CHENNAI: Thousands in the city may be on tenterhooks ahead of Team India's clash on Sunday with arch rivals Pakistan in the ICC 2015 World Cup of cricket, but Murugesh Swaminathan is looking beyond the match. The autorickshaw driver, a diehard fan of the national squad, will offer a free ride for commuters for two days if the team manages to return with the Cup for the third time.
Murugesh, who offered the service in 2003, 2007 and 2011, said the gesture was for members of his generation who weren't born when the country first won the World Cup on June 25, 1983. In 2011, for a day after India lifted the Cup, Murugesh ferried more than 20 passengers free of cost, spending 1,500 on fuel alone. "Some didn't agree and forcefully put money in my pocket," said Murugesh.
'Speed Murugesh,' as the 27-year-old is fondly called for his ability to get things done in a jiffy, is concerned about the image of the city's auto dsrivers among the general public and hopes his gesture will help change things.
"He is the youngest but we respect him a lot seeing how he interacts with passengers and the general public," said Muthukumar, a fellow driver at the auto stand in front of Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road in Teynampet.
His 'fame' soon spread and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association presented him with a cheque for 1 lakh in 2011. "I put in some more money and brought the vehicle in 2012,'' said the man who has been driving an auto for more than 10 years.
On the all-important clash with Pakistan, Murugesh is sure "we will come out in flying colours".
Murugesh, who offered the service in 2003, 2007 and 2011, said the gesture was for members of his generation who weren't born when the country first won the World Cup on June 25, 1983. In 2011, for a day after India lifted the Cup, Murugesh ferried more than 20 passengers free of cost, spending 1,500 on fuel alone. "Some didn't agree and forcefully put money in my pocket," said Murugesh.
'Speed Murugesh,' as the 27-year-old is fondly called for his ability to get things done in a jiffy, is concerned about the image of the city's auto dsrivers among the general public and hopes his gesture will help change things.
"He is the youngest but we respect him a lot seeing how he interacts with passengers and the general public," said Muthukumar, a fellow driver at the auto stand in front of Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road in Teynampet.
His 'fame' soon spread and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association presented him with a cheque for 1 lakh in 2011. "I put in some more money and brought the vehicle in 2012,'' said the man who has been driving an auto for more than 10 years.
On the all-important clash with Pakistan, Murugesh is sure "we will come out in flying colours".
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