Googly From Hoogly

In the colony of Hoogly was born Suman Ganguly. As he grew up one thing that became noticeable about him was his five fingers, rather tentacles, in his right hand. It seemed as if they were made from rubber but which had the strength of steel. He often amused his friends and family and blew at his tentacles which would pivot from the wrist. One of his uncles thought he could become the next Chandrashekhar, the famous googly exponent of the Indian Cricket of the 70s. This uncle googled and learned all that was available about googly and more he learnt, more he was convinced that Suman would become someone and was destined for greater things.

Suman started with gully cricket and soon his uncle managed him to get him to play for a club. By the time Suman was in his teens at least in the club cricket circles he was talked about for his googlies. It looked like he had a variety of googlies. In cricket parlance, a slower, a faster, a jumpy, a grippy and one that would keep low and the secret ball called googly.

A lucky break came when Dada himself had come for a club final and Suman got a hat trick with his googlies and turned the match upside down. Dada had an eagle eye for talent. It was said he discovered Dhoni. Dada knew he had spotted a googly which he himself could not defend. He whispered excitedly to King of Khan and who happily got him for his league.

Then came the IPL 2019. Suman was unleashed with his battery of googlies on the opponent batsman. Until then, Suman was known only in club circles of Kolkata. Overnight he had become famous. Shane 'Warne'd of a googly exponent in the offing that would change cricket and he himself offered to coach Suman. So, it happened to be the do or die match against Mumbai Indians. The Knight Riders had to win this match. Mumbai was cruising nicely against the Riders when the captain took time out. Four overs left, Mumbai had 5 wickets in hand and had to score 40 runs. Suman had already bowled 3 overs and went without a wicket for 30 runs. When the play resumed the captain tossed the ball to Suman and said-"Get me wickets". The first ball of the overplayed defensively but a single was taken. Second ball, a slow googly the batsmen heaved and the ball took the edge of the bat and the wicketkeeper gloved it safely. Then walked in new batsmen famous for playing spin. He was greeted with a faster googly and the stump was hit. Eden Gardens was in raptures. King Khan was thanking Allah. Will Suman get his first hat-trick in IPL? Third- ball was a jumpy googly and the ball hit the top edge of the bat and flew to the wicketkeeper. Suman made history and the match was won. From 'someone' he had now become Suman Googly as Dada had nicknamed him after this match.

The chief selector with his selection team and the Indian Captain to finalize the Indian team for the ODI world cup 2019, replayed Suman’s over. They were deciding the last member to be included. He had not seen anything like this over in any match in his lifetime. Shane’s warning was right. Suman would change cricket. He gave the final nod. The Captain was pleased. Suman would be his Brahmastra which would be selectively leashed on the opponents.

World Cup, 2019, England

Semi-finals India Vs Australia

Khwaja was walking back to the pavilion and singing “Maula mere lele meri jaan” as he was comprehensively beaten by a Suman googly, the score read Australia 45 for 2 at the end of 12 overs a very modest start in reply to India’s competitive total of 278. Suman had claimed a wicket in his very first ball. In walked the whitesmith and Warner was batting with him. Googlies flew like sparks and the whitesmith never knew what was on the anvil. Every time he tried to strike at the ball he missed. Ex-Captain cool was barely able to suppress his giggles as he enjoyed the torment of Whitesmith, arguably one of the best batsmen in the world, all at sea, by the googlies of Suman. Dhoni signalled to Suman, a secret code both Suman and he had developed together. Suman bowled a slower one, the ball seemed to take ages. Whitesmith had made up his mind to break the shackles and Dhoni seemed to have read his mind. The bat was a nanosecond too quick for the ball in its arch. The ball took the edge of the lower bat and flew safely into the hands of Dhoni. The match was almost over, Dhoni thought for himself.

Pichai of Google pitched on offer that googled Suman and he became the mascot of the Google. The deal was such it was still being discussed as to who googled whom.