Selection Day S01
Director: Udayan Prasad (episodes 1–6), Karan Boolani (episodes 7–12)
Cast: Mohammad Samad, Yash Dholye, Karanvir Malhotra, Rajesh Tailang, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shiv Panditt, Akshay Oberoi, Parul Gulati, Amruta Subhash
Selection Day – Season 1 is a coming-of-age sports drama based on Aravind Adiga’s 2016 novel. Set in India, it follows two teenage brothers, Radha and Manjunath (“Manju”) Kumar, raised by their obsessive, cricket‑driven father, Mohan (Rajesh Tailang) in rural Madhya Pradesh. Trained from childhood to become elite batsmen, they are uprooted and moved to Mumbai to prepare for India’s ultra‑competitive under‑16 selection trials. WikipediaWikipediaWikipedia
Manju (Mohammad Samad) is quieter and academically inclined; he plays cricket more out of obligation than passion. Radha (Yash Dholye), older and more confident, embraces the game with fervor. Their dynamic shifts when Manju befriends Javed (Karanvir Malhotra), a free-spirited rival who embodies the confidence and independence he lacks. Netflix+8The Indian Express+8www.ndtv.com+8
Through 12 tight, fast‑paced episodes (~20‑25 min each), the series explores themes of ambition, identity, family pressure, patriarchy, social inequality, and the cost of dreams. While critics often cited the show’s brisk pacing and compressed adaptation for truncating emotional depth, praise came through for its performances—especially Samad’s portrayal of Manju’s internal conflict—and its grounded portrayal of Mumbai’s cricket‑obsessed culture. Gadgets 360thequint.comwww.ndtv.com
Supporting characters add layers: Mahesh Manjrekar as the reluctant coach Tommy Sir, Ratna Pathak Shah as Principal Nellie, Shiv Panditt in a mystical role as Lord Subramanyam, and Akshay Oberoi in a sub‑plot involving real estate ambition. Wikipedia
Selection Day – Season 1 is a coming-of-age sports drama based on Aravind Adiga’s 2016 novel. Set in India, it follows two teenage brothers, Radha and Manjunath (“Manju”) Kumar, raised by their obsessive, cricket‑driven father, Mohan (Rajesh Tailang) in rural Madhya Pradesh. Trained from childhood to become elite batsmen, they are uprooted and moved to Mumbai to prepare for India’s ultra‑competitive under‑16 selection trials. WikipediaWikipediaWikipedia
Manju (Mohammad Samad) is quieter and academically inclined; he plays cricket more out of obligation than passion. Radha (Yash Dholye), older and more confident, embraces the game with fervor. Their dynamic shifts when Manju befriends Javed (Karanvir Malhotra), a free-spirited rival who embodies the confidence and independence he lacks. Netflix+8The Indian Express+8www.ndtv.com+8
Through 12 tight, fast‑paced episodes (~20‑25 min each), the series explores themes of ambition, identity, family pressure, patriarchy, social inequality, and the cost of dreams. While critics often cited the show’s brisk pacing and compressed adaptation for truncating emotional depth, praise came through for its performances—especially Samad’s portrayal of Manju’s internal conflict—and its grounded portrayal of Mumbai’s cricket‑obsessed culture. Gadgets 360thequint.comwww.ndtv.com
Supporting characters add layers: Mahesh Manjrekar as the reluctant coach Tommy Sir, Ratna Pathak Shah as Principal Nellie, Shiv Panditt in a mystical role as Lord Subramanyam, and Akshay Oberoi in a sub‑plot involving real estate ambition. Wikipedia