Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary
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Chaudhary at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai; having body painted on him the Flag of India as well as the Jersey number and name of Sachin Tendulkar.
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| Born | 20 February 1981 |
| Nationality | Indian |
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| Years active | 2003 - present |
| Known for | Supporting the Indian national cricket team and Sachin Tendulkar |
Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, also known as Sudhir Kumar Gautam, is a famous Indian cricket fan. He is well-known for being a huge supporter of the Indian cricket team and the legendary player Sachin Tendulkar. People recognize him because he has attended almost every home match the Indian team has played since 2007. For some matches played outside India, he even collects money from the public to travel. You can often spot him in the stadium with his body painted in the national colors of India, waving the Indian flag during live TV broadcasts of the games.
Contents
About Sudhir Chaudhary
Early Life and Dedication
Sudhir Chaudhary grew up in a very humble family in a small town called Muzaffarpur, in Bihar, India. He fell in love with Indian cricket and became a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar when he was just 6 years old. He stopped his studies at age 14 while he was in secondary school. Before becoming a full-time cricket fan, he worked for a milk company and also trained to be a teacher.
Sudhir's passion for cricket is so strong that he reportedly put off getting married so he could travel and watch all the matches played by the Indian team. This dedication to cricket has sometimes made his parents worried. Sudhir is a Hindu and attended the special ceremony for the Ram Mandir in January 2024.
How He Supports the Team
Since 2003, Sudhir's main goal has been to watch and support the Indian cricket team. By April 2010, he had already attended about 150 matches! He often traveled long distances by bicycle to reach the stadiums. For example, he cycled all the way to Bangladesh in 2007 and to Lahore, Pakistan, in 2006 to watch games. To save money, he sometimes traveled on trains without a ticket.
When he goes to matches, he paints his body with the three colors of the Indian flag. He usually paints Sachin Tendulkar's name on his chest. He also carries a conch shell, which he blows to welcome the Indian team. Sudhir paints his body the day before a match and often stays awake all night to make sure the paint doesn't smudge. In 2003, he cycled for 21 days from Muzaffarpur to Mumbai to watch Sachin play against Australia. This was the first time he started supporting India by waving the Indian flag at a match.
Sudhir's Big Moment: The 2011 World Cup
Meeting His Hero, Sachin Tendulkar
During the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Sudhir wore a special crown shaped like the World Cup trophy. His most memorable moment happened on April 2, 2011. This was the day India won the World Cup by defeating Sri Lanka in the final match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
After the victory, Sachin Tendulkar himself saw Sudhir in the cheering crowd. Sachin called him to the Indian team's dressing room to join their celebrations! Sachin asked another player, Zaheer Khan, to bring the World Cup trophy over. Sachin shook hands with Sudhir, gave him a hug, and then let him lift the trophy. Sudhir even got to hold the World Cup alongside Sachin and pose for photographs. It was a dream come true for him!
Challenges Sudhir Has Faced
Incidents at Matches
Being such a dedicated fan can sometimes lead to challenges.
- In March 2010, a senior police officer stopped and hit Sudhir in Kanpur. This happened when Sudhir tried to shake hands with Sachin Tendulkar during a practice session. Later, Sachin stepped in and asked for Sudhir to be released. The police officer apologized for what happened. After this incident, Sachin advised Sudhir not to climb fences to reach the team. Since then, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has sponsored Sudhir for every home match of the Indian team.
- In 2015, during a cricket series between India and Bangladesh in Mirpur, Sudhir was attacked and bothered by some Bangladesh fans who were booing India. He was scared for his safety but was eventually rescued by the Bangladesh Police.
- In 2022, Sudhir was beaten by police officers in Muzaffarpur when he went to the police station to ask about his brother's arrest. It was ironic because the same police station had invited him for its opening ceremony two years earlier.
See also
- Cricket in India
