit a few balls."

Virat laughed. "That's the attitude I want to hear."

Before Advay could respond, a loud voice cut through the air.

"Aye, the ₹11 crore rookie is finally here!"

Turning around, Advay saw Yuzvendra Chahal striding toward him with his usual mischievous grin. Behind him, other RCB players were filtering in—AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Umesh Yadav, Quinton de Kock—the energy around the ground was electric.

This was it.

His IPL journey had officially begun.

The players stood together in a loose circle near the practice nets, casually chatting and laughing as they waited for the session to begin. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with playful banter and friendly teasing. Advay stood among them, taking in the energy of the team.

Yuzvendra Chahal, always the mischief-maker, suddenly turned toward Advay, eyeing him from head to toe before smirking. "Bro, you don't even look like a cricketer. Too polished. Too clean. You sure you're not a Bollywood actor who accidentally got picked in the auction?"

The group burst into laughter, while Advay simply raised an eyebrow. "You're just saying that because I don't look like I sleep for two hours a night and survive on memes like you."

More laughter followed as Chahal clutched his chest dramatically. "Oye, this one is dangerous. First day, and he's already taking shots at me!"

Umesh Yadav, who had been watching the exchange with amusement, tilted his head slightly, looking at Advay more closely. "Jokes aside, bro… your eyes. They're green. Never seen an Indian with eyes like that."

Some of the other players turned toward Advay, realizing the same thing.

Advay, unfazed, gave a small shrug. "My mom's Russian. She has green eyes too."

There was a brief pause before AB de Villiers grinned. "Russian mother, Indian father, billionaire at 18, U-19 World Cup champion, and now an IPL star. Mate, you've got quite the story."

Chris Gayle chuckled. "No wonder they paid ₹11 crores for you. They weren't just buying a player—they were buying a full movie script."

The group laughed again, and the teasing continued, but beneath it all, there was an undeniable sense of respect. Advay might have been the youngest among them, but he had already earned their curiosity—and soon, he would earn their admiration.

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As the players continued chatting and exchanging playful banter, a group of RCB coaching staff walked onto the field, signaling the start of the session.

Leading them was Gary Kirsten, the head coach, his calm and composed presence instantly drawing attention. Beside him was Ashish Nehra, the bowling coach, known for his sharp cricketing mind and easygoing personality. Strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu followed closely behind, along with a few assistant staff members.

The moment the players noticed them, the laughter and casual conversations died down as they shifted into a more attentive stance.

Gary Kirsten clapped his hands together and smiled. "Alright, gentlemen, welcome back! Good to see all the familiar faces again, and a special welcome to our new signings this year." His eyes moved across the group, landing briefly on Quinton de Kock, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Advay Rai, before he continued.

"This season is a fresh start, and as always, our goal is simple—we play to win. But before we get into the specifics of training, I want to hand it over to our captain, Virat Kohli, to talk about the expectations for this year's IPL."

He turned to Virat, who took a step forward, hands on his hips, his sharp eyes scanning the team. The easygoing demeanor he had a few moments ago was now replaced with intensity and leadership.

Virat took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, boys. New season, same mission." His voice was steady, filled with authority. "We all know what this team is capable of, and we also know that we haven't won the IPL yet. This year, that has to change."

The players listened intently as he continued. "I don't care about past failures, and I don't care about outside noise. What I care about is how we play as a unit. We have the firepower. We have the experience. And now, we have fresh talent coming in." He briefly glanced at the new players, including Advay.

"This season, there are no excuses. If we want to lift that trophy, we give everything in every match, every session, every ball. That's the kind of cricket I expect from each of you."

The intensity in his words was enough to send chills through the team. Even the most senior players, like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, nodded in agreement, fully locked in.

Virat's gaze hardened. "If you wear this jersey, you don't just play—you fight. You don't just show up—you dominate. Every team that faces us should know they're in for a battle."

He took a step back and crossed his arms. "That's the expectation this season. If you're not up for it, you're in the wrong team."

A brief silence followed before Gary Kirsten smiled slightly. "Well said, Virat."

Ashish Nehra grinned. "Guess we better get to work, then."

The team let out a few chuckles, but the tone for the season had been set. RCB wasn't here to participate. They were here to win.

The practice session was in full swing, with players rotating between the batting and bowling nets, working under the sharp eyes of the coaching staff. Gary Kirsten, the head coach, along with Ashish Nehra, observed closely, making corrections where necessary. Some players worked on their footwork, others fine-tuned their shots, and the bowlers focused on their line and length.

When it was Advay's turn to bat, a noticeable shift occurred. A few players, led by Chahal and Chris Gayle, gathered around the nets, playfully teasing him.

"Aye, ₹11 crore player, let's see if you're worth it!" Chahal grinned, folding his arms.

