“I love you Virat, please accept my gift…” A Kolkata fan wants to add color to Virat Kohli’s birthday, but he doesn’t have a ticket for the WC Sunday match

“I love Virat, he is my God and I really want to be able to give this painting to him”, 27-year-old Subhajit Saha from Kolkata is having sleepless nights. His excitement knows no bounds, the man of his life Virat Kohli has landed in his city of joy for the India Vs South Africa World Cup match on November 5 at Eden Gardens.

Cricket is a religion in India, and fans across the country worship various cricket players like their demi-gods, and Subhajit is no exception, he too like the others, worships the star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. Seated on the road outside Eden Gardens under the sweltering sun, the Mecca of Indian cricket, Subhajit paints a mesmerizing picture of Kohli, with a wish in his heart, to be able to gift it to the ace cricketer on his birthday, also on November 5.

Ahead of the India vs. South Africa World Cup match slated on November 5, this ardent Kohli fan very diligently perfects the bust of his favorite cricketer that he has been painting for hours, the honking cars, flying buses, or the roadside vendors were not a distraction for him because he has his heart set on his idol, Virat Kohli. “Virat is my favorite player, and much like a ritual, I paint my favorite player before a match. So, I am here to paint, before the next World Cup match in Eden on Sunday”, says the crazy Virat fan.

As an artist, Subhajit chose to pick up the bushes and paint the dreams that he has long harbored in his heart. A Botany Honors graduate from Ashutosh College in Kolkata, Subhajit decided to take to painting over a secure job, to make time for what he loves, and that is to play cricket. However, life wasn’t always kind to him; he had to maneuver life through its stormy seas to drive his dreams to fruition. “Since childhood, I have loved cricket. When I was 23, I started playing cricket professionally and played for various club tournaments, and that is when I decided to do this for the rest of my life. After my graduation, I did not take up a 9-5 job because that would not allow me to dedicate enough time to this sport, so, I took to painting”, said Subhajit. The 27-year-old artist claims that this decision was an easy one to take. He willingly chose to sacrifice a life of comfort and take to drawing and dedicate the rest to playing cricket.

Much like several other middle-class families across the country, Subhajit’s parents also doubted their son’s career trajectory. “My folks were dead against this. First cricket and then as an artist, they doubted almost everything I did. In fact, they still do, but I will continue to put up this fight against my parents and the world at large to realize my dreams”, he said. It isn’t easy to make ends meet as an artist, and time and again, Subhajit doubted the process, but then he never gave up.

The Covid lockdown opened the gates to a very colorful future before this self-taught artist. He simply fails to fathom that a boredom-induced hobby has now become his whole life. Subhajit says that he never received formal training for his art; he emulated the stylistic jargon from the works of famous artists, picked up techniques from YouTube videos, took tips from the real world, and then carefully concocted his own unique style that has been loved and appreciated by many.

“Every morning, I pack my supplies, pick up my canvas and easel and step out into the world to paint these pictures”, said the self-taught artist, outlining what a normal day in his life looks like. As a professional artist, social media has been a great boon for him because it is here on the World Wide Web that he sells his creations to make a living. “There’s Facebook, Instagram, from various friends and acquaintances, and from painting on the streets that I get my orders from. Yes, at times it is not sufficient, I can feel life catch up to me, but I never give up because this is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” said Subhajit.

Speaking about Virat Kohli with nothing by sheer passion in his glinting eyes, Saha said, “The world tried to write him off, but Virat rose from his own ashes and maybe that’s why I resonate with him the way I do.” The ardent Kohli fan thinks about becoming a person and a cricketer like the man of his life. “I am painting a story here. I am painting everything that is close to Virat’s heart on this canvas. I will complete this painting with a chess board where I will portray Kohli as the king of this game of cricket,” said Subhajit who has found solace in this canvas, seated outside Eden Gardens, perfecting his art while the world carries on with the mundanities of daily life.

Subhajit has a wish in his heart, he wants to hand this painting to Virat on Sunday, however, he has failed to procure a match ticket much like the others who are grappling with the scarcity of tickets. “I want to give this to Virat, that is my only wish. Previously, I have painted pictures of other players, but Virat Kohli is at the very core of my heart. I really want Virat to allow me to give this to him, this will be a very big opportunity for me.” says Subhajit with a glint of determination and hope concealed in his smile.