By Bipin Dani
The Arun Jaitley Stadium was buzzing with excitement as fans gathered in large numbers to witness former India captain Virat Kohli playing his first Ranji Trophy match for Delhi after a hiatus of nearly 15 years. The anticipation turned into stunned silence when Kohli was clean bowled by Himanshu Sangwan, a 29-year-old right-arm fast bowler from the Railways team.
“Yes, obviously, the fans came here to see him batting today and not our players. It was no surprise when they were disappointed,” said Atul Sharma, the Railway team manager, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Delhi. “But this is a game of chance, and it was a ‘beauty’ bowled by our fast bowler. I appreciate the crowd when they also cheered the bowler after the fall of Virat’s wicket. Virat’s wicket changed the complexion of the game to that extent.”
Interestingly, Sangwan, who still officiates as a ticket collector in New Delhi, has drawn comparisons to former Team India skipper MS Dhoni, who was also a ticket examiner in his early days. “Hope our Sangwan also plays for the country. He has taken five wickets in domestic cricket before,” Sharma added.
Surender Sangwan, Himanshu’s father and a retired bank officer, expressed mixed emotions. “It is unfortunate that Kohli was out, but we are happy that his wicket was grabbed by my son,” he said. Surender also shared insights into his son’s future, stating, “At present, Himanshu has no plan to quit this Railways ticket collector job. Dhoni is Dhoni. Let my son first settle in the game. His wish is to play in the IPL and for India. He has kept his marriage plan on hold.”
Himanshu’s mother, Bhagwati Rati, is a retired principal, and his two married sisters are well settled in the medical and engineering professions. The elder sister and her husband are doctors in Rajasthan, while the other sister is settled in Singapore with her husband, Anand Prakash, an Indian ethical hacker.
Adding to the Railway team’s joy, Delhi’s captain Ayush Badoni missed his century by just one run, getting out for 99.
As Kohli’s return to Ranji Trophy cricket elicited mixed reactions, it also spotlighted Himanshu Sangwan’s promising talent. The young bowler’s moment of brilliance and his journey from a ticket collector to a potential cricket star have become a talking point, reminding everyone of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the sport.
