Ankur Vikal

Mantra is pushed into the corner as she negotiates impossible odds; match-fixing rears its ugly head, but the stakes are a lot more than mere money; Imaad's stellar performance in the previous match results in his biggest nightmare.

The second game against Pakistan is a crucible of interference from the outside as the powers that be activate a game behind the game; the players must battle the opposition on the field and outside of it.

It's time for scores to be settled; victory at all costs: using compassion or subterfuge, using words or bullets.

Mantra goes public with her campaign; Zarina is on the verge of true power, only to be challenged by an unexpected contender at the last minute; the Indian team resents its new rookie.

It's the first test between India and Pakistan; politics of a familiar kind take centre stage and throw a spanner in the works, affecting everyone from the players to the broadcasters.

As India take on Pakistan in the final test, the gentleman's game is incinerated, giving rise to a new cricketing order from its ashes.