Arjun's dominance did not go unnoticed. At eighteen, he received the call that would change his life: selection for the senior Indian national team.
It was December 2000. The cricketing world watched skeptically—a teenager stepping into a team of legends, including Dravid, Kumble, and Ganguly. But Arjun's mind was decades ahead. He saw the game not just in runs and wickets, but in sequences, reactions, and invisible levers of influence.
He spent hours studying opposition lineups, stadium conditions, and captain tendencies. Every over, every field, every pressure point was calculated. The media buzzed about a young prodigy debuting for India, but they had no idea the Devil from Guntur was already orchestrating outcomes.
In his first ODI series, Arjun impressed quietly. Not by sheer flamboyance, but by positioning himself strategically, timing innings perfectly, and subtly guiding senior players. His calm demeanor and tactical acumen began drawing attention from both teammates and opponents.
Sid, who had also risen through domestic cricket, watched with frustration. Arjun wasn't just talented—he controlled tempo, pressure, and perception in ways no one had anticipated.