Ardent fan Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary lays his hands on T20 World Cup trophy, poses with Rohit Sharma

There exists an insatiable and profound longing among every child who follows or plays cricket: to meet their cricketing idol at least once in their lifetime, no matter how brief the encounter. On the opposite end of this spectrum resides Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, a passionate cricket enthusiast hailing from Muzaffarpur, India.

For those unfamiliar with his name, you would undoubtedly recognize him from live television broadcasts or from his presence at matches wherever the Indian cricket team competes, being present to support the team from the stands on most occasions. Renowned for his unwavering support of the Indian cricket team, he travels extensively, often relying on public funding for international tours, thereby actualizing and embodying a dream cherished by billions of Indians not just once, but multiple times over.

Following India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024 held in the Americas, a recent collage has surfaced featuring Sudhir. Known for adorning his body with the Indian tricolour the day before matches and foregoing sleep to preserve the paint, Chaudhary managed to capture a photograph alongside the legendary Sachin Tendulkar holding the authentic trophy in 2011. Tendulkar, who was playing his final World Cup for India, joined Chaudhary on that historic night in Mumbai after their victorious moment which saw them secure the title after 28 protracted years.

13 years later and more than 13,000 kilometers distant, on a scenic beach in Barbados, Sudhir once again grasped the trophy with an effulgent expression, and got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of posing alongside Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, as well, even though not in his customary element as described above.

Here's the picture -

Chaudhary's life has not been conventional or comfortable; rather, it has been marked by struggles and underscores a valuable lesson in steadfastly pursuing one's dreams against all odds. He developed an intense passion for Indian cricket and became a fervent admirer of Tendulkar at the tender age of six. By the age of 14, while still in secondary school, he opted to discontinue his studies. He faced unemployment after holding positions at a dairy company and undergoing training as a teacher. 

He has publicly stated that his life is devoted to following Indian cricket, relying on public support to sustain his endeavours.