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Eden Gardens
"Delhi mein dil tooth sakta hai par humne kabhi hausla nahi haraa (You can get hurt in Delhi but I never lost hope)." These were an emotional Harshit Rana's first words after learning about his maiden call-up in the Indian ODI team comprising icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The 22-year-old speedster from Delhi's South Extension, who did the tough grind since the junior levels, often got overlooked, but one stellar IPL season of 19 wickets in Kolkata Knight Riders' triumphant campaign brought him into the national reckoning. "I believed in working hard but whenever I used to get hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing. My father Pradeep never ever gave up hope. "If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir (former India and Delhi pacer) and above everyone else Gauti bhaiyya (Gautam Gambhir)," Rana told PTI during an
South Africa's power-packed batting unit suffered a light-out against Australia, but they found enough support from the packed Eden Gardens crowd during the second semifinal of the World Cup here Thursday. So, why did the Kolkatans cheer for the Proteas? It was quite simple as they preferred an India vs South Africa title clash on Sunday at Ahmedabad. Everyone knows what Aussies are capable of in a World Cup final. We dread to see an India-Australia final, so want them to lose today, said Rashmi Bhattacharya, a software professional who had come with his 14-year-old son, sporting a Quinton De Kock jersey. She represented the thousands of Indian spectators at the Eden, who cheered 'South Africaa, South Africaa", hoping that the five-time champions go out of India's way. It was safe to assume that green outnumbered yellow among the fans, whose number touched 47,825 on this day. As South Africa endured a top-order meltdown to be 24 for four, the stunned crowd fell into silence before