World Cup 2019: 5 Spirit of Cricket Moments in league stage

The Cricket World Cup always produces a wide spectrum of emotions. While some players reach cloud nine and think they own the world, some players simply wish to dig up a hole on the face of the earth to hide. When New Zealand defeated the West Indies by a very slender margin, Carlos Brathwaite must have felt the same, but the Kiwis consoled him.

Chasing a huge total of 292, West Indies were once 164/7. From there, Brathwaite almost pulled off a miracle, but lost his wicket in the penultimate over. He was seemingly dejected, and Kane Williamson & Co. tried their best to lift his spirit. “Congratulations on a great knock, keep your head held high because you did your country proud,” Ross Taylor said to him. Every member of the Blackcaps congratulated Brathwaite on his amazing knock.

One centurion consoles another.#SpiritOfCricket ???? pic.twitter.com/dAdvtpRuIg

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 22, 2019

4. David Warner gifts Man of the Match trophy to young fan

Cricket fans are extremely passionate and treat their favourite cricketers like deities. Hence, getting even a glimpse of them feels like winning a lottery. For a very young Australian fan, it was like winning the mother of all lotteries when she received the man of the match award won by David Warner.

After getting banned for the infamous sandpapergate incident, David Warner has engaged himself in a lot of community work. In an important match against Pakistan at County Ground in Taunton, Warner scored a match-winning 107. After the game, a six-year-old superfan was waiting to see her favourite cricketers board the team bus. Warner, who is a father of two young girls, noticed her and gifted her the prized man of the match award. “We were waving out the flag as he was passing by and he just came over. I really like him,” she said.

3. Rohit Sharma gives signed hat to the injured spectator

One Indian fan too got a golden opportunity to receive a gift from a cricketer, but the situation was a bit different this time. Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant 104 against Bangladesh at Edgbaston. He scored 5 maximums in the process, one of which hit a lady spectator in the stands.

Known to be an out and out gentleman, the Mumbaikar checked on the Indian fan after the game was over. He also handed her a signed hat as a gesture of apology. BCCI later tweeted the picture of the woman receiving a signed yellow hat from the opener.

She got hit by a @ImRo45 maximum and the opener was kind enough to check on her and give her a signed hat.#CWC19 pic.twitter.com/KqFqrpC7dS

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2019

2. Virat Kohli gave free tickets to 87-year-old superfan

While Rohit Sharma was busy hitting Bangladeshi bowlers out of the park, the cameramen were quick to notice an old lady blowing a horn passionately. She was fortunate enough to meet Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after the game. The latter was seen sharing a good laugh with the lady, who goes by the name of Charulata Patel.

The Indian skipper promised her to give tickets to their last league stage game against Sri Lanka at Leeds. As expected, Mrs. Patel was seen at Headingley, cheering for the men in blue with the same enthusiasm at the dusk of her life. “Dear Charulata ji, It is so inspiring to see your love and passion for our team and I hope you enjoy the games with your family. Lots of love and regards, Virat,” wrote Kohli.

Hello Charulata ji. #TeamIndia captain @imVkohli promised her tickets and our superfan is here with us is in Leeds.???? #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/lKqbVllLjc

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 6, 2019

1. Virat Kohli asks fans to stop booing Steve Smith

Some might find it strange that Virat Kohli, who is known to be extremely aggressive, has made it to this twice. But his gesture in the match against Australia will be spoken about by many, and will be used as an example for the perfect cricketer’s behaviour.

The Indian fans were having a field day at Kennington Oval, with their team outsmarting the Aussies. To make it worse for them, they started booing Steve Smith and called him names for the sandpapergate incident. Virat Kohli, though, was extremely unimpressed at this. He ran out towards the fans and gestured them to stop booing.

He pleaded the fans to show respect towards the Australian great. “It was a lovely gesture by Virat. It doesn’t really bother me what the crowds do to be perfectly honest. I am just blocking it all out but it was a lovely gesture from him,” Smith said after the game.