Right Arm Over

An unforgettable story of cricket and friendship from a master of sports fiction.

Jibon and Ananto are best friends and promising cricketers--Jibon a stylish batsman, and Ananto a gifted fast bowler. But one day they have an accident and Jibon loses half his right arm. Considered the more talented of the two, his cricket career is over. Not one to give up, he makes it his mission to see that his friend plays for India. Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team is in turmoil as it heads into a Test series against Australia. Jibon is determined that Ananto will find his opportunity and shine at the international level. But even if he gets his chance, will Ananto be able to deliver?

With its fascinating descriptions of playing cricket for the country, the workings of a cricket team, the politics of selection committees and the life of sportspeople, Right Arm Over is not just a novel about sports. It is also about the grit and determination needed to succeed, about friendship, and about sacrifices that are made out of love and commitment.

'Moti Nandy' (1931-2010) was one of the few writers in the world to have created an entire body of fiction centred on sports. A Sahitya Akademi award-winner and former Sports Editor at the 'Anandabazar Patrika', he wrote more than twenty-five novels in Bengali for adults, and as many for children and young adults. Nearly all his novels are set in Kolkata, where he lived, and capture the struggle and success of the underdog in sports, ranging from football to cricket, tennis to swimming, athletics to boxing.

'Arunava Sinha' translates classic, modern and contemporary Bengali fiction, non-fiction and poetry into English. Over forty of his translations have been published so far. Born and educated in Kolkata, he lives and writes in Delhi.