T20 World Cup 2022: Die-hard Indian team fan Bhavishan Rai about to watch 635th match from stands

Team India have officially made it to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as the side is set to lock horns with England on Thursday, November 10. Since their first outing in the Super 12 campaign, fans have turned up in large numbers to support the Men in Blue and boost their morale.

Team India has always relished a massive following all across the world wherever they play as fans turn up in large numbers in support of the side. However, such is not the case with one particular fan as he has gone a notch ahead of othersl.

A die-hard fan of the sport, Bhavishan Rai fell in love with the ga,e at the age of 17 when he watched Kapil Dev’s iconic 175 against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells back in 1983. An IT professional, Rai has made the trip Down Under from Bedford, located on the outskirts of London, to Australia to witness India in action.

Rai's grandfather moved from Jalandhar to England in the 1960s and has lived his life there. Meanwhile, he is set to make his 635th appearance in the stands to cheer the Men in Blue in the forthcoming contest against England on November 10. The 57-year-old has followed the side during India’s win in the 1983 World Cup in England, the 2007 ICC World T20 in South Africa, and the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.

“I was among the thousands of fans who ran at Lord’s when India defeated West Indies to clinch their maiden World Cup. I saw Kapil’s 175 at a deserted ground with only a few fans. However, for Indians living in England, the proudest moment came when India defeated England in 1986. It was more than winning the World Cup for them, especially since a lot of them had gone through many personal attacks,” he told Indian Express.

Undoubtedly, Rai holds a special distinction among all the fans as he is now set to watch a mind-boggling 635th match from the stands. Like Rai, the rest of the Indian fans will hope India plays a great game of cricket against the Three Lions and cruises into the finals.