By K.R. Nayar
India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai was
celebrated by fans in various ways. One of the most unique celebrations was
organized by Dubai-based businessman and cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia. He
transformed his villa, which houses the Shyam Bhatia Cricket Museum, into a
wonderland for cricket fans.
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| Mr and Mrs Shyam Bhatia and Lalchand Rajput cut the celebratory cake shaped like the Champions Trophy |
Bhatia invited all cricket lovers in the UAE, making it a
memorable evening. This was not the first time he has celebrated India’s
victory, as he has always shared his joy with fellow cricket enthusiasts.  |
| The museum was decorated with the cutouts of heroes of the Champions Trophy |
A
true aficionado of the game, Bhatia has witnessed almost every major
international cricket final worldwide. He has previously celebrated India’s
historic 1983 World Cup win and every other occasion when India reached the
pinnacle of world cricket. His museum showcases photographs of these historic
moments, particularly featuring Indian legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev,
and Ravi Shastri, with whom he shares a long-standing friendship.  |
| Shyam Bhatia addresses the audience |
When India
won the T20 World Cup in 2007, he attended the final and had a bat autographed
by all the players, starting with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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Mazhar Khan of Sharjah Cricket with former cricketers who still play
and coach youngsters
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Though Bhatia’s love for cricket transcends boundaries—evident
from the frequent visits of West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd to his museum—many
still reach out to him to discuss India’s performances. The celebration on
Friday, March 14, was dedicated to those who felt like champions when India
lifted the Champions Trophy for the third time.
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| Gopal Jasapara who designed the layout for the event |
The meticulous planning for the event transformed his museum
into the epicentre of India’s triumph. Life-sized cutouts of every player from
the Champions Trophy squad were placed around the museum, making it appear as
if the heroes who created this historic moment had come to life.
Cricketer-turned-coach Gopal Jasapara, who also curates the Bhatia Museum,
designed the layout to make it look as though Rohit Sharma and his team were
seated among the guests with the trophy.
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| Shyam Bhatia being presented a 3D laser-engraved crystal plaque by Akbar Sura, the owner of Crystal Gallery |
India’s flags adorned the museum, and every guest was given an
Indian team jersey to wear, making it feel as though the celebration had
extended from the stadium to this special venue. The presence of UAE’s cricket
coach and former Indian Test star Lalchand Rajput added to the event’s
grandeur. Rajput, who was the manager of the Indian team when they won the 2007
ICC T20 World Cup, cut a celebratory cake shaped like the Champions Trophy
alongside Bhatia’s wife, Vimla, as the crowd cheered.
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| Indian skipper Rohit Sharma comes to life through the cutout and the trophy |
Bhatia was honored with a stunning 3D laser-engraved crystal
plaque, presented by Akbar Sura, the owner of Crystal Gallery. This exquisite
memento, commemorating India’s Champions Trophy win, featured an engraving of
Team India celebrating with the trophy, enhanced by an LED-lit base.
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| Suchetha Satish, Guinness World Record holder, enthralls the audience with her songs in different languages |
The evening turned melodious with a performance by Suchetha
Satish, the Guinness World Record holder for singing in the most languages in a
single concert. She entertained the crowd by performing songs in various
languages requested by cricket fans. A remix of Kishore Kumar’s classic songs
added a nostalgic touch.
Among the distinguished guests were Mazhar Khan, General
Manager of Sharjah Cricket, who has witnessed and hosted several of India’s
glorious moments, and Mohammad Lokhandwala, former secretary of the Dubai
Cricket Council. Many UAE domestic cricketers, along with those who had represented
the UAE at the international level, were also present.
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| Lalchand Rajput flanked by Vignesh Rajan (left), who is Shreyas Iyer's childhood friend, and his father V Rajan |
Vignesh Rajan, the childhood neighbour of Indian cricketer
Shreyas Iyer, attended the event along with his father. The evening was filled
with shared memories of India’s glorious cricketing past, accompanied by a
delicious spread of Indian cuisine.
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| Inspiring presence... Freddy Sidhwa with Shyam Bhatia |
Freddy Sidhwa, an ardent cricket supporter who follows matches
worldwide and promotes the spirit of never giving up on the game, was also
present. Cricket enthusiasts like Sidhwa and Bhatia have always been at the
forefront of the UAE’s cricket fan community, inspiring others to love the
sport. Neelesh
Bhatnagar of the Delhi Bulls, known for his efforts in supporting
and creating opportunities for domestic cricketers, was another notable
attendee.
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| Neelesh
Bhatnagar with Shyam Bhatia |
It was an unforgettable tribute to India’s cricket triumph The
evening ended on a hopeful note, with everyone looking forward to more Indian
cricket triumphs and many more celebrations of joy. |
| Indian flags fluttered around the museum with every seat dressed up in national flag colours |
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| Sharing memories of India’s glorious cricketing moments |
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| Suchetha Satish's parents Dr Satish and Sumitha with Shyam Bhatia |
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| Yet another memento for the library |
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| Looking forward to more Indian cricket triumphs and many more celebrations |
Thank you for this lovely write up . It was an evening filled with patriotism mixed with cricket fever. :)
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ReplyDeleteMohamed LokhandwalaMarch 17, 2025 at 5:04 AM
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot KR Nayar for the comprehensive and superb coverage for the ICC Championship Cup win celebrated and hosted by our dearest Shyam bhai. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We missed you bro.