espnstar.com's Rajarshi Gupta takes a look at how sensational Indian opener Gautam Gambhir made the day for a cricket fanatic.

Sumit Shankhwari woke up to a sizzling surprise on a warm Saturday morning in New Delhi.

A city radio station called him up to ask him to be ready to welcome a special guest in less than two hours.

The guest was the same man, who has formed the most dangerous opening duo in the world with Virender Sehwag, the petite southpaw, Gambhir.

The ardent radio listener turned out to be the lucky winner of a contest and the prize was to land up at his home. A visit by Delhi Daredevil's Gautam Gambhir.

Within minutes, the non-descript address along Panchkuia Road in the Indian capital swung into action as the local lads went about scurrying for sweets and fruit juice. The latter, it seemed, took up a lot of attention as Sumit quipped, "We have specially ordered fruit juice as players are so fond of it."

It was not long before the media swooped in on the Shanwari residence. A beaming Kaptan Singh, Sumit's father, could not help but make sure all arrangements were fine tuned to everybody's satisfaction.

Kaptan, employed with the Ministry of Agriculture, said he has seen a lot of media activity in his office in Shastri Bhavan but the mayhem was a first in his residential address.

"I am very lucky that Gambhir is paying us a visit. I am really happy," Kaptan said.

A gentle query, "Do I need to inform the cops or do you think Gambhir would have his own guards?" followed and the frown did not leave Kaptan's face till this correspondent assured him that the star cricketer would come in with his own security.

And sure as the sunshine, the explosive opener thundered in like a storm, much the same way he bats in the middle, in a Delhi Daredevil jersey.

Gambhir's convoy was led by a troupe, setting the scene on fire with some riveting ‘bhangra' steps. What followed was some heartbreaking commotion as the media hijacked the show, leaving the winner out of sight. Some rigorous vocal exercise by the organisers finally dug out Sumit, who was busy gathering his neighbours.

All was set for some Delhi hospitality. And then it happened. Seven tough men, who looked like bouncers in crisp black attire, formed a ring around Gambhir, allowing no one but Sumit in.

The media battled for a byte or two from the hero of India's historic Test series win in New Zealand but none came.

Five minutes of some 'Gauti Gauti' chants later, it was time for the Delhi Daredevil to head for an ad-shoot with Sehwag.

Sumit and his father were obviously left disappointed with what transpired. Neither could they offer the sweets and the fruit juice they had lined up nor could they get Gambhir to play a couple of deliveries, as Sumit's brothers had planned.

However, it was a Saturday Sumit and his neighbours would not forget in a hurry. It was the day sunshine descended on their lives, maybe not for long but sure as ever it did.