CHAPTER 85: JOURNEY FROM THE AUCTION – A HISTORIC BUY

During the auction day,the atmosphere inside Mumbai’s Grand Hyatt was electric. The most elite cricket franchises had gathered, their owners seated in private war rooms, strategizing every move of the ILP 2025 Auction.

Months of planning, scouting, and forecasting led to this very moment. Every bid, every paddle raised, and every signed contract had the power to reshape an entire season.

Analysts, former cricketers, and fans worldwide were tuned in, following live updates on what was already becoming one of the most exciting auctions in ILP history.

The auction had seen some massive signings already:

▸ Rithik Sharma – snagged by Chennai Kings for ₹7.5 Crore.

▸ James Buttler – Mumbai Mavericks secured him for ₹9 Crore.

▸ Hardik Pandyaa – Returning to Gujarat Guardians for ₹10 Crore.

But despite these major purchases, the room bristled with anticipation for one particular name.

The screen flashed:

"Next up – RAJ (Base Price ₹50 Lakhs)"

A murmur spread through the hall. Franchise owners exchanged glances, while coaches whispered last-minute calculations to their analytics teams.

Would Royal Commanders Bangalore (RCB) make their move?

Would Raj go to Mumbai or become a Kolkata Titans marquee player?

The auctioneer adjusted his glasses.

"Bidding starts now."

The Anticipation Before the Bid

The tension skyrocketed.

Raj was one of the biggest young prospects, having dominated domestic tournaments and put up jaw-dropping stats in international fixtures.

Aggressive batting style – Strike rate of 145+ in T20s.

Calculated leadership skills – Led his state team to victory in three consecutive seasons.

Adaptability – Played multiple roles—finisher, middle-order anchor, even temporary opener.

But there was one problem—Raj had never played ILP before.

Some franchises were hesitant—could he handle the intensity of the league? Others saw potential—he was a future star, a game-changer, a player who could become an ILP icon.

Harsha Bhogle on Live Analysis:

"We know Raj is talented, but can he handle the pressure of ILP? Some big names flopped under pressure before."

Gautam Gambhir disagreed:

"Raj is a rare find—he has leadership instincts that remind me of Dhoni. ILP teams would be foolish not to go all-in."

Ravi Shastri smirked:

"The real question isn’t if Raj is ready for ILP. It’s whether ILP is ready for Raj."

The excitement was uncontrollable.

The Bidding Begins

"Base Price: ₹50 Lakhs."

RCB raised their paddle immediately.

"₹1 Crore," the franchise announced.

The room buzzed.

Mumbai Mavericks weren’t going to let it slide.

"₹1.5 Crore!"

RCB fired back.

"₹2 Crore!"

Within seconds, Kolkata Titans joined the battle.

"₹3.1 Crore."

This was a three-way bidding war, and Raj’s value was skyrocketing. His stats, leadership experience, and fearless approach to batting were too tempting to ignore.

RCB hesitated for a brief moment, then made their move:

"₹3.6 Crore!"

Silence.

Mumbai backed off.

Kolkata didn’t counter.

The gavel struck down.

"SOLD! RAJ GOES TO ROYAL COMMANDERS BANGALORE FOR ₹3.6 CRORE!"

RCB fans erupted across social media—"This is our moment!"

Fantasy leagues exploded—Raj became the most picked player overnight.

Experts called it the most strategic buy in ILP history!

Breaking News & Immediate Impact

The media exploded within minutes.

"RCB secures a future star—Raj signs for ₹3.6 Crore!"

"Is Raj the missing piece in RCB’s hunt for the ILP trophy?"

"How will Raj fit into RCB’s batting order?"

Every sports channel debated the move. Would he live up to expectations? Could he handle the pressure?

RCB had spent big money, but was it the smartest decision of the auction?

Raj had one season to prove himself.The ILP 2025 journey had officially begun.

Strategic Thinking Behind Each Franchise’s Interest in Raj

Why RCB wanted Raj?

RCB had struggled with leadership in past seasons, and Raj’s tactical genius was a perfect fit.

Their batting lineup had raw firepower, but Raj could bring structure and balance.

He was young, aggressive, and a captain-in-the-making.

Why Mumbai Mavericks fought for him?

Mumbai wanted an explosive finisher, and Raj had the ability to turn games in death overs.

They lacked an adaptable batter who could anchor innings under pressure.

If Raj worked out, he could become their long-term franchise player.

Why Kolkata Titans entered late?

Kolkata saw an opportunity to break RCB’s bid and disrupt their plans.

They believed Raj was a game-changing middle-order batter who could lift their team.

If they could snag Raj, they’d have a complete batting setup.

The auction wasn’t just about money anymore—it was about strategy, future planning, and franchise wars.

And then came RCB’s game-changing bid—₹3.6 Crore.

The Final Bid – RCB Secures Raj

RCB’s owner leaned forward, locking eyes with the auctioneer.

"₹3.6 Crore."

Silence. Mumbai hesitated.

Kolkata paused.

The auctioneer raised the gavel.

"Going once... going twice..."

BANG!

"SOLD! Raj goes to Royal Commanders Bangalore for ₹3.6 Crore!"

Fans exploded into celebration.

RCB social media went crazy.

Fantasy leagues crashed—Raj was now the most selected player overnight.

Post-Bidding Frenzy – What the Cricketing World Said

Harsha Bhogle: "This changes everything. RCB finally has a proper leader."

Virat Kohlie: "Excited to see Raj in action. Big expectations."

AB D Villiars: "The most interesting buy of the auction. Raj has a lot to prove."

