Kochi: “Hour and fifteen minutes to play. This mammoth stadium already 90% full. How many grounds/cities can generate such a response?”(sic) – An awestruck Harsha Bhogle tweeted at noon on Thursday prior to the one day international match between India and West Indies.
If the scene before the match was so splendid, the atmosphere during the match was even better. As Bhogle tweeted, “So noisy inside the stadium, we can barely hear each other on our wraparound programme.”
It was true. Kochi literally swept Bhogle and the other cricket pundits, who have travelled the length and breadth of the world to watch cricket, off their feet to be termed as one of the best cricket venues in the world. As many as 70,000-odd spectators who arrived at the stadium from early Thursday morning literally raised the sport to a whole new level by creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
Indian players had nothing much to do, but to dance to the music set by the spectators with their vuvuzelas and drums, as India was glided to an easy victory against the mighty Windies.
Although Team India with 15 players arrived here to meet the West Indians, it was the legend, who just retired from international cricket, who stole the show despite his absence.
Sachin Tendulkar, who has a two five-wicket haul here in Kochi was omnipresent in the ground, with the crowd echoing the ‘Sachin-Sachin’ chant and displaying ‘We miss you Sachin’ posters and banners.
The timely Mexican waves, which were performed with perfection, were just the icing on top for the wonderful spectators as the Kochi stadium bid adieu to the players while asking them to return soon to this excellent ground to play another match and cherish a day of cricket.
At the end of the day, it was Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who stole Kerala's heart with splendid batting performances.
Next: ODI leads to traffic snarls
ODI leads to traffic snarls
Kochi: The Kochi roads were full in the morning rush hour with die-hard cricket fans flowing from outside the district. The metro works worsened the situation with traffic jams witnessing in areas like Kadavantra, Edapally, Kaloor and stadium premises
The Kochi roads were full in the morning rush hour with die-hard cricket fans flowing from outside the district. The metro works worsened the situation with traffic jams witnessing in areas like Kadavantra, Edapally, Kaloor and stadium premises
The Kochi roads were full in the morning rush hour with die-hard cricket fans flowing from outside the district.
The metro works worsened the situation with traffic jams witnessing in areas like Kadavantra, Edