Adrija Ghosh at the Eden. (Sayantan Ghosh)

Adrija Ghosh, a 19-year-old BBA student at Techno India, took a break from studying for an exam on Monday to accompany Metro to the Eden Gardens on Sunday night and found herself divided between her love for Sachin Tendulkar and loyalty to the Kolkata Knight Riders

I realised around two weeks ago that KKR’s last league match was slated for the night before my mathematics exam. I kept debating with myself whether to visit the Eden on Sunday night to watch the Sachin Tendulkar versus Knight Riders contest. After all, I am not so strong in math. My head said I should stay home and study but my heart said I should go. In the end, I decided to listen to my heart.

It was my third IPL match this year and I was a little nervous before entering the stadium because of what Chris Gayle did to KKR in the second of those matches. But all my nervousness disappeared as KKR batted well to put up 175 for 7 on the board. Now my heart wanted a gem from Sachin and he didn’t disappoint.

I could travel anywhere to see that wonder punched cover drive for four that he hit off Brett Lee, a Knight I otherwise admire so much. And the next ball he pulled in front of square for another boundary. It was in the air, of course, but to my great relief it was in the gap too. Wow! What a start. Strike rate 400, no less.

It wasn’t long before I got to see that fantastic paddle sweep as well. Nobody plays that quite like Sachin. It’s not without reason that he has been my favourite cricketer ever since I started following the game.

As Sachin and Harbhajan Singh batted (I was as surprised as anybody else by Bhajji’s sudden promotion in the batting order), I couldn’t help wondering how many in the ground would want the little master to get a big one and KKR to win.

My mind also went back to the India-England World Cup match that was snatched from the Eden. Sachin scored a ton in that tied tie that Bangalore hosted, and I felt robbed.

Coming back to Sunday’s match, Sachin’s running between the wickets, even at this age, surprised me. Even when Rohit Sharma got out in the 11th over, he looked set for a big one until a mishit sent him back for 38.

At that point, I was sad for Sachin but so happy for the new-look KKR. They now have the perfect combination of players and seem to have successfully buried the ghosts of the past.

What a pity the last over by Lakshmipathy Balaji spoiled it for all of us die-hard KKR fans at the packed Eden. I had wished for Sachin to score at least a fifty, not a win for the Mumbai Indians!

But worry not, we will back with a bang.

— As told to Rith Basu