In contemporary Indian fiction, who is the author of the cricket themed novel "Selection Day"?

Introduction / Context:
"Selection Day" is a widely discussed novel that uses the backdrop of Mumbai cricket and family ambition to explore issues of class, identity and aspiration in modern India. The question tests knowledge of contemporary Indian English fiction and the ability to link a specific sports themed novel with its author. Aravind Adiga, already famous for "The White Tiger", wrote "Selection Day" as another sharp examination of Indian society through the lives of two talented young cricketers and their demanding father.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title under consideration is "Selection Day".
• The story focuses on cricket and youth in urban India.
• The options list Aravind Adiga, Anil Menon, Krishna Sobti and Arunava Sinha.
• We assume the question refers to the English language novel that received international attention and was later adapted for screen.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall each author's key associations. Aravind Adiga is a Man Booker Prize winning Indian novelist known for "The White Tiger" and later works including "Selection Day". Anil Menon is known for speculative fiction. Krishna Sobti wrote primarily in Hindi and is famous for different titles. Arunava Sinha is celebrated as a translator of Bengali literature, not as the original author of this cricket novel. Thus, by matching the realistic cricket based narrative and the known bibliography, one can confidently attribute "Selection Day" to Aravind Adiga.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that "Selection Day" is set in Mumbai and revolves around two brothers groomed to become professional cricketers, which connects the book strongly with contemporary Indian themes. Step 2: Recall that Aravind Adiga followed his award winning debut "The White Tiger" with later novels such as "Between the Assassinations" and "Selection Day", continuing his exploration of Indian social realities. Step 3: Examine the other options. Anil Menon is associated more with science fiction and fantasy rather than realistic cricket novels. Step 4: Identify Krishna Sobti as an important Hindi writer whose major works are quite distinct from this English language novel. Step 5: Note that Arunava Sinha is widely known as a translator bringing Bengali works to English readers, rather than the original author of "Selection Day". Step 6: From these comparisons, choose Aravind Adiga as the correct author of "Selection Day".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall news coverage around the time of publication and adaptation, where headlines often referred to "Aravind Adiga's Selection Day". Reviews consistently mention his established reputation after "The White Tiger". Another mental check is to remember that the Netflix adaptation of "Selection Day" also credited Aravind Adiga in promotional material. These external associations confirm the answer beyond simple name recognition and make the identification reliable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Anil Menon writes novels and stories but not this specific cricket focused narrative, so option B is incorrect. Krishna Sobti is a celebrated Hindi author and did not write "Selection Day", which makes option C wrong. Arunava Sinha is famous for translations and not for authoring this book, so option D is incorrect. Only Aravind Adiga matches both the style and the known authorship of "Selection Day", which makes option A correct.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent pitfall is confusing writers who are active in the same period without paying attention to their distinct roles. Some candidates may misidentify translators as original authors or mix up titles among Indian English novelists. Others may guess based purely on fame, picking any famous name. To avoid this, it helps to build a simple mental table: Aravind Adiga for "The White Tiger" and "Selection Day", Krishna Sobti for Hindi classics, and Arunava Sinha as a translator. This structure reduces confusion when similar questions arise.

Final Answer:
Aravind Adiga