Act - 2 (Scene 1 to 4)

Premise: The second test match at Mohali culminates in a thumping victory for the Indians. Turning point of the match was Dada and Dhoni’s 1st innings partnership and the vital breakthroughs provided by rookie Amit Mishra.

Scene 1:
Celebrations post-victory, Mohali.

India wins.
Dhoni takes one of the stumps and walks towards the dressing room happily. His moment of happiness is rudely cut short by Dada who yanks away the stump from him.

Dada : "Teri to! Maine sau run banaye aur mujhe hi souvenir nahi milega?"(English translation: I have scored a century against the Aussies. I deserve the stump as a souvenir)

Dhoni (with a fake smile and almost whispering): "Abey chod! Yeh mera hai."(English translation: Mate, Leave it! It’s mine)

Dhoni is aware of the millions of people staring at him through their television sets.

Dhoni (to himself): "Aila! Yeh sab to camera pe aa raha hoga. Mujhe captain banna hai to kurbani to deni hi pagedi. Warna people will think, I am selfish." (English translation: The camera is capturing all these moments. In order to be made captain, I should not be shy of little sacrifices)

Millions of hearts melt viewing such a magnanimous gesture (presenting the stump to Dada) by Captain Cool Dhoni.
In a random town, a random girl is busy munching her chips, and gushing out tears of joy.

Camera captures Gary’s glowing white teeth and Chika’s Jack-in-the-Box celebrations.

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Scene 2:
Team Meeting, Restaurant, Mohali.

Ponting: "We got kicked, stamped and what not on our balls royally! I cannot even feel mine."

Ponting keeps ranting. Team members look at each other and smile.

Tim Nielsen: "My very good friend, Bishen Bedi has agreed to coach our spinners."

Clarke (seemingly annoyed at the suggestion): "Will he render the same services as Greg Chappell did for our batting? Render it useless?"

Tim Nielsen (pretending having not heard the remark): "Spinners, be ready at 16:00 hrs tomorrow."

Silence.

Waiter: "Have you decided the main course?"

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Scene 3:
Practice ground, Delhi

Bishen Bedi: "Spin is an art which is international. It’s not Indian, or Pakistani, or Australian…
But, East or West, I am the best.. Ha ha ha. So you guys are ready to learn from the Guru?"

Kretjza (excitedly): "Yes. I am ready."

Bedi: "Who are you? I am here only to train the Aussie spinners."

Clarke trudges forward.

Clarke: "He is one of us."

Bedi (sarcastically): "Where is your lead spinner?"

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Scene 4:
In a dream, Hotel Room.

Tim Nielsen (dressed up as Devil, with red curved horns - more like that of an antelope’s): "Spinners, be ready at 16:00 hrs tomorrow"

White (smiles and says to himself): "Thank God! I can rest tomorrow. I am not a spinner. I am a batsman. Heck, I don’t even consider myself qualified to bowl for the team, Victoria, that I captain."

Ponting (dressed up as an angel, chewing his nails): "No worries mate! You are the best spinner I have on this tour. You are playing Match 3."

White rests on Ponting’s lap, smiling to himself.

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To be continued…

Cheers,
Rosh