As life continues its relentless pace, the echoes of past sports events still resonate in my mind. Just a day ago, the IPL 2024 auctions took place, a stark reminder that time waits for no one. Yet, my thoughts are anchored in the aftermath of the World Cup 2023, an event that left an indelible mark on my soul.
After almost a month since the gripping climax of the Cricket World Cup 2023, I finally find myself sitting down to articulate the whirlwind of emotions and experiences that followed. It was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging moments to witness—the crushing anticlimax that unfolded before my eyes.
The genesis of this tale can be traced back to the days leading up to the final. My sister and I were fervently eager to witness the men in blue in the grandest match of the tournament. However, fate had a different plan, and we found ourselves without tickets to the pinnacle event.
Undeterred, we embarked on a relentless quest through social media groups, connections with friends and family, and even exploring the shadowy world of black-market ticket sellers. The prices quoted ranged from 10 to 25 times the face value of the ticket, an exorbitant barrier between us and the live spectacle.
Despite the formidable challenges, our passion for witnessing the match in the stadium surpassed the hurdles before us. Determined, we decided to don our jerseys and replicate the fervour of the India vs. Pakistan match. However, this time, we knew the struggle to secure tickets at a reasonable price would be even more arduous.
Armed with nothing but an A4-sized paper bearing our plea, we made our way to the stadium, arriving around noon, ready to confront whatever obstacles lay ahead.
(A local newspaper covered us)
I'm elated that we took this unconventional approach; it garnered significant attention, and many passersby enthusiastically gave us thumbs up.
Despite the initial flood of offers we received for tickets, the price tags attached were exorbitant, reaching heights comparable to the much-hyped iPhone 15 Pro. The fervor surrounding the event was palpable.
As time unfolded, those seeking to sell their tickets and gain entry into the stadium became more amenable to negotiations. By 1 pm, a favourable deal materialised—tickets for the lower stand at a reasonable price. Without hesitation, we seized the opportunity, and just like that, we found ourselves stepping into the vast expanse of the largest international cricket stadium. It was a momentous occasion, marking our entry into the heart of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the year's grandest sporting spectacle.
(Me with my sister)
As the coin was tossed, the stadium burst into life with an electrifying symphony of noise. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation.
In a twist of fate, India lost the toss, and Australia opted to bowl first. A wave of discontent rippled through the crowd, but collectively, we reassured ourselves that it was alright; we would set a formidable score and defend it with vigor.
Credit must be given to the meticulous planning of ICC and BCCI, orchestrating the events to ensure maximum entertainment for the stadium audience.
By 1:30 pm, the spotlight shifted to the skies, heralding the much-anticipated airshow by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.
The experience was nothing short of marvellous; witnessing something of this magnitude for the first time filled me with joy.
As the match kicked off, it didn't take long before India faced its first setback with the early dismissal of opener Shubhman Gill.
Undeterred, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli took charge of the batting, with Rohit's well-placed fours eliciting cheers from the animated audience.
The mood took a somber turn when Rohit, on the unfortunate number 47, a historical jinx for him, lofted a shot into the air and departed.
Virat's departure was equally unexpected, falling victim to an unforeseen twist in the plot, getting out on the follow-on. The disappointment continued as Shreyas Iyer fell for a modest score.
A hush fell over the stadium as India found itself in a precarious situation. The once-lively audience went silent.
KL Rahul and Surya Kumar took up the mantle, but their struggle to find boundaries added to the mounting tension in the stadium.
(Aditya Gadhvi performing)
Amidst the disheartening batting display, Aditya Gadhvi took centre stage, providing a much-needed reprieve with his performance during the brief 2.5-minute drinks break.
As frustration mounted over the team's struggling performance, a remarkable shift occurred in the stands. There came a point where even singles and doubles were met with resounding cheers from the exasperated crowd. The audience, in an act of collective will, clapped and vociferously tried to rally the players, desperately seeking a turnaround.
It wasn't until I experienced the match in the stadium that I truly understood the significance of crowd support. The palpable energy, the cheers, and the encouragement proved to be invaluable. In fact, I must emphasise that the support from the crowd holds such weight that it can single-handedly influence the fate of a match.
Despite the batting efforts, we managed to put up a total of 240 runs. However, the collective realisation among the spectators was that it fell short. The atmosphere in the stadium grew heavy with despair, with some visibly losing hope, a few shedding tears, and a handful opting to leave.
(Image of the performance during the innings break)
During the innings break, the scheduled performance received mixed reactions. Many in the crowd felt a sense of urgency, pleading for the entertainment to halt and allow the Indian bowlers the crucial time they needed for practice and warm-up. The prevailing sentiment echoed a collective plea: "Please, let them have the ground for warm up"
The Australian batting onslaught began, and they played with ruthless precision, effortlessly and swiftly notching up boundaries.
However, the Indian bowlers fought back, securing three crucial wickets in quick succession. The crowd, electrified and hopeful, erupted in cheers, anticipating more breakthroughs.
Yet, the middle order of Australia showcased resilience and clinched victory for their team. As a cricket enthusiast, it left me with a lingering sense of sadness—regretful to witness the best team falter on the grand stage, and disheartened to see stalwarts like Rohit and Virat unable to steer the team to triumph.
The post-mortem of our defeat led me to a crucial observation—the pitch selected for the finals mirrored that of the India vs. Pakistan encounter, behaving in a similar fashion. A sluggish surface resulted in poor timing, fewer runs on the board, and challenging deliveries.
Considering India's batting-oriented lineup, the choice of the pitch should have aligned better with our strengths. The evident advantage for the team bowling first on such a pitch only magnified the importance of the toss.
In hindsight, it was the toss, the pivotal deciding factor, that slipped away from us. Winning it could have led us to opt for bowling first, potentially altering the course of the game—much like the outcome of the India vs. Pakistan clash.
I left the stadium, dejected, sad, unable to accept what I just witnessed.
I wrote this blog on 20th Dec 2023, a lot of things are happening in cricket currently.
IPL 2024 auctions are underway
Hardik Pandya replaces Rohit Sharma as the captain of MI
India v/s South Africa series is currently going on
In the first week of December, India concluded the T20 series with Australia and won it by 4-1.
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