India-England Barabati ODI: Cricket not just a game but a source of livelihood for this Divyang Bhadrak man

The stage is all set for a high-voltage India-England match at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. A lot of cricket enthusiasts are upbeat and are looking forward to the second ODI in the ongoing series between India and England at the stadium.

Those who have managed to book tickets are on cloud nine. However, a lot of fans are still looking for tickets or passes even though the match is scheduled to start in the next couple of hours.

All the roads in the millennium city in Cuttack leading to Barabati stadium got choked as cricket enthusiasts from different parts of Odisha started arriving in Cuttack since early morning on Sunday. Though cricket is a means of entertainment for several people, it is a source of livelihood for a cricket enthusiast from Bhadrak district.

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Meet Bidyadhar Das, a Divyang who is seen outside Barabati stadium whenever a game of cricket is allotted to the Odisha Cricket Association. Holding paint and brush in his hands, Bidyadhar ekes out a living by painting Tricolour on the faces of cricket enthusiasts outside Barabati stadium.

“I am differently-abled and whenever there is a game at Barabati, I come here with a hope to earn something. During matches, I earn around Rs 500 to Rs 600. But I hope to earn more if matches are allotted to Barabati Stadium at regular intervals. Now Barabati stadium is hosting international ODI once every five years,” said Bidyadhar.

Bidyadhar himself is a big fan of some Team India players. Though he wanted to watch the match live at Barabati, he failed to secure a ticket this time.