West Delhi, often recognized today for its bustling streets and vibrant atmosphere, paints a different picture if we turn back the clock to the late 1940s. This area, primarily known as refugee land, wasn’t too high on the radar when it came to urban development. The essentials for the people were basic: securing shelter, food, and access to education and public transportation. Before India shook off British control in 1947, Karol Bagh represented the western fringes of what Delhi was, sitting now at the core of the city. Stretching further west promised land that was less fertile, unfit for agriculture or real estate at the time.
However, the gruesome Partition changed that narrative dramatically. Floods of displaced individuals, predominantly Sikhs and Hindu Punjabis, swarmed into the region, ballooning Delhi’s population by an astounding 90 percent over a five-year period. Refugee colonies like Punjabi Bagh, Rajinder Nagar, Moti Nagar, and Rajouri Garden quickly emerged, forming the lifeblood of West Delhi. What once belonged to Mughals and later the British, now bore the vigorous spirit of the Punjabi community.
Fast forward to early 1998, Rajkumar Sharma, an esteemed cricket coach, initiated an ambitious project—a cricket academy hoping to harness the potential of young aspirants. Distributed in nearby schools, Sharma’s prospectus transformed the neighborhood’s bulletin boards into portals of opportunity. On May 30th of that year, around 400 eager children, along with their parents, gathered at the academy’s first venue, St Xavier’s Convent. Among them was a budding talent named Virat Kohli, then only nine but eminent with promise. Sharma reflects on that time, nostalgically recounting dubbing Kohli as “naughty” yet extraordinary in talent.
Within mere months, Kohli’s prodigious potential was evident and unmistakable. Coaches at the academy were quick to vouch for his exceptional skill, certain that his future in cricket was destined for success. Rajkumar Sharma fondly shares tales of these formative years, occasionally confirming or debunking legendary stories with a mix of pride and humor.
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However, the journey wasn’t devoid of its trials. One such moment that deeply resonates with Rajkumar is the death of Virat’s father, Prem Kohli, in December 2006. The impact was seismic, shaking those close to him. Sharma recounts an emotional phone call from an inconsolable Kohli, who was in the throes of a critical Ranji Trophy match at that juncture. Despite the personal loss, Kohli’s determination to bat was unwavering, and he courageously stood his ground on the field the following day, scoring a princely 90 runs amid a wave of admiration.
What Rajkumar Sharma witnessed next was a testament to Kohli’s deep-seated passion. Over a lunch call that day, Virat, rather than dwelling on his personal tragedy, lamented over being wrongly given out before reaching a century. Such was the fervor for his craft—an attribute Sharma acknowledges as the cornerstone of Kohli’s success.
As time unfolded, Rajkumar Sharma continued to be a significant influence in Virat’s life. A father figure and mentor, their relationship transcended basic teacher-student dynamics. Sharma, who accompanied Kohli to Malaysia in 2008 for the Under-19 World Cup, where Kohli led India to victory, cherishes that journey of nurturing immense talent. By year’s end, Kohli had already marked his territory in ODIs, lighting up the cricketing world and setting his sight on records that once seemed insurmountable.
In 2016, Rajkumar Sharma was rightly honored with the Dronacharya Award for his remarkable coaching accomplishments. Reflecting on his career, Sharma often muses that his fulfillment now, through nurturing successes like Kohli, far outweighs the brief cricketing career he once envisioned for himself.
Taking a moment to absorb the legacy built around him, Rajkumar’s impact, both on and off the field, is echoed in the shops and streets of West Delhi. Here, the sense of pride in Kohli and his coach resonates warmly among the community, marking West Delhi as not just a crowded locale but a deeply interconnected family. This spirit and sense of unity are perhaps the most enduring markers of the area’s transformation from a post-partition refuge to a hub of cricketing excellence.