A Ticket To A Dream - How A Chief Minister Answered A Cricket Fans Call
As soon as Abhishek Soni's appeal reached the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, instructions were issued and a ticket was arranged.
For Abhishek Soni, cricket has never been just a game. It has been companionship, joy, and escape.
A 32-year-old differently-abled man from Bamnapati village in Badnagar tehsil of Ujjain district, Abhishek has grown up watching every Team India match on a small television set in his village. He never missed an innings, never switched off before the last ball. What he had never experienced, however, was the roar of a stadium, the collective gasp before a shot, the flags in the air, the feeling of being part of something larger than oneself.
During the ongoing India-New Zealand ODI series, Abhishek had just one wish: to watch an Indian match live in Indore. But the ticketing process was confusing, and time was running out. Anxiety set in. With nothing else left to try, Abhishek recorded a simple video message speaking from the heart and appealed directly to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.
"Namaskar Chief Minister ji," he said in the video. "My name is Abhishek Soni. I am differently-abled and a big cricket fan. I want to watch India play live at the ground, but I am unable to get a ticket. I request you to please help me."
The response was swift.
As soon as the appeal reached the Chief Minister, instructions were issued and a ticket was arranged. For Abhishek, the wait ended there.
On match day, wearing a Team India jersey, Abhishek entered a cricket stadium for the first time in his life. The third and decisive ODI between India national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team was being played at Holkar Stadium. The stands were packed, tricolour flags fluttered, and chants echoed across the ground.
This time, Abhishek wasn't watching from a distance. He was part of the crowd.
As families and friends filled the stadium and jerseys and flags sold briskly outside, Abhishek sat inside, eyes fixed on the field, his long-held dream finally fulfilled.
For him, it wasn't just a ticket. It was recognition, dignity, and the simple assurance that sometimes, even in a crowd of thousands, one voice can still be heard.
India Cricket Team