HomeNewsIND vs NZ 2nd Test: 4,000 underprivileged children witness match
India vs New Zealand 2nd Test: 4,000 underprivileged children witness match
Around 4,000 underprivileged children from the city and suburbs lit up L block of the otherwise vacant Eden Gardens for the first day of India's second Test against New Zealand on Friday.
Kolkata: Around 4,000 underprivileged children from the city and suburbs lit up L block of the otherwise vacant Eden Gardens for the first day of India’s second Test against New Zealand on Friday. All of them were at the stadium for the first time. India skipper Virat Kohli (9) getting out cheaply in the first session was a big letdown for most of them. India managed 239 for 7 at stumps on the first day. “Eden is so big. I never realised it on television,” is how Achinta Sarkar reacted when asked how he liked being at the iconic venue. “Virat got out. I am so sad. But I am watching cricket so close for the first time. I have asked for permission from my supervisor if I can stay till the end of the day,” said Raju Kundu, who came from Howrah.
A group of girls sat together enjoying the game. Smita, who studies in class IV and is from Liluah, said: “It is great fun. This is my first time. And I am enjoying thoroughly.” Kids came from Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata, under an initiative taken by Lions Club and supported by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to promote the sport among the kids. Earlier, India’s first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev lamented that during his cricketing days, selectors used to call the shots and not the captains as it happens nowadays. Kapil, one of India’s greatest players, was speaking during the lunch-time talk show at the photo exhibition commemorating India’s 500 Tests. On the dais were former India captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly, Sehwag and current India coach Anil Kumble.
Answering points made by dashing former India opener Virender Sehwag that behind every successful player’s is the backing of his captain, Kapil, who captained India to World Cup glory in 1983, said, “I think during our time, behind a successful player there needed (to be) a successful selector.”
“It happens now that the captain is the boss. In our time, in one generation 6-7 captains were playing. I hoped selectors would have changed during that point and new selectors would come who would give the responsibility to the captain and his job is over,” Kapil said
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