#Review: The State League by Mallika Ravikumar

Mallika Ravikumar’s The State League is an engaging young-adult sports novel that successfully combines the excitement of football with questions of friendship, loyalty, ambition and integrity. The story follows Prithvi as he returns to Elite Sports F.C., hoping to prove himself, only to discover that the beautiful game has a darker side involving match-fixing, pressure and difficult moral choices.

One of the book’s strengths is its fast-moving, accessible writing. Football terminology, lively exchanges and short bursts of dialogue create the immediacy of being on the field. Lines such as “Chalo guys, warm-up!” and “Full fight again, boss” give the characters an energetic, youthful voice. The dialogue also helps reveal relationships and tensions without excessive exposition.

The black-and-white illustrations are particularly effective. Rather than merely decorating the pages, they extend the narrative visually—capturing matches, characters and moments of tension while giving the book the feel of a contemporary sports story. The inclusion of Instagram-style posts, official notices and printed circulars is an interesting stylistic choice. These inserts make the fictional world feel authentic and show how information, rumours and decisions circulate beyond the football field.

That said, some passages can feel slightly dense, particularly when several characters or developments are introduced in quick succession. Younger readers unfamiliar with football may also need time to orient themselves.

Overall, The State League is a compelling, visually appealing read that goes beyond football to ask an important question: how much should one compromise to win?

Find the book here.