22 Wild, Wacky & Wonderful Things Indian Cricket Fans Have Done — A Love Story Like No Other”
In India, cricket isn’t just a sport — it’s a living, breathing emotion. It’s what flows through the veins of millions. And with such intense love comes intensity in action. From the heartwarming to the heart-stopping, Indian cricket fans have done some of the most unbelievable things to express their devotion. These 22 stories are not just acts of fandom — they’re stories of madness, magic, and raw human emotion. Let’s dive into the world of the most passionate cricket fans on Earth.
1. The Fan Who Cycled Across States for Sachin
Sudhir Kumar Gautam — the man, the myth, the Tricolor-painted legend. He cycled all the way from Muzaffarpur to Mumbai just to meet Sachin Tendulkar. His devotion was so pure that when India won the 2011 World Cup, Tendulkar personally invited him to celebrate with the team.
2. A Test Answer Sheet Filled with “Thala”
Gajodhar, a student from Delhi, wrote “Thala” (a term of love for MS Dhoni) as the answer to every single question in a math test. Result? Suspension. Passion? Unmatched.
3. When Dhoni Was a Wedding Condition
In 2009, Ravindra Kumar Saini’s fiancée Sonia agreed to marry him only if he got a picture with MS Dhoni. He sold his shop, slept on pavements, skipped meals — and after 35 days of struggle, met Dhoni in front of cameras. Wedding secured.
4. The Man Who Tried to Sell a Kidney to Watch the World Cup
Sarun Sharma wanted to witness India lift the World Cup in the West Indies so badly, he tried selling a kidney to fund the trip. “You can live with one kidney, but you can’t miss India winning,” he said. Sadly, India got knocked out in the first round.
5. Riots, Runways, and Rage
When TV signals went out in Jammu during an Indo-Pak match, fans pelted stones at the cable office. In Solapur, cricket lovers took over a rarely used airport runway to play — until an Air Deccan flight had to emergency brake to avoid them.
6. Fan Who Refused to Leave Dravid’s House
A female fan once traveled all the way from Hyderabad to meet Rahul Dravid. She refused to leave his Bangalore residence until she met him. Dravid, ever the gentleman, finally obliged.
7. The Mango Named After Sachin
In Malihabad, mango farmer Haji Kaleemullah Khan created a new hybrid mango and named it… Sachin. Sweet, legendary, and one of a kind.
8. Burning Posters, Effigies & Broken Dreams
After India’s 2007 World Cup exit, fans burned effigies, carried out funeral processions for the team, and even vandalized Dhoni’s house in Ranchi. In some Haryana villages, cricket was banned altogether. Yes, banned.
9. The Fan Who Tried to Power the Match Himself
In Kerala, when the electricity went out during a 1999 World Cup game, one die-hard fan climbed a power pole to fix it. Tragic twist — he was electrocuted. All for the love of cricket.
10. Spider Named After Sachin
Dhruv Prajapati, a spider researcher, discovered a new species and named it Marengo sachintendulkar. The spider world now has its own Master Blaster.
11. Jailed But Still Wanting the Game
Inmates at Guwahati Central Jail filed a petition demanding World Cup broadcasts. The judge ruled in their favor — within five days, they had cable.
12. Fan Art, But Make It Money
Ratilal Parmar collects currency notes with Sachin-themed serial numbers. One note — 240412 — matches the Little Master’s birthday.
13. Notebook Covers Without Cricketers? Never Again!
Post 2007, cricketers were removed from school notebook covers due to fan backlash. They were replaced… by speeding cars. Yes, that happened.
14. Dhoni Pays the Medical Bills
Ram Babu, another superfan painted in Indian colors and “Dhoni 7”, fainted during the 2014 World Cup in Bangladesh. MS Dhoni personally paid for his return flight and medical expenses.
15. Fan Dies Over Sachin Retirement Rumor
In 1999, rumors of Sachin retiring due to a back injury caused Deepa Vasanthalaxmi, 18, to take her own life. Such was the emotional weight Tendulkar carried on his shoulders.
16. Love, Madness, & 28 Village Ban
In Haryana’s Jind district, 28 villages banned the word “cricket” after India’s disastrous World Cup showing. “Cricket” literally became taboo.
17. Runway Cricket Causes Plane Disaster
Back to Solapur — because it’s too wild not to mention again — playing cricket on an actual runway caused a plane to burst its rear tires. Thank god no one was hurt.
18. Fan Who Lived on the Streets for Dhoni
Not just Saini — many fans in Ranchi camped near Dhoni’s house for days, sometimes weeks, just hoping to catch a glimpse.
19. From Jail with Love
Back in 1985, an inmate named Bhukha Singh wrote to cricketer Rajinder Goel, congratulating him on 600 Ranji wickets. Goel wrote back. Real recognize real.
20. Devdas Gandhi Slept in Jail for Bradman
Yes, Mahatma Gandhi’s son. In 1948, during Bradman’s farewell series, he couldn’t find a hotel room in Nottingham. So he convinced a prison warden to let him sleep in jail — just so he could watch The Don.
