As the hour hand inched closer to 6 p.m. yesterday the excitement within me started to mount and take over my senses. I had bought my tickets online and had to get them exchanged for “original” tickets – weird but that’s what my printout said! As we approached the relevant gate we were informed that the counter had closed and we could get it at another counter. After approaching Gate No 7 for the tickets, I realised I was one of the many hundreds who were also inching their way towards the counter. Suddenly there was a roar of voices and the news floated back to us that they had stopped issuing the tickets and we could enter the stadium with the printouts. So, off we trudged to the stadium gates.
As we stood in the line in front of the gates, a Kingfisher helicopter hovered over us and landed in the ground outside the stadium. As everyone craned their necks to catch a glimpse of who was in the cabin, the pilot gets out, opens the cabin door, is handed a camera and he obliges by clicking a couple of snaps of the passengers inside. After the smiles had been captured by the lens, Deepika P got out of the cabin and while all the men on the field drooled, she strode across into a waiting car and made her way to the stadium. Soon after, another Kingfisher helicopter hovered and landed on the field and out stepped the owner of the brand – Mr. Mallya himself, dressed in a red tracksuit.
Being a cautious person, I hadn’t carried my mobile into the stadium as per the various updates issued in the papers but was amazed and surprised to see the number of individuals roaming around with their cell phones plastered to their ears!! As I made my way towards the gates the civilized lines turned into an unruly mob who had the weird thought that if they all pushed together to get to the gate, they could all go through instead of one by one that the turnstile allowed! And I would like to ask the organizers where was all the extra security that they had harped about in each of their interviews with the newspapers?? Where were the 3 tiered security checks? I was just asked if I was carrying a cell phone and when I replied in the negative I was allowed to walk right into the stadium without even a pat down by the female cops!! Wow I loved this kind of security!!! Were we all really safe???
As I stood at the end of the corridor my eyes and ears strained to take in the wonderful sights and sounds in front of me. The cricket ground was brightly lit and the green grass shone as if each blade had been washed and shined for the semis. The atmosphere was electrifying and I felt as the sole electric conductor in the stadium. The music blared out English and Hindi hit songs while occasionally the IPL trumpet blared followed by the cheers / roar of the crowds already present. Watching both the teams warming up in the field added to the already mounting excitement. After settling into our seats I merrily joined in with the chants of “Sachinnnnnnnnnn… Sachin!!” and “Mumbaiiiiiiiiii….. Indians!!!!”
As the match started the chants went on and on, encouraging the Men In Blue while they battled out the game against the Royal Challengers in the middle. My MI flag (which now stands on my office table) flew high in tune to the music and the chants. The air suddenly grew heavy and you could hear the stillness in the air as Sachin was declared out! The silence hung heavily all round me as we all craned our necks to catch the replay on the screens not wanting to believe what had just happened. As he walked back to the pavilion the crowd finally accepted his dismissal and with a somber silence sat back to watch the overs unfold. The air got charged once again as S. Tiwari and Pollard started to unfold their magic onto the Bangalore bowlers.
The excitement in the atmosphere went on till Bangalore started losing wickets to Bhajji and Malinga. The MI team was on fire!! When the final over came up there was a loud roar as the crowds smelt victory round the corner and the last 6 balls were met with equal cheers. As the last ball was played the crowd went berserk and started dancing in the aisles, in their seats, on their seats, jumping up and down all the while chanting “Sachinnnnnnnnnnnnn……. Sachin!!!” followed by “Mumbaiiiiiiiiiiiii….. Indians!!!”
I left the field feeling exhilarated as the intoxication of watching the semis flowed through my entire body!! It was one of the most amazing and awesome experiences that I have had. Am I glad I went!!! :) :)
As we stood in the line in front of the gates, a Kingfisher helicopter hovered over us and landed in the ground outside the stadium. As everyone craned their necks to catch a glimpse of who was in the cabin, the pilot gets out, opens the cabin door, is handed a camera and he obliges by clicking a couple of snaps of the passengers inside. After the smiles had been captured by the lens, Deepika P got out of the cabin and while all the men on the field drooled, she strode across into a waiting car and made her way to the stadium. Soon after, another Kingfisher helicopter hovered and landed on the field and out stepped the owner of the brand – Mr. Mallya himself, dressed in a red tracksuit.
Being a cautious person, I hadn’t carried my mobile into the stadium as per the various updates issued in the papers but was amazed and surprised to see the number of individuals roaming around with their cell phones plastered to their ears!! As I made my way towards the gates the civilized lines turned into an unruly mob who had the weird thought that if they all pushed together to get to the gate, they could all go through instead of one by one that the turnstile allowed! And I would like to ask the organizers where was all the extra security that they had harped about in each of their interviews with the newspapers?? Where were the 3 tiered security checks? I was just asked if I was carrying a cell phone and when I replied in the negative I was allowed to walk right into the stadium without even a pat down by the female cops!! Wow I loved this kind of security!!! Were we all really safe???
As I stood at the end of the corridor my eyes and ears strained to take in the wonderful sights and sounds in front of me. The cricket ground was brightly lit and the green grass shone as if each blade had been washed and shined for the semis. The atmosphere was electrifying and I felt as the sole electric conductor in the stadium. The music blared out English and Hindi hit songs while occasionally the IPL trumpet blared followed by the cheers / roar of the crowds already present. Watching both the teams warming up in the field added to the already mounting excitement. After settling into our seats I merrily joined in with the chants of “Sachinnnnnnnnnn… Sachin!!” and “Mumbaiiiiiiiiii….. Indians!!!!”
As the match started the chants went on and on, encouraging the Men In Blue while they battled out the game against the Royal Challengers in the middle. My MI flag (which now stands on my office table) flew high in tune to the music and the chants. The air suddenly grew heavy and you could hear the stillness in the air as Sachin was declared out! The silence hung heavily all round me as we all craned our necks to catch the replay on the screens not wanting to believe what had just happened. As he walked back to the pavilion the crowd finally accepted his dismissal and with a somber silence sat back to watch the overs unfold. The air got charged once again as S. Tiwari and Pollard started to unfold their magic onto the Bangalore bowlers.
The excitement in the atmosphere went on till Bangalore started losing wickets to Bhajji and Malinga. The MI team was on fire!! When the final over came up there was a loud roar as the crowds smelt victory round the corner and the last 6 balls were met with equal cheers. As the last ball was played the crowd went berserk and started dancing in the aisles, in their seats, on their seats, jumping up and down all the while chanting “Sachinnnnnnnnnnnnn……. Sachin!!!” followed by “Mumbaiiiiiiiiiiiii….. Indians!!!”
I left the field feeling exhilarated as the intoxication of watching the semis flowed through my entire body!! It was one of the most amazing and awesome experiences that I have had. Am I glad I went!!! :) :)
1 comment:
You should have been there for the finals - MI would not have lost
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