It was in Manchester, and the India versus South Africa game had just ended. We were making our way to Trafford College, right opposite Old Trafford, when I spotted her. There was a lady wearing an India jersey, silently weeping. I didn’t think much of it at the time because I was in a rush to get to the show and get started.
About 30 minutes into the show, Trisha Ghosal walked up to me and said there was a fan who followed us regularly. She had flown in from New York and looked utterly distraught. Could we have a word with her and perhaps cheer her up? It turned out to be the same woman I had noticed earlier.
She was an Indian professional based in New York who had travelled to England for the World Cup after buying tickets to all of India’s matches, as well as the semi-finals.
“I follow the team around the world,” she said. “It was always my dream to come and watch them play in a World Cup in England, and I’ve bought tickets for every game, including the India-Australia match at Lord’s.”
Before I could respond, she continued. “I’ve also got tickets for the semi-finals and am hoping somehow we make it. Otherwise, all of this effort will have been in vain.”
You could sense both the excitement and the nervous energy. These are the fans who have made the game what it is, and they deserve to be celebrated.
Since then, we have got to know Mansi well. That very night, she travelled from Manchester to Edinburgh simply to refocus and recharge.
“I’ll book myself into a hostel and just explore the city,” she said. “This defeat is hurting, and a trip to Edinburgh might be the therapy I need.”
As we were getting ready for our post-show after the India-Bangladesh game, once again in Manchester, Trisha came up to me and said Mansi was back and wanted to say hello. This time, she had brought each of us a packet of Walkers biscuits from Edinburgh.
“It’s just something I got for all of you,” she said, almost apologetically. “Nothing fancy – just biscuits. I’m told they’re very Scottish.”
For me, it was the gesture that mattered.
She follows all of RevSportz’s women’s cricket broadcasts and keeps up diligently with both Trisha and Snehashish. She tracks the team and watches every game. Those biscuits became a simple gesture that created an invisible bond between her and us, between the media and the fans – two constituencies that together make the game what it is.
Mansi has since appeared on a few of our shows and, I must say, has consistently made thoughtful and pertinent points. She isn’t one of those rabble-rousers or sensationalists who speak merely for effect. Nor is she a cheerleader masquerading as a fan. She understands the game and follows it with genuine passion. That is why we invited her on our shows, and why we would happily do so again if our paths cross in the future.
“You must come to my house in New York when you’re there, Boria Sir, Trisha and Snehashish,” she said.
It wasn’t a casual invitation. It came from a place of genuine warmth. She appreciates the work being done and understands how difficult it is to sustain that level of commitment and intensity.
It is for fans like Mansi that you keep raising the bar. They aren’t in it for likes, reposts or social media mileage. They aren’t trying to become internet celebrities. They simply love the game and follow it with unwavering passion.
At the end of the Australia match, it was obvious she was crestfallen. Yet she kept saying she would continue to support the team and watch every game they played. That’s what real fandom looks like. Ask the difficult questions. Offer constructive criticism. Make your point. But draw the line before it turns toxic.
Mansi understands that balance and stays true to it. Here’s a shout-out to her, and to the countless fans like her, who make all of this worthwhile.
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