Chapter 63: The Metronome vs. The Maverick
The first thing that hit Aryan was not the heat, nor the pressure, but the noise.
Ranji Trophy matches were played to the polite applause of a few hundred die-hards and the chirping of birds. Even the U19 World Cup had a respectful distance between the players and the crowd. But the IPL? The IPL was a sensory assault.
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium was awash in blue. Flags waved frantically, trumpets blared a chaotic rhythm, and for the first time in Indian cricket history, music thumped through massive speakers during the overs. A DJ was spinning Bollywood tracks while cheerleaders pom-pommed on podiums. It felt less like a sport and more like a gladiatorial carnival.
"Welcome to the circus, boys," Shane Warne yelled over the thumping bass of Chak De India.
