A few minutes past the lunch break at Kanpur’s Green Park, the drizzle had just ceased when police constables were suddenly seen carrying Roby, the well-known Bangladesh cricket superfan who habitually dresses up as a tiger during matches, towards the media entrance. Initially appearing lifeless, Roby abruptly transitioned to an animated state after being questioned about his condition. Energetically pointing to his hip, his tearful complaint was not entirely comprehensible, but those nearby gathered that he claimed to have been attacked, attempting to show supposed injury marks not discernible through his tiger costume.
A perturbed cameraman quickly discarded his cigarette to rush closer. Long acquaintances of Roby attest to his propensity for dramatic responses, often resulting in skepticism towards his claims. However, this episode raised serious concerns, especially given the rigorous efforts by Kanpur’s authorities to establish their capability as reliable Test cricket hosts amidst growing competition from UPCA’s new Lucknow center.
Responses from nearby police officers varied widely upon querying the incident:
“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 policeman outright dismissed the prospect of Roby being assaulted, emphasizing, “That possibility doesn’t arise at all. We have CCTV cameras everywhere.” Yet, requests to review the footage were subsequently ignored.
Prior to the unfolding drama, Roby had been fervently dancing and waving the Bangladesh flag from the secluded ‘C Stand,’ designated off-limits to the public for safety reasons. The reasons for his location there were ambiguous—some suggesting it was an organizational decision to separate him from Indian fans, others positing that he chose the spot himself. Approximately two hours later, organizers noticed him and moved him to a stand with general spectators.
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UPCA officials evaded comment, but witnesses observed Roby’s visible reluctance during his relocation. Friction soon arose between him and Indian fans, witnesses claiming Roby provoked them with insults. Reactions from the crowd included attempts to prevent him from waving his flag, culminating in heated exchanges and an Indian fan being seen forcefully gripping his shoulder. However, Cricbuzz could not confirm allegations of Roby being physically assaulted.
Roby was eventually transported to a hospital located half an hour away in a production van, undergoing X-ray and CT scans. A subsequent, official narrative emerged: Abhishek Pandey, Assistant Commissioner of Police from Kalyanpur, disclosed that Roby’s health issue led to his collapse rather than any form of physical altercation. In a hospital video later released by the police, Roby corroborated the account provided by ACP Pandey.
While off-field drama waned, the on-field cricket activities also came to an abrupt halt due to another anticipated, heavier downpour. India fielded three pacers, electing to bowl first in a home Test since 2015. Despite the brief 35 overs played, Akash Deep claimed two wickets and R. Ashwin surpassed Anil Kumble as the second-highest wicket-taker in Asia, while Bangladesh reached a score of 107 for 3, showcasing resilient batting.
In the midst of all this, the atmosphere outside the playing area was no less eventful. School children settled in, crowds filled seats amidst intermittent rains, and langurs were deployed to manage a monkey menace in the stadium. Concurrently, outside the ground, protests from two right-wing groups surfaced, objecting to hosting the Bangladesh team due to socio-political turmoil in the neighboring nation. However, the protests were fleeting, with demonstrators dissipating soon after brief sloganeering.
Friday’s multifaceted events at Kanpur’s Green Park underscored that the significance of the ongoing Test match transcended merely accruing World Test Championship points. It served as a vivid reminder that cricket in India encompasses the full spectrum of experiences—the joyous, the grim, the humorous, the absurd, and occasionally, a snippet of the actual bat-and-ball game.