03 December 2025 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : About an hour back, Rakesh Prajapati had lost the race that could have changed his life. But still the 20-year-old held hope. The boy from Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh, in a discoloured and dusty shirt torn at the shoulder, was 16th among the 100 ‘agniveers’ he was competing with. A Top-8 finish, he says, would have made him an Indian Army soldier and the first from his poor farming family to have a stable job.
Crestfallen while dragging his feet out of the BSF ground, the armed forces recruitment venue that had attracted thousands from around the country, Rakesh says his mood changed dramatically as he walked past the cricket stadium next door. The shining laminated faces of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the huge poster made him, and hundreds of other tired and famished army hopefuls, sprawl outside the venue on newspapers and wait for the Indian stars.
On the eve of the second ODI, Team India were training late in the evening under lights. Kohli’s hundred had give them a 1-0 start against South Africa, and the tempo was set as they aim for a winning lead in the series. Rakesh is a knowledgeable fan, he knew the context of the game, fully aware of Kohli’s roaring comeback in the last game.
“The moment I lost the race, I was desperate to leave for home. I had gone silent, and didn’t want to speak to anyone. But once I saw Virat and Rohit on the poster, I felt better … my pain was bearable,” he says. He is smiling now and wants to know his chances of getting a ticket for Wednesday’s game.
If any sociology student wants to understand the impact of cricket and cricketers on India’s psyche, a stadium visit around match day is mandatory. Not all die-hard fans paint their bodies or wave the Tricolour. There are also those who, even on their worst day, don’t give up on their passion for the game. Cricket is their cheap prozac pill.
Depending on the game
A few hours on the other side of the tall intimidating walls, where broadcasting cameras don’t venture, also gives an idea of cricket’s off-the-books economy. The little business that thrives on the popularity of cricket. They don’t have ad budgets, don’t time their product launches with the cricket season, their logos aren’t on the shirts of players, nor do they get thanked by broadcasters at the end of the game.
Summary
During the India vs South Africa match, several interesting moments unfolded off-camera. An Agniveer aspirant was seen searching the stands for Virat Kohli, hoping for a glimpse of his idol. A stadium golgappa seller became a surprising crowd favorite, drawing attention with his speed and style. Meanwhile, a vendor selling unique “Dhoni-RoKo” jerseys added to the colourful fan culture. These unseen stories highlighted the raw emotion and vibrant atmosphere beyond what was shown on TV.