After a humiliating defeat in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the Indian cricket team is already under huge pressure to get things right for the three remaining matches in the series.
Moreover, Captain Virat Kohl has left Australian shores to be with his wife Anushka Sharma after the first Test has put a big hole in the visiting side’s strength and it has also disappointed his die-hard fans.
Already one down in the ongoing Test series, Indian cricket team will look to bounce back under the captaincy of Kohli’s deputy, Ajinkya Rahane when they take on Australia in the Boxing Day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.
But, India team and Kohli's fans across the globe will miss ‘King’ Kohli’s service.
Pintu, also known as ‘The Tattoo Man’, is a die-hard Kohli fan. He has 16 Kohli tattoos on his body - from Virat’s Under-19 World Cup in 2008 to the World Cup 2019.
Virat Kohli fan Pintu Source: Pintu
“I have been Kohli’s superfan since his unbeaten 133 at Hobart against Sri Lanka in 2012. I can still picture him hitting fours to Malinga, and It is my dream to see him bat in Australia,” he says.
“Virat is the number one batsman in the world, and his presence in the team is itself a morale-booster to other players. It will be very disappointing to not see him in the remaining Test matches, especially after losing the first match of the series."
Another Kohli supporter is Sugumar.
He is a very familiar face to the cricket fraternity, with his ongoing support for the Indian cricket team, Royal Challenger Bangalore (Kohli's IPL team) and Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli fan Sugumar. Source: Chinmay Mehta
“I cannot imagine the Indian team without Virat Kohli. Even though I almost cried when I heard Virat is not available for the last three test matches, I am supporting his decision to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. I am praying for the couple,” said Sugumar.
Recently, Sugumar was highly praised by the Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh for his passion for the game and his support for Virat Kohli.
He was planning to come to Australia for the cricket series, but coronavirus border closures ruined his plans.
“I had some plans to contribute to Australian charity by giving away Kohli’s signed T-shirts and some cricket gear, but due to COVID-19, I was unable to visit Australia this time," he told SBS Gujarati.
Sydney-based Sagar is a Virat Kohli look-alike.
Virat Kohli look-alike Sagar. Source: Chinmay Mehta
“There is no better compliment when people say to me 'You look like Virat Kohli'. I have been following Virat since his Under-19 world cup.
“I admire his dedication to the game. I have heard he played Ranji Trophy match very next day after his father’s demise. So I was very dismayed to hear that he is not available for the full series and especially for the Pink Test in Sydney,” he says.
“I believe Virat always makes the right decisions, and even though we will miss him in the test matches, I support his decision and family commitment.”
Former Indian captain MS Dhoni did not see his daughter for a few months after her birth while on national duties during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Fans India, the group which follows the Indian team across Australia, will cheer Team India at the MCG.
Fans India members outside the Adelaide Oval. Source: Rajul Sharma
Member of the group Rajul Sharma said, “India team is a team of champion players. In Virat’s absence, they all need to play as a unit and perform as they did in the last series.”
I do not doubt that the Indian team will come back stronger in the second Test.
Ayush Saraswat, another member of Fans India, said, “We have an equally talented and senior player in the form of new captain Ajinkya Rahane, and we will support the whole Indian team unconditionally throughout the series.”
Adelaide based Vatsal Desai said, “This is the time when the Indian team needs their fan’s support, and we will be behind the new skipper and cheer them throughout the series.”
