Morne Morkel
South Africa bowler Morne Morkel (3L) is congratulated by teammates after dismissing unseen Indian batsman Virat Kohli during the first day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town on January 5, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)

There is no doubt about the fact that fans go crazy about their religion in India which is none other than cricket. Cricketers are hero worshipped, with Virat Kohli at the top, and given the status of demigods.

Craziness for cricket in India is well known, but it reached a new high when as per reports a 63-year-old man set himself on fire after Indian skipper Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply during the opening day of the 1st of the three-match Test series played at the Newlands in Cape Town.

Earlier in the day, it was a sensational piece of swing bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar which reduced the hosts to 12/3, but later it was vital partnerships between Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers which propelled the hosts to a respectable total of 286 in their 1st innings. Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock also played an attacking innings, but Bhuvneshwar eventually had the last laugh after going for some runs.

India was in a precarious situation from the outset and courtesy impressive fast bowling by the Proteas bowlers, India was reduced to 92/7. From there on it was Hardik Pandya who resurrected the innings and shared a brilliant partnership of 99 runs. Meanwhile coming back to Kohli’s dismissal, it affected Ratlam’s 63-year-old fan named Babulal Bairwa so much that he put petrol on himself and set himself ablaze in an attempt to commit suicide.

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Virat Kohli

The resident of the Jawra Fatak Road was taken to a nearby hospital. His wife spotted him first and immediately tried to interrupt, but by then he had several burns. The most affected areas were the head, and the hands which were burnt while attempting put out the fire reports Amar Ujala.

Meanwhile, suicide attempts following cricket disappointments are nothing new in India as reports of people committing suicide started doing the rounds following India’s humiliating exit from the 2007 World Cup.

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A Cricket Expert who loves revolving his life around the game. An extremely passionate music lover who loves singing and listening to Arijit Singh songs.