Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) He may not have yet attained the celebrity status of Sri Lankan Percy Abeysekara or Chaudhury Abdul Jalil “Chacha” of Pakistan as a cheer leader, but Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary is fast getting noticed as India’s cricket mascot.

Sudhir, 26, has his body painted in the colours of the Indian tricolour and has the legend Sachin Tendulkar embossed on his back. He travels with the Indian cricket team and is being treated as the official cheerleader like his Sri Lankan and Pakistani counterparts.

Abeysekara, 74, goes globe-trotting with the Sri Lankan team courtesy a fund created, among others, by Muttiah Muralitharan’s manager, while Jalil “Chacha”, 63, gets a monthly stipend from the Pakistan Cricket Board and also travel expenses to go with the team overseas.

Sudhir, who hails from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, is well-known among the cricketers and has been following the team in the World Cup since the inaugural match against Bangladesh. He travelled all the way to Dhaka on a cycle to cheer the team.

Here in Delhi for the India-Netherlands match, Sudhir was an instant hit with the crowd outside the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. He posed with the fans and even obliged some with his autograph. He certainly seemed to be enjoying the attention he was getting.

“I am a big Sachin Tendulkar fan. I go around to support the team,” Sudhir told IANS.

The Indian players also acknowledge Sudhir’s hard work and they provide him with match passes. Even Tendulkar calls him as one of his greatest fans.

“I just love to be part of the team. They give me passes for all the matches and I go and cheer my country. I cycled all the way to Dhaka and after coming back I kept it at Dada’s (Sourav Ganguly) place in Kolkata and then went to Bangalore for the match against England,” he said.

“I know India will win the World Cup,” says Sudhir, who has a World Cup miniature in plastic perched on his head.

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“Century” by umpire Steve Davis

Australia’s Steve Davis Wednesday became the 14th umpire to officiate in 100 One-day Internationals as he stood in the World Cup Group B match between India and the Netherlands here at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

Davis, 58, made his international debut Dec 12, 1992, in the match between Pakistan and West Indies in Adelaide. Last year, he was shortlisted for the International Cricket Council Umpire of the Year award. The Australian has also stood in 31 Tests and 14 Twenty20 Internationals.

Davis was presented a memento by match referee Ranjan Madugalle before the start of the match.

“I am extremely proud and honoured to have reached this milestone. I can’t quite believe that I am already at that landmark figure and it is fantastic to be reaching it in the World Cup,” said Davis.

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Yuvraj Singh claims his 100th wicket

The elegant batsman is fast turning out to be a reliable spinner for India. An effective part-time left arm spinner, Yuvraj claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in the match against Ireland Sunday and continued his impressive showing here with figures of 2/43.

As he came on to bowl, Yuvraj received a huge cheer. He did not disappoint, striking straightaway in his first over by dismissing well-settled Wesley Barresi leg before for his 100th ODI wicket — a coincidence, Steve Davies officiating in his hundredth game upheld Yuvraj’s appeal.

Yuvraj also picked the big wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate, century-maker against England.

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Business day for vendors

It was a business day for vendors selling tricolours, arm bands, caps, team India shirts. One of them, M.K. Srinivisan, a Bangalorean, has been going to all India matches.

“The Bangalore crowd was the best, I did good business there,” says Srinivisan.

“It is tough sometimes. I have to travel unreserved in trains, but I don’t mind. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is my favourite player,” he said.

Asked about the business in Delhi, Srinivisan has the usual complaint: “The police are not allowing us to settle down at one place, they even chase the crowds away from us.”