In a remarkable turn of events, Deepu Ojha, a hardworking car mechanic from Kohda village in Bihar’s Arrah district, has found himself amidst a life-changing moment. During the KKR vs RCB IPL match last Sunday, Ojha clinched a staggering cash prize of 1.5 crore rupees while playing fantasy cricket on the Dream11 app.
Despite having completed only eighth grade and lacking in-depth knowledge of cricket, Ojha’s decision to appoint Andre Russell as the captain of his virtual team turned out to be a stroke of luck that paved the way to victory. Still adjusting to the idea of suddenly possessing significant wealth, Ojha candidly acknowledged that his win was more about chance than cricket expertise.
The IPL match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions, with KKR narrowly defeating RCB by just one run in a nail-biting contest. However, one of the match’s most talked-about moments was the controversial dismissal of Virat Kohli due to a contentious full toss delivery. The introduction of Hawk-Eye technology to assess no-balls for height resulted in the TV umpire ruling in favor of KKR’s Harshit Rana, deeming the waist-high delivery fair and leading to Kohli’s dismissal.
Ojha’s triumph resonates with other tales of unexpected fortunes through online gaming. In 2023, Shahabuddin Mansuri, a dedicated driver from Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani district, invested a mere Rs 49 in an online gaming app and walked away with a staggering 1.5 crore rupees by topping the charts with his virtual cricket team during a match between Kolkata and Punjab. Mansuri had been trying his luck in online cricket games for two years before his incredible win.
However, not all stories of online gaming success have happy endings. In another incident from 2023, Somnath Jhende, a sub-inspector with the Pune Police, achieved millionaire status by winning 1.5 crore rupees on the Dream11 platform. Unfortunately, Jhende’s joy was short-lived as he faced suspension from duty by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police following allegations of misconduct and tarnishing the image of the police department.
These contrasting stories shed light on the unpredictable nature of online gaming and the unexpected fortunes it can bring. For individuals like Deepu Ojha and Shahabuddin Mansuri, winning significant sums through fantasy cricket has opened new doors and transformed their lives in profound ways. However, such tales also emphasize the risks and challenges that can come with sudden wealth in the world of online gaming.
