11 years ago, I saw Rohit Sharma tossing against KKR and I found the person who was to be my favourite player forever and I have no idea how or why any more than I did that day.
Today when I meet a random school friend, or an aunt I haven't met in a long time, they still ask if I'm still as crazy about Rohit as I was... my whole teenage and adulthood so far. And yes, I am. Things have changed, his career and personally has changed beyond measure, but he's still the crooked-eyebrowed, warm-eyed constant in my life. And I'm so glad.
The funny part is that the bursts of wonder at realizing afresh that THIS person is my favourite player haven't passed fully, even 11 years down the line. I guess it's never going to sink in that, as I used to say long back, even when he was not half the player he is today, "the world's best favourite player is my favourite player."
You're my whole world, Rohit, and so I'm forever indebted to that 12 year old kid who chose to choose you.