Chris Gayle chuckled. "Pressure's on, young man. Show us something special."

AB de Villiers smirked from a distance. "Let's see if you really did spend years imitating me."

Advay just shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he picked up his bat and walked into the net.

Unbeknownst to him, Gary Kirsten had started walking toward the practice area. The head coach had been keen to gauge Advay's true ability firsthand, and this was the perfect chance. He stood near the net, arms crossed, eyes sharp as he watched the young batsman take his stance.

The first few deliveries were standard practice balls—good length, testing his footwork. Advay played them with ease, getting a feel for the bounce.

Then, the bowlers upped the intensity.

The next delivery was short and fast—a clear attempt to see how he handled pace.

Advay rocked back instantly, leaning into a controlled uppercut, sending the ball soaring over the fielders in the deep. A perfect ramp shot over third man.

A few murmurs broke out around the nets.

The next ball was full and outside off-stump. Without hesitation, Advay shuffled across and scooped it over fine leg, almost effortlessly.

Gary Kirsten raised an eyebrow.

AB de Villiers, watching from the side, grinned. "Okay… that looked familiar."

The bowler, slightly frustrated, went for a yorker, trying to pin him down. But Advay was ready—he anticipated it early, moved inside the crease, and scooped it straight over the wicketkeeper's head for another boundary.

Chris Gayle let out a laugh. "Boy's got guts!"

Even Virat, who had been watching quietly, now had a small, impressed smile on his face.

Gary Kirsten finally spoke, stepping closer to Advay. "Your shot selection is interesting. Controlled aggression. But let's tighten up a few things."

For the next few minutes, Gary gave him technical pointers, minor adjustments to his positioning and bat swing. Advay absorbed it all, adjusting quickly and applying the corrections immediately.

But even as Gary coached him, more than a few players couldn't shake the feeling—his style, movements, reflexes… they were eerily similar to AB de Villiers.

Chahal nudged AB. "Bro… you sure you don't have a long-lost younger brother?"

AB de Villiers just grinned, watching Advay play another audacious scoop. "If I do, I think we just found him."

After his impressive batting session, Advay was handed the ball and asked to bowl. Ashish Nehra had been closely observing the practice and decided to test him against two of the best in the business—Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle.

"Alright, Advay," Nehra said, tossing him a new ball. "You've shown us your shots, now let's see how well you can bowl."

Advay smirked, taking the ball in his hands, rolling it between his fingers.

Chahal grinned from the sidelines. "Oh, this should be fun. ₹11 crore bowler now?"

Gary Kirsten, still nearby, folded his arms, interested in seeing how Advay performed with the ball. Most people assumed he was just a batting all-rounder, someone who could roll his arm over occasionally. But nobody really knew what to expect.

As Virat and Gayle took their positions at the crease, Nehra stepped closer to Advay. "Alright, let's see what you got. Just focus on rhythm and execution."

Advay gave a small nod, turned, and took his run-up stance.

The moment he started running in, a noticeable shift occurred. His short, explosive run-up, his upright posture—it was eerily similar to Jasprit Bumrah's, but there was something different about the way he approached the crease.

Then came the release.

The first ball was a searing full-length delivery at 142 kmph, swinging in sharply toward Virat. Virat barely had time to adjust, managing only a soft block as the ball zipped past his bat.

A moment of silence.

Gayle raised an eyebrow. Virat stepped back, adjusting his gloves, giving Advay a long, thoughtful look.

"Not bad," Virat said, smirking. "Didn't expect that much pace."

But before anyone could react, Advay was already steaming in for the next ball.

This time, it was short and fast, climbing up into Gayle's body at 144 kmph. Gayle, caught slightly off guard, mistimed his pull, the ball hitting high on his bat and dropping near his feet.

Chris Gayle let out a small chuckle. "Okay now… this kid's serious."

The bowlers standing around—Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, and Mohammed Siraj—were watching closely now. This wasn't just a part-time bowler. This was a proper fast bowler.

Ashish Nehra rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing as he analyzed Advay's action. The way he generated pace effortlessly, the clean wrist position, and the sheer aggression in his delivery—it wasn't just Bumrah's influence.

His bowling style, the way he attacked, the way he released the ball—it was like watching Dale Steyn reincarnated.

Virat and Gayle exchanged a glance, both slightly stunned.

"Hold on, hold on," Virat said, grinning. "They told me you were a batting all-rounder. But you're bowling like a guy who's played five years of international cricket."

Chris Gayle let out a deep laugh, shaking his head. "Damn. I was expecting some decent medium pace, but this? This is raw pace, boy."

Ashish Nehra clapped his hands together. "Alright, alright. Now I'm interested. Advay, you and I need to have a long chat after this session."

Advay simply smirked, rolling the ball between his fingers, unfazed by the reactions.

He wasn't just here to prove himself.

He was here to dominate.