Ep 1. Episode 1

Selection Day is a sports drama series based on the book of the same name by Aravind Adiga. The series revolves around the lives of two brothers, Radha and Manju Kumar, who are raised by their strict father to become cricket legends.

Episode 1 begins with the two brothers practicing cricket in a slum in Mumbai, India. Their father, Mohan, is a former player who is determined to make his sons famous cricketers. He believes that this is their ticket out of poverty and into a better life.

Mohan is constantly pushing his sons to be better and trains them hard every day, even going as far as to hire a private coach. There is a rivalry between the two brothers as they compete for their father's approval. Radha, the older brother, is the star player while Manju struggles to keep up with his brother's talents.

The day of the selection trials for the Mumbai Cricket Association arrives, and Mohan is determined that both of his sons will make it onto the team. Radha is selected, but Manju falls short. Disappointed, Mohan takes Manju to see a wealthy patron of the sport who offers to pay for his education at a private school with the promise that Manju will continue to play cricket with the school’s team.

The episode ends with the brothers going their separate ways and with Mohan's obsession with cricket still firmly in place. It is clear that the series will explore themes of family, ambition, and the cultural pressures of sports in India.

Selection Day is a promising start to what looks like an engaging sports drama series. The first episode does a good job of establishing the main characters and the stakes of the series. The acting is solid, with newcomer Mohammad Samad standing out as the shy and talented Manju.

Overall, Episode 1 sets the stage for a compelling story that will appeal to fans of sports dramas and coming-of-age tales. Whether or not the rest of the series lives up to this strong start, only time will tell.