Inside Edge, an Amazon Prime Original web series released way back in 2017 on India’s most loved sport Cricket is back with its much awaited third season. The first season of the series focused on how the T20 league works and people like Vikrant Dhawan (Vivek Oberoi) don’t let this game be a gentleman’s game alone. Whereas the second season explored everything that goes on beyond the 22 yards from match fixing to politics to doping to corruption. In the first two seasons the story mainly revolved around the famous fictional T20 league PPL but in its latest season the action shifts to the international stage and follows an India-Pakistan test series.
The third season picks up exactly from where the second season ended. As we know the Mumbai Mavericks one of the teams of PPL got banned for two years as it’s owners were involved in match fixing for which a Roy committee is set up to investigate the same. The Big Dada of Indian Cricket Board (ICB) Yashwardhan Patil ‘Bhaisahab’ (Aamir Bashir) has sent her own daughter Mantra Patil (Sapna Phabbi) to jail to save his power and position.
On the other hand his step brother Vikrant Dhawan (Vivek Oberoi) wants to destroy his life and seek revenge in which he gets support from Zarina Malik (Richa Chadda), owner of Mumbai Mavericks.
The fight for power is just not between Bhaisahab and Vikrant, two players of Indian Cricket Vayu Raghavan (Tanuj Virwani) and Rohit Shahbagh (Akshay Oberoi) also fight for the post of Captain of the Indian team. Rohit is a star batsman of the Indian team trying to strike a balance between his personal and professional life. A fight starts between him and Vayu when one day the latter suddenly replaces him as Captain.
The series also touched on a very sensitive topic like LGBTQ as we get to know Akshay Oberoi’s character is a gay but fears to get seen in public with his partner as we are raised in a society where being from the community is something to be ashamed of and society won’t think twice before judging you.
The ultimate highlight of the season for me is how the thrill and tension between India and Pakistan match is presented on the celluloid with the same energy as if you’re watching a real one. Right from the excitement between the lovers of the game for the Indo-Pak match to politicians being present on the ground during it, all of this definitely reminds you of some actual matches.
Coming to the cast, Vivek Oberoi onces again impressed as Vikrant Dhawan, he looks much better and powerful than the last two seasons. Aamir Bashir’s Bhaisahab, a man hungry for power, was bang on. Richa Chadda looked good but deserved a little more screen time. Sapna Phabbi as Bhaisahab’s daughter who wants to legalise betting was fabulous in the role. Akshay Oberoi and Tanuj Virwani were convincing enough in the role of cricketers. Sayani Gupta played Rohini, a cricket analyst who wants to get justice for his dead father quite well. Also we see Siddhant Gupta, Renuka Sahane, Amit Sial and Himanshi Chaudhary among others who managed to leave a mark.
The fight for post and power is common in every field, be it politics or sports. Inside Edge exposes that ugly face of the most loved sport of our nation with which a huge lot is unfamiliar but unfortunately that’s the reality. With a highly gripping and entertaining storyline it manages to keep the viewers engaged throughout it’s ten episodes long season.
Inside Edge Season 3 is now streaming on Amazon Prime, go catch it!
