Sachin Tendulkar after practice at Eden on Tuesday. Pictures by Pradip Sanyal

If any relationship could have rivalled the pull of sibling love on Bhai Phonta, it was the one that brought devotee and disciple to the Eden Gardens to watch Sachin Tendulkar.

Sudhir Gautam, the 32-year-old devotee who follows his god wherever he plays, and Sapnajit Naskar, a nine-year-old disciple who dreams of playing like him, were in their seats long before the master arrived for his last full nets session on the eve of his penultimate Test.

“Ekhane daariye bhalo kore dekh Sachin ki bhabe ball ta khelchhe (Stand here and watch carefully how Sachin is playing the ball),” Sapnajit’s mother Sujata said as the cricketer took guard in front of Block B, where they were seated.

Not that the Class III student at Ram Mohan Mission High School needed prodding. “He breathes, lives and sleeps cricket. He doesn’t even watch cartoons. As this is Sachin’s last time at Eden, I thought what better way to learn than from the greatest cricketer himself,” Sujata said.

 

Aadarsh Chandak, 10, shouted ‘Haaappy Birthdaaay’ to Virat Kohli and got a smile and a wave in return

“I am a huge Dhoni fan but Sachin is the god of cricket and I want to learn by watching him,” said batsman Sapnajit, who trains at the Mainland Sambaran Cricket Academy in Southern Avenue.

The nine-year-old, in his cricket whites, seemed overwhelmed on his first visit to Eden. He would jump in excitement at the sight of the other cricketers, only to train his eyes back on Sachin’s footwork after a nudge from his mother.

Fan No. 1 Sudhir Kumar Gautam at Eden on Tuesday to cheer his god at nets

“Aaargh,” yelled Sachin in frustration after one of Umesh Yadav’s bouncier deliveries beat him outside off stump. “Ki beat khawalo dekhli? (Did you see how he beat Sachin)?” Sapnajit told friend Sahil Jha, 10, as Umesh went back to his run-up.

Sahil, who trains at the same cricket academy as Sapnajit, was at the ground with mother Kalpana.

Sachin batted for 20 minutes, spending 10 minutes each against the fast bowlers and the spinners. He had walked in at 9.55am with two bats tucked under each arm and one in hand.

So what was little Sapnajit’s takeaway from the little master’s nets session? “I noticed how he bats just outside the crease. I will also try doing that,” the cub cricketer said.

While Sapnajit was busy taking lessons in batting, nine-year-old Aadarsh Chandak from Baguiati was screaming for the attention of any cricketer who came close to where he was.

His resilience paid off at noon when his high-pitched “Haaappy Birthdaaay, Viraaat Sir” elicited a smile and a wave from the man who Ian Chappell thinks is the prince who can become the king.

About 50 metres from Sapnajit, Sahil and Aadarsh — in the lower tier of the clubhouse — stood Fan No. 1 Sudhir, tirelessly waving a giant India flag.

Clad in a white vest and a pair of faded white trousers, he took out his conch and blew it the moment Sachin started jogging across the field with his pads on.

Asked if his outfit was the one gifted to him by Sachin, the man from Muzaffarpur in Bihar pointed to the number “187” below the BCCI emblem and asked: “Ye number aur kiska ho sakta hain?” (Who else would have this number on his shirt)?”

Sachin is the 187th Test player for India.

For 12 years, Sudhir has travelled to every stadium in the country where Sachin has played, turning into a quasi-celebrity himself, as evident from his popularity at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday. From the cops on duty to fans outside the ground, everyone seemed to want to pose for a photograph with him.

“My dream is to watch my god score a triple century before retiring and what better venue than the Eden Gardens?” Sudhir said.

Nobody would have doubted his devotion. Sudhir waved the Tricolour continuously for over two hours, from 9.15am when Sachin stepped on the lush green Eden outfield, till 11.30am when he walked back into the dressing room after waving and smiling to the fans in Block B.

At 12.30pm, as the cricketers climbed back onto the team bus, Sudhir was right next to it waving his flag and blowing his conch to bid them an auspicious farewell.

Once the bus left, he packed his belongings and headed for Kidderpore to prepare for his five-hour-long body painting session. “I will be up all night. I cannot sleep after I get my body painted as it needs to settle on my skin and dry out,” Sudhir said.

Nine-year-old Sapnajit too is unlikely to get much sleep. “My son has gone crazy after his first visit to Eden. He managed an autograph from Virat Kohli,” mother Sujata said.

Ready Reckoner

● Gates likely to open at: 7am

● Players expected to arrive at: 7.45am

● Toss with: A specially crafted 24-carat gold coin with Sachin’s face on one side and the CAB logo on the other

● Play starts at: 9am

● Don’t carry: Backpacks, metal or plastic boxes, mirrors, radios, newspapers, cameras, video cameras, water bottles (pouches will be available at the stadium) or any object that can be used as a “missile”. Food is also not allowed but exceptions might be made if there is a small child with the ticket-holder. Smoking and drinking are completely banned.
nYou can carry: Ladies’ handbags, binoculars and caps. Umbrellas to be allowed if it is raining (the Met office has forecast clear skies).

● If you haven’t received your ticket bought online: Go to the ground with a printout of the
receipt. You will find personnel from ticketgenie.com at the Eden gates with your ticket. Dial 9038090280 for help.

● In the stands: Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid from Day 3 onwards

● Cheer props: On the first day, every fan will be given a Sachin souvenir. In the next four days, they will be supplied Sachin masks, placards and balloons. On the last day, 199kg of rose petals will be showered on Sachin from a low-flying aircraft.