Sunil Gupta the author of ‘Final Innings’ was my bosses’ boss and the head of Delhi Branch of HTA in the Nineties. The address of the biggest agency in Delhi read; Above the Ball Bearing Market, Rani Jhansi Road, Jhandewalan, New Delhi.
Sunil Gupta, a strict no-nonsense person approached advertising, cricket, bridge and theatre with the same passion. Not surprising that his first book was, ‘Living at the ADGE, Jhande Walan Thompson’. The second book, ‘FINAL INNINGS’ is set around the game of Cricket with a touch of advertising and political theatre thrown in. There is Drama, Romance, a bit of religion and enough of cricket in it.
Sunil love with cricket meant that the game got enough funding at HTA Delhi. The office team played almost every weekend during the season and even travelled outstation for matches. The team was regular ay the Media TransAsia Trophy played between media agencies, publishers and printers, and the team won it a few times. In one of the friendly matches played at the Saket Sports Complex, I made what many called a Career Limiting Move. I gave Sunil Gupta OUT, LBW.
The Nineties were the golden period of advertising. HTA Delhi was at the centre of it. The HTA crowd from that period still bonds on Facebook and keeps the memories alive. How event and parties like Vamps and Villains kept the HTA team charged. The office on the first and second floor buzzed with advertising during the daytime. At night, it was rumoured that a Ghost walked the client servicing floor. All that some other day.
FINAL INNINGS
Naturally, when Sunil Gupta’s second book ‘Final Innings’ cover was shared in the JHANDEWALON group on WhatsApp, I did not wait to order it. Last week, the 461 pages thick book published with Notion Press landed with me. With the cover visual of a beaten cherry and a rose, and a name like Final Innings, I expected a lot more of cricket in it.
However, Sunil pleasantly surprised me with a dramatic plot. Cricket is just the pivot around which a lot many things happen. The story is complex and layered.
I loved ‘Final Innings’. The story in many ways is a window to Sunil’s mind. The hero of the story ‘Ramdas Upreti’ is like Sunil Gupta in life. Sunil acknowledges many of his socio-political views get mirrored in the story along with his love for the hills.
The story moves at many pivots simultaneously. Cricket, Love, Politics, Love for hills, CSR, corporate contributions, political ambitions and a need to give the best fight.
SCORE.
It is a test match of a novel in the era where T20 and ODI are more engaging. However, I feel capturing the uncertain complexities of life needed a lot more space.
At a few places ‘FINAL INNINGS’ is really a page-turner. You want to continue reading, to be on the side of Ramdas Upreti while life unfolds before him. The new challenges are set and he is determined to meet them head-on.
In the later part, it does become a bit predictable. Philosophies find some space to be expressed and thankfully it stops before becoming a monologue of thinking. One must, however, give it to Sunil for the twist in the end. It definitely surprised me.
Personally, I found the end a bit weak and a bit safe. But that is Sunil Gupta’s story and he knows it best. There is a decent pace but not enough swing in the air. Maybe that works best with the story. It is a slow burner.
So, if you enjoy cricket, here is a slow magically easy page-turners- go pick ‘Final Innings’ by Sunil Gupta.
ASIDE.
The book seriously gives you a peek into the thought process of a sportsperson. The will power and desire to get back when laid down with an injury. I take the simple learning from a book that may not have attempted one. Giving a good fight and doing what you believe is right, should be done.
Book Back Cover.
‘Final Innings is the story of five tumultuous years in the life of a successful and internationally admired Indian cricketer, Ramdas Upreti. It explores the depths of human desire and disillusionment, hope and regret, love and longing, and deep passions. Above all it is a story of extraordinary courage in the teeth of danger and adversity.
A combination of extraordinary circumstances and coincidences on and off the cricket field conspire to rekindle Ramdas’ obsessions with contemporary global and subcontinental gridlocks. Three complex relationships add their own piquancy: with Anne, his ex-girlfriend, with Pakistani nurse Nargis, and the bond he develops with Nargis’ father, the Pakistani umpire Khalid Azam.
Events now begin to overtake him, and his life slowly begins to unravel. These multiple strands eventually converge to create a stirring and memorable crescendo.
Final Innings brings to life our world: the reality that subcontinental teams tend to struggle in the SENA countries, the fraught India-Pakistan relationship, the powder keg called Kashmir, terrorism, climate change and the environment.
The plot unfolds over four ‘Innings’ like the build-up to the climax of a cliff-hanger Test Match. The action swings across India, Australia, England, Pakistan and the UAE.
Final Innings is a voyage deep into dark, choppy and uncharted waters. It is not about the T-20 leagues, nor about corruption and match-fixing. It is a thought-provoking and deeply moving human story which happens to be set in the world of cricket’.
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