New Delhi: Team India’s Superfan Charulata Patel, who grabbed eyeballs during the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales, has passed away. She was 87.
She died on January 13, as informed on her Instagram account.
The BCCI expressed grief on their official Twitter handle on Thursday and wrote: “Team India’s Superfan Charulata Patelji will always remain in our hearts and her passion for the game will keep motivating us. May her soul rest in peace.”
Charulata had won almost everyone’s heart after she went to the Edgbaston Cricket in Birmingham to see India’s round-robin match against Bangladesh in July last year.
During the entire duration of that match, she was seen cheering enthusiastically for Team India. She blew a yellow vuvuzela like a child on every boundary scored. She also kept waving the tricolour.
And after the Men in Blue registered a 28-run win, which saw them qualify to the knockouts, skipper Virat Kohli and deputy Rohit Sharma had met Charulata. Both the Indian cricketers had walked up to her to seek her blessings.
Charulata, who was said to keep a close track of the team, had also expressed her wish to be present for Team India’s title victory at the iconic Lord’s on July 14. However, her wish remained unfulfilled as India were knocked out in the semi-finals at the hands of New Zealand.
After the match, Kohli had tweeted: “Also would like to thank all our fans for all the love and support and especially Charulata Patelji. She’s 87 and probably one of the most passionate and dedicated fans I’ve ever seen. Age is just a number, passion takes you leaps and bounds. With her blessings, on to the next one.”
Charulata died on January 13, as informed on her Instagram account. Her grandchildren shared the news on Instagram, saying: “With a heavy heart that I inform you, our beautiful grandmother took her final breath on 13/01 at 5.30pm. She was such a sweet little lady, it’s true ‘small things come in small packages’ our Dadi was a delight, she was/is truly extraordinary. She was our world. I want to thank you all for making her feel special last year, she loved the attention.”
“A big thank you to @virat.kohli you made her feel extra special, meeting you and @rohitsharma45 was the best day of her life (she told us this on multiple occasions). May Lord Shiva bless her atman always, please say a prayer”, they added.
As the news spread on the Internet, Twitterati offered condolence to Team India’s SuperFan Dadi Charulata Patel.
The ICC (International Cricket Council) on Thursday shared its condolences on Twitter as well. The tweet read, “R.I.P Charulata Patel ji, the 87-year-old superfan who cheered India on at #CWC19.”
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan took to Twitter to offer condolences to Team India’s superfan Charulata Patel.
“RIP Charulata Patel Ji… Will always remember your passion for the game. Thank you for your unconditional love and support” he wrote.
Official Team India Supporters Group, Bharat Army offers condolence to Charulata Patel and wrote, “RIP to one of Team India’s biggest fans Charulata Patel. We will forever support your beloved #TeamIndia with as much pride and passion as you did.”
A user wrote: “#TeamIndia’s SuperFan Dadi #CharulataPatel passed away. May the free spirited soul rest in Peace! #Cricket is so lucky to have her as superfan! Love you Dadi! We will miss you #Dadi!”
A post read, “#TeamIndia’s 87-year-old #Superfan #CharulataPatel passes away. The 87-year-old lady who garnered overnight attention across the world after watching the Indian team play in last year’s #WorldCup passed away on January 13. She had won almost everyone’s heart.”
(IANS)
Ms Kalinga