Aravind Adiga's third novel tells the story of two young brothers on a quest for self-discovery, exploring sports as a means of advancement and ruthless competition, young talents and old talent scouts, love and exploitation, passion and violence. Manjunath Kumar is fourteen. He knows he is a good cricket player, perhaps even as good as his older brother Radha. He understands why he fears his dominant and sports-obsessed father, admires his brilliant brother, and is fascinated by the world of American series and intriguing scientific facts. However, there is much he still does not know - about himself and the world around him. When he meets Radha's great rival, a privileged boy full of confidence, everything begins to turn upside down for Manju, and he must make decisions that will change his world.