1,000 Barnala students watch their first Test as India thrash Afghanistan

Chandigarh: While India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in a one-sided contest at Mullanpur’s maiden Test, some of the most memorable moments unfolded in the stands, where 1,000 schoolchildren from Barnala watched their heroes live for the first time.Fifty students each from 20 govt schools in Barnala travelled to witness history at the new Test venue. Dressed in uniforms, carrying refreshment packs and PCA T-shirts, and waving the tricolour, they filled the stands with relentless cheers as India marched to a massive win.For many, most from families of labourers, small farmers and domestic workers, the trip was far more than a day at the cricket — it was an experience they had never imagined.“I never thought I would watch Team India play in a stadium,” said 15-year-old Sachin Kumar, a Class IX student from Govt Senior Secondary School, Khudi Kalan. Son of a labourer, Sachin is a fan of KL Rahul and dreams of joining the Army.As if on cue, an Army helicopter flew over the stadium during the match, drawing loud cheers. Sachin joined hundreds of others, waving excitedly.Among the loudest voices was Yuvraj Singh, named after one of India’s greatest cricketers. He hopes to pursue the sport professionally and called the experience a “dream come true”.Students from Govt Senior Secondary School, Bhadalwad, were equally thrilled. Sukhmanpreet Kaur, whose mother is a single parent working at her school, said the visit widened her horizons. “I had never even seen a stadium from outside before. Watching the match has inspired me to take up sports,” she said.For some, the day brought back souvenirs to cherish. Thirteen-year-old Jeevan Kumar from Kharad collected a T-shirt signed by Rishabh Pant and two red balls bearing signatures of captain Shubman Gill and Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.Another student, Samar Bir Singh, walked away with a pair of wicketkeeping inners from Pant.As players left the field after India’s emphatic win, the children lingered in the stands, reluctant to let the day end.