A few minutes after the lunch break was called at Kanpur’s Green Park stadium and the drizzle had subsided, an unusual scene unfolded in front of the media entrance gate. Roby, the well-known Bangladesh cricket superfan who dons a tiger costume during matches, was seen being escorted by a few police constables, appearing lifeless at first glance. When curious onlookers inquired about what had happened, Roby suddenly sprang to life, pointing energetically towards his hip and struggling to explain his plight through sobs. Those who managed to decipher his words believed he had been beaten up and was attempting to show his injuries, though the marks were not easily visible around his tiger costume.
A frustrated cameraman, abandoning his freshly lit cigarette, rushed closer to capture the scene. Roby, known for his dramatic reactions, often finds it challenging to be taken seriously, but this time, his claims were significant. The incident occurred at a time when authorities in Kanpur were striving to project a credible image as worthy organizers of Test cricket, especially with the rising competition from the new center of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) in Lucknow.
A quick investigation by the surrounding policemen yielded a range of responses:
“Pata nahi, Bangali mein kuch bol raha hai” (Not sure, he’s saying something in Bengali)
“Pet pakad kar gir gaya tha. Gas hua hoga shaayad” (He was holding his stomach, must be some gastric trouble)
“Arey, kuch nahi hua. Nautanki hai” (Nothing happened, he’s being dramatic)
One of the policemen dismissed the possibility of Roby being beaten up, citing the omnipresence of CCTV cameras. However, requests to view the footage were ignored.
For nearly two hours before the incident, while the cricket match progressed, Roby was enthusiastically dancing and waving the Bangladesh flag from a section of the ‘C Stand’ that had been blocked off due to safety concerns. The reasons for his presence in that area are varied. Some suggest that the organizers wanted to isolate him from the Indian crowd, while others believe he chose to be there. Approximately two hours later, he was brought back to the main seating area, where the rest of the spectators were. This transition appeared to create tension.
Witnesses reported that Roby provoked the Indian fans with insults and continued waving his flag, leading to aggressive confrontations.
. One fan allegedly grabbed Roby’s shoulder firmly during the altercation. Although it remains unclear whether Roby was physically attacked, the escalating tension was evident.
Roby was eventually transported to a hospital half an hour away in a production van. There, he underwent X-ray and CT scans, which provided another, more official perspective on the incident. Abhishek Pandey, the Assistant Commissioner of Police from Kalyanpur, stated that Roby had experienced a bout of illness, causing him to collapse. Later, in a video recorded at the hospital and released by the police, Roby corroborated ACP Pandey’s account.
As the off-field drama unfolded, the cricket match at Green Park also faced interruptions due to another predicted spell of heavier rain. The day had been relatively uneventful on the cricketing front, with India opting to field three pacers for the first time in a home Test since 2015. Akash Deep claimed two wickets, and R. Ashwin surpassed Anil Kumble to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Asia. Bangladesh managed to reach 107 for 3 in the 35 overs of play before the rain interruption.
Meanwhile, the crowd inside the stadium included school children and other spectators who settled in despite the rain. Langurs were deployed to manage a monkey menace that had emerged within the premises. Outside the stadium, additional chaos ensued as two right-wing groups staged protests against hosting the Bangladesh cricket team, driven by political and social upheaval in the neighboring country. However, these protests were brief, with the groups dispersing after a short period of sloganeering in front of cameras.
The day’s events highlighted that Test cricket in India offers a comprehensive range of experiences beyond just the sport. From dramatic fan altercations to social and political protests, from animal interventions to unpredictable weather, the spectacle of cricket encompasses the good, the bad, the ugly, the amusing, and the absurd, with the remarkable moments of bat and ball woven in between.