In a heartwarming yet unfortunate turn of events, a 15-year-old boy named Kartikeya cycled from Unnao to Kanpur, covering 58 kilometers, just to watch his cricketing hero, Virat Kohli, in action during the second Test between India and Bangladesh. The teenager embarked on his journey at 4 AM and arrived at the Green Park Stadium by 11 AM, hoping to catch Kohli at the crease. Little did he know that his dream would remain unfulfilled due to a decision made by the Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma’s Toss Decision Leaves Virat’s Fan Disappointed
Kartikeya’s excitement quickly turned into disappointment when Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first, breaking a nine-year streak of India choosing to bat first in a home Test match. The decision was influenced by the overcast weather and wet pitch conditions, but for Kartikeya, it meant not seeing Virat Kohli bat. The young fan had put in immense effort, cycling for 7 hours straight, only for his hopes to be dashed by Rohit’s strategic call.
First Session Dominated by Indian Bowlers
Despite the disappointment of fans like Kartikeya, India’s bowlers made good use of the conditions. Bangladesh lost 2 wickets for just 29 runs in the first session, with the cloudy weather helping Indian pacers. Akashdeep, making an impact on the match, took two early wickets, and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with one. The match seemed to be tilting in India’s favor, but for Kartikeya and others hoping to see Kohli, the focus remained on when—or if—their star would get a chance to bat.
Bad Weather Halts Play, Adds to Fan’s Frustration
Rain and overcast conditions continued to affect the match, delaying the start of play by an hour. After the lunch break, Bangladesh began to settle, with their captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto contributing 31 runs, and opener Shadman Islam adding 24. But as the match progressed, bad light stopped play once again, further adding to the frustration of fans like Kartikeya, who had come to watch an uninterrupted game.
India’s Akashdeep remained the standout performer, grabbing 2 wickets for 34 runs in his 10 overs, while Bangladesh scored 107 runs for 3 wickets in 35 overs. However, for a young boy who cycled 58 km to watch his idol, it was an anti-climactic experience.
