Seated amidst a mainly Australian group of supporters, Sage Goel stands out in the crowd. He is wearing a blue Indian cap and a blue jersey bearing Virat Kohli’s name and his number — 18.

Born to Australian parents with multi-ethnic background, the seven-year-old is a huge fan of the right-hander who enjoys unparalleled following among cricketers across countries with Indian population. 

A glimpse at India’s practice sessions here gives you an ample idea of his popularity. Hundreds of Indian students and workers living in Australia flock the ‘nets’ and the biggest cheer is always reserved for the Indian skipper. While Kohli was always a big hit among Indian fans, he seems to have won over a large number of Australians as well on this tour compared to his previous visits when there seemed no love lost between the two.

Sage is one of those Australians who has developed a special liking for Kohli. He is desperately hoping to meet him before the team leaves the city, but he also understands it’s not an easy task to get an audience with the biggest superstar in the game.

“He wants to bowl to him,” says his father Karim Goel, born in Perth to a Tunisian father and a Polish/Ukrainian mother. Karim’s wife Aarti Goel is of Punjabi origin and was born in Adelaide after her parents moved to the South Australian city six months before her birth. Karim, who has taken his wife’s surname, works in Clinical Governance in public health while Aarti is a private psychiatrist.   

Aarti has been a supporter of the Indian cricket team but that’s not an issue with Karim who has always backed Australia.

“We both love cricket and that’s how our son developed a liking for the game,” says Karim, talking about how Sage became a fan of Kohli.

“Sage must have been 3 or 4 and we would watch cricket together. Virat first caught his attention because he loved the energy that he brought to batting and his never-say-die attitude.

“Sage also remembers Virat’s twin centuries four years ago in the Test here. Virat batted beautifully, especially in the second innings, and he has liked him ever since,” explains Karim while hoping his son’s wish will come true.

Sage, a spinner and a right-hand batsman, doesn’t know what to say if and when he meets Kohli but he would cherish it for a long time to come for sure.