Bharat Army’s 8,000 fans from 22 countries to converge for ICC World Cup

The Bharat Army started with four fans bumping into each other throughout the 1999 World Cup in the UK. Since then, thanks to the four men’s efforts, it has grown manifold.

Published : Mar 21, 2019 15:14 IST , London

The Bharat Army will be in full strength to support the Indian cricket team during the ICC World Cup in UK.
The Bharat Army will be in full strength to support the Indian cricket team during the ICC World Cup in UK.
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The Bharat Army will be in full strength to support the Indian cricket team during the ICC World Cup in UK.

Bharat Army, the Indian equivalent of Barmy Army, will have nearly 8000 fans from 22 countries converge in the United Kingdom and support Virat Kohli’s team in the upcoming World Cup, according to the International Cricket Council.

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The Bharat Army started with four fans bumping into each other throughout the 1999 World Cup in the UK. Since then, thanks to the four men’s efforts, it has grown manifold.

It will have a presence of at least 5,000-6,000 fans at every India match.

“The Bharat Army has now grown from being a UK-based supporters’ group to having a global presence with regional heads,” Rakesh Patel, one of the founders, was quoted as saying by the ICC.

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“(They) help grow our supporters’ group in the UK, India, UAE, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.”

Patel has been travelling the world for almost 30 years supporting India at different stadiums.

“I have hundreds of ticket stubs and match-day programmes of all the matches I’ve been to around the world,” he said.

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“Including that first match I saw live in 1990 at Trent Bridge, and Sachin’s (Tendulkar) last match representing India — I followed his whole career like many Indians, so had to be in Mumbai to see his last moment.”

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