I reached Wankhede Stadium at 8.45 a.m. I drove my Vespa into the parking area and parked it. I started walking towards the IT room located on the second floor of the stadium. On my right, the ground was filled with cricket players, all wearing the Indian practice jersey. They were in the middle of a net session, and the sound of the bats hitting the balls filled the air. I watched as they took turns batting and fielding, their faces intense with concentration. My heart froze for a second when I realized that I was actually standing there watching Gaurav Sharma, a 33-year-old world No. 1 batsman, play-a guy whom every cricket fan wished to meet at least once in their lifetime. I had never expected to be so close to someone I had admired for so long. Little did I know, a voice coming from the other side of the corridor would be the one to thaw my frozen heart.
I turned towards the voice, and there was a man professionally dressed walking towards me. He had a confident stride and a kind smile on his face. He stopped in front of me and asked, "Are you here for the interview?" I nodded my head and said yes. He smiled at me and said, "Mr. Patel is waiting for you inside. Good luck!" I thanked him for his guidance, and I nervously knocked on the door, and a voice from inside said, "Yes, please!" Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was filled with an imposing aura. Sitting in the middle of the room was Mr. Patel, one of the chair members of BCCI. He was the person I had come to meet.
I wished him a good morning, and he replied in kind. He gestured at the chair in front of him and asked me to take a seat.
I handed him my resume and biodata files, which he quickly glanced through. Then he asked me to introduce myself.
I started speaking,
"My name is Tara. I am 25 years old. I am basically from Tamil Nadu and have lived in Mumbai for the past 4 years. I had always been passionate about cricket. I am an avid fan and have never missed a chance to catch a match on television. But it was only four years ago, when I graduated in engineering, that I realized I could turn my passion into a profession. I started preparing for a career in sports analytics. I am currently working as a data analyst for an IT company in Mumbai. But now, I wanted to use my skills to pursue my dream of becoming a sports analyst. I worked hard, studying the game and its nuances and putting my knowledge into practice. I read up on the latest trends in sports analytics and spoke to people in the industry to gain more insights."
Mr. Patel nodded. "Well, that's a great thing. Having passion and profession complement each other can really help you reach your goals." We discussed the job further, and finally, Mr. Patel smiled and said, "Tara, you are the perfect candidate we are looking for to work as a data analyst for our team. Welcome to our team and show us your great work!"
I couldn't believe my ears. I was overjoyed and thanked Mr. Patel profusely. He told me I could officially join the team tomorrow, and I thanked him again before leaving the place with a huge smile on my face.
The sun was setting as I made my way back home. I was filled with a sense of joy and accomplishment that I had never felt before. As I drove back, I couldn't help but smile, my heart bursting with happiness.
I had been dreaming of this moment for so long, and now it had finally come true.
The streets were bustling with people, and I couldn't help but feel connected to them all. I felt like I was part of something bigger, something special.
The streets were alive with music and laughter, and I was filled with a sense of belonging. I was part of something bigger, something I had been searching for my entire life.
As I made my way back home, I felt a sense of pride and joy that I had never experienced before.
It was 9 p.m., and I was getting ready for bed. I had made sure to prepare everything I needed for my first day at work tomorrow. I had to make a good impression on the boys, and I couldn't afford to be late or make any mistakes.
I was so excited for my first official introduction to the boys that I could hardly contain my excitement. I hopped into bed and closed my eyes, hoping for a good night's sleep.
Little did I know that this was the start of a journey that would take me to places I had never dreamed of.