Virat Kohli's fan succumbs to death after pouring kerosene to set himself on fire

Mumbai: When Virat Kohli takes the cricket field, not only the hopes of the team but also millions of Indians back home are pinned on the India skipper. One such fan, Babulal Bariya, a 63-year old man from Madhya Pradesh also had high hopes about the talismanic Indian performing well during the second innings of the first Test against South Africa on Friday.

But after watching Kohli depart cheaply for just 5 runs, Bariya committed suicide by setting himself on fire using kerosene. A retired railway officer residing in Ratlam’s Ambedkar Nagar, Bariya was an ardent Kohli fan and got deeply disheartened after watching his favourite star return back to the pavilion.

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This prompted the senior citizen to give up his own life before he was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries on Tuesday morning.

“Bariya retired from railways recently. He was probably drunk and immolated himself while watching the match after Kohli’s dismissal. Prima facie that is what the cause of death looks like. In his dying declaration, Bariya said that he was upset over Kohli’s wicket. The family said that he was a cricket fan. Investigation is on. The retired employee died around 7.30 am on Tuesday ” Pyarsingh Alave, Assistant Sub-inspector, station road police station was quoted saying by The Indian Express.

Alave also further stated that previously, one of Bariya’s two sons had committed suicide way back in 2009.

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South Africa got the better of the visitors in the first Test after bundling out India for 135, scripting a 72 run victory. Despite suffering a big blow in the loss of Dale Steyn through injury, Vernon Philander rattled the Indian batting line-up to hand his side a 1-0 series lead.