Virat Kohli hails ‘Super Dadi’, Anand Mahindra offers to sponsor her tickets for remaining India games

While Indian cricketers returned to their original jersey and with that, the winning ways, against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup at Edgbaston on Tuesday, an elderly woman competed with them to fetch the limelight as much from the stands. Charulata Patel, a cricket lover, was at the stands cheering India with the Tri-colour paint on her cheeks and a horn on her lips. But unlike the other fans that were doing the same, Charulata caught more eyes since her age is 87!

Yes, she had witnessed Clive Lloyd lifting the trophy at Lord’s in 1975 when the World Cup was played for the first time. Four decades later, she was back to witness yet another World Cup game. “What will we do when we are 87?” asked a bewildered Sourav Ganguly on TV when seeing her.

The more striking part is that by the time India had polished off the Bangladesh innings and cemented their place in the semi-finals with a 28-run win, Charulata had become an instant hit. So much so that India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma met and greeted the woman, having been known as ‘Super Dadi’ by then.

Even the official Twitter handle of the Cricket World Cup tweeted a video of the Indian cricketing duo seeking blessings from Charulata and called her a ‘special fan’.

How amazing is this?!

India’s top-order superstars @imVkohli and @ImRo45 each shared a special moment with one of the India fans at Edgbaston.#CWC19 | #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/3EjpQBdXnX

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 2, 2019

Age just a number, says Kohli after meeting Charulata

Even Kohli later took to Twitter and hailed the octogenarian, saying “Age is just a number, passion takes you leaps and bounds. With her blessings, on to the next one.” India play Sri Lanka in their final league game of the World Cup at Headingley on Saturday. It is only of academic interest for both the teams as the Men in Blue have already qualified and the Lankans have been knocked out.

Also would like to thank all our fans for all the love & support & especially Charulata Patel ji. She’s 87 and probably one of the most passionate & dedicated fans I’ve ever seen. Age is just a number, passion takes you leaps & bounds. With her blessings, on to the next one. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/XHII8zw1F2

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 2, 2019

That’s not all! when a fan on Twitter asked Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group why doesn’t he sponsor her, he announced that he will “reimburse her ticket costs” for the rest of the India matches.

Find out who she is & I promise I will reimburse her ticket costs for the rest of the India matches!???? https://t.co/dvRHLwtX2b

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 2, 2019

India tamed a determined Bangladesh by 28 runs in Birmingham to storm into the semi-finals as the second team after Australia while the Tigers were knocked out. Rohit hit his fourth hundred of the tournament to power India to 314 for 9 in 50 overs and then Bangladesh were all out for 286.