Indian cricket's unofficial 12th man

Dharamveer Pal is an avid supporter of India's cricket team; his disability has not stopped him chasing his dream of following almost every match from the boundary line that the Indian team has played since 2004.

Dharamveer Pal

Dharamveer Pal with Indian captain Virat Kohli Source: Dharamveer Pal

Dharamveer Pal contracted polio at eight months of age, but it didn't stop him from chasing his dream of his favourite game - cricket. 

25-year-old Dharamveer Pal has become known as India's most loyal cricket fan, often referred to as the 12th man of the Indian Cricket Team amongst the cricketing fraternity. 
Dharamveer Pal
Dharamveer Pal with former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni Source: Dharamveer Pal
Love affair 

Dharamveer Pal, who hails from Morena - a village in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India, told SBS Gujarati about his journey.

"I had a dream of playing cricket for the country," he says. "But unfortunately, I could not pursue my dream. I was the captain of the disabled cricket team of Madhya Pradesh, but due to poverty, I left the team and went to New Delhi to work as a labourer in a restaurant.
Dharamveer Pal
Dharamveer with Yuvraj singh Source: Dharamveer Pal
"After working for almost two months there, I was on my way to the home, waiting for the train to arrive. Suddenly, I noticed that the Indian cricket team is playing a test match in Mohali - 250 kilometres away from New Delhi. I took a train to Mohali and reached the stadium but without the ticket, the security guard did not allow me to enter the stadium.
Dharamveer Pal
Dharamveer Pal with Chris Gayle. Source: Dharamveer Pal
"I was asking for a ticket from other spectators but nobody helped me. Suddenly the pitch curator of the stadium, Daljeet Singh, saw me and took me inside the stadium.  It was the first time I enjoyed a cricket match - even sitting at the boundary line." 

Special relationship

Talking about his relationship with Indian team Dharamveer said, "2006 was the year when BCCI issued me an accreditation card for the match, Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh gave me a thousand rupee note, Yuvraj Singh promised me that now onwards the Indian team will sponsor you for each match," Dharamveer says.
Dharamveer Pal
Dharamveer Pal with Australian cricketer Shane Watson. Source: Dharamveer Pal
"I sit near the boundary line and cheer them and serving them as a 12th man of the team. I am always getting an accreditation card from the cricket board."
Dharamveer Pal
Dharamveer Pal with South African cricketer Dale Steyn and Quinton De Kock. Source: Dharamveer Pal
More than 200 One Days, 70 Tests

Dharamveer Pal uses both the hands to walk but he has visited more stadiums and enjoyed more cricket matches than any other cricket fan. He has witnessed more than 200 One Day Internationals, 70 test matches and 100 T-20 matches including Cricket World Cup and Indian Premier League in India.


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3 min read

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By Vatsal Patel




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