Twitter Trends:

"#RajJoinsRCB"

"#RCBFinallyGetsTheirCaptain"

"#ILP2025BiggestBuy"

Raj had everything he needed—a massive contract, fan hype, and a legendary franchise backing him.

But there was one twist—he wouldn’t be playing immediately.

The ILP world was on fire after Raj’s ₹3.6 Crore signing, but RCB’s decision shocked everyone—he wouldn’t play in the first two matches.

RCB’s existing captain was still leading the team, so Raj had to stay benched until further notice.

Fan Reactions:

"WHY isn’t Raj playing?!"

"We waited for this moment—RCB, let him play!"

"₹3.6 Crore on the bench. This feels criminal."

Media Headlines:

"RCB’s ₹3.6 Crore signing won’t debut immediately—strategy or mistake?"

"Raj waits while RCB fights for their first win."

While fans demanded answers, Raj could only watch from the sidelines.

Match 1: RCB vs Kolkata Titans

RCB walked onto the field for their first match, but Raj stayed seated, wearing his training kit instead of a match jersey.

The stadium cameras zoomed in on him every few minutes, sparking outrage from fans.

Social Media Trends:

"#LetRajPlay"

"#RCBBenchesTheirBiggestSigning"

"#WastedTalent"

RCB struggled against Kolkata Titans, their batting lineup collapsing under pressure. Even Virat Kohlie, their star batter, couldn’t hold the innings together.

Final Score:

RCB: 148/9 (20 Overs)

Kolkata Titans: 149/4 (18.3 Overs)

Result: RCB lost by 6 wickets.

After the match, the post-game interview was awkward.

"We need time to adjust our squad strategy," RCB’s coach said when asked about Raj’s absence.

Fans didn’t buy it.

Match 2: RCB vs Mumbai Mavericks

Two days later, RCB faced Mumbai Mavericks, their toughest rivals. The fans expected Raj to play, but once again—he was on the bench.

Mumbai put massive runs on the board.

Final Score:

Mumbai Mavericks: 182/6 (20 Overs)

RCB: 158/8 (20 Overs)

Result: RCB lost by 24 runs.

RCB was now 0-2 in the tournament, and the criticism was brutal.

Post-Match Headlines:

"RCB in trouble—time for a leadership change?"

"Should Raj finally make his debut?"

"Two losses already—RCB’s title hopes fading?"

This was when everything changed.

The Injury That Changed Everything

During RCB’s second match, disaster struck—their captain suffered a serious hamstring tear while running between the wickets.

Medical staff rushed in. After scans, the verdict was final—RCB’s captain was ruled out for the season.

The dugout fell silent. The coaching staff exchanged nervous glances.

RCB had no choice.They turned to Raj.

Breaking News:

"RCB’s ₹3.6 Crore signing will FINALLY debut!"

"Raj to take over as captain in Match 3—can he turn things around?"

"The most anticipated debut in ILP history is happening!"

From benchwarmer to captain—Raj was about to take charge in his first-ever ILP match.

And as he saw his name in the official match lineup, he whispered:

"This is my moment."

The Raj era officially began.

The Night Before Raj’s Captaincy Debut

The atmosphere inside RCB’s dressing room had changed. Just two days ago, Raj had been watching from the bench, waiting for his moment. Now, he was about to lead the team into a must-win clash against Chennai Kings.

He sat in the captain’s corner, gripping his bat lightly. The expectations were overwhelming:

RCB was 0-2 in the tournament, desperate for a win.

Critics doubted his leadership—would he crack under pressure?

Fans demanded redemption—this was his moment to prove the ₹3.6 Crore price tag was worth it.

His thoughts were interrupted by Virat Kohlie, who pulled up a chair beside him.

"You ready for this?" Kohlie asked.

Raj smirked. "More than ready."

Kohlie nodded in approval.

"Then make sure they know it."

RCB’s Final Strategy Meeting – Battle Plan vs. Chennai Kings

Inside RCB’s strategy room, the coaching staff and players huddled around the whiteboard. Chennai Kings were aggressive, and they had already won two consecutive matches.

Chennai’s Key Threats:

Rithik Sharma – Their opening batter was in unstoppable form.

Deepak Chehar – A master of swing bowling, capable of dismantling top orders.

David Worner – Their tactician, known for exploiting weak captaincy decisions.

"They’re going to test Raj immediately," Coach Mike Hesson warned.

Mohammad Swaraaj, RCB’s lead bowler, nodded.

"I want the ball first. Let’s put them under pressure."

Faf Duflesi leaned in.

"Forget strategy for a second. Just play fearless."

Raj clenched his fists. This was his team now.

"We don’t play to survive. We play to win."

On the other side, Chennai’s squad was already discussing how to break Raj mentally. Their star all-rounder, Rithik Sharma, smirked during a pre-match press conference.

"He’s a ₹3.6 Crore signing, but he hasn’t even played yet. Let’s see if he lasts five overs."

David Worner added fuel to the fire.

"Captain on debut? Sounds like RCB is desperate. We won’t go easy."

The media ran with the headlines:

"Chennai taunts Raj—pressure building before his first match!"

"Is RCB gambling too much on an untested leader?"

Raj saw the interviews later that night. Instead of being rattled, he smiled.

"Let them talk. My bat will do the answering."

The stadium was a sea of red—RCB fans had packed the stands, chanting Raj’s name. He could feel the energy, the tension, the weight of expectations on his shoulders.

The toss happened.

RCB won.

Raj pointed at the pitch and declared: "We bowl first."

The team looked at him in surprise—RCB usually preferred to chase. But Raj wanted to control the game from the start.

As he took his first steps onto the field, he whispered to himself:

"This is my moment."

The ILP 2025 season was now in his hands.

To be continued....