Sudhir Gautam at the Eden. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Sudhir Gautam — the most visible fan of Sachin Tendulkar — on Tuesday played two “masterstrokes” directed at the Sun God.

One on the off: a century at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta. The other on the on: a triple century at the Wankhede in Mumbai.

First, the one on the off. Before Chhath, Sudhir prayed to the Sun God for a Sachin century in his penultimate (199th) Test at Eden. And a big 300 in the Master Blaster’s last outing at his home ground in Mumbai.

In Calcutta to cheer up Sachin, Muzaffarpur lad Sudhir told The Telegraph over phone: “In our state, it is believed that all wishes are fulfilled if one prays to the Sun God during Chhath. As you know I hail from Bihar, I have started paying obeisance before Chhath. I prayed to the Sun God for a century of my ‘God’ (Sachin) at the Eden Gardens. I want him to score a century in his penultimate Test. That is the least I am expecting. If Sun God turns benevolent, Sachin might hit a double ton also. I am praying a lot for him.”

Sudhir did a Sachin of sorts. Like his “God”, he stared at the Sun before leaving for the Eden Gardens to watch the practice of Team India on the eve of the first Test against the West Indies. “I did not visit any temple as such, but early in morning I prayed to the Sun God looking at Him. I am sure that my prayer will be heard.”

Walking out of the dressing room to bat, Sachin has the habit of looking up at the Sun.

Cut to Sudhir’s drive on the on side. “I have prayed for Sachin’s triple century in his last Test at the Wankhede. It would be the best farewell to the man considered the ‘God of cricket’,” he said.

Now, the cheeky single of Sachin’s fan. He has planned to give his ‘God’ a farewell by painting “Miss U” on his chest above “Tendulkar 10”.

Sudhir paints the Tricolour on his body in every India match. He has been cheering the national cricket team for over 10 years.

Sachin has promised to support him for the rest of his life and sponsor him in any India match across the globe.

Sudhir met the Master Blaster the first time at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on November 6, 2003. The 32-year-old also went to Sachin’s home in Mumbai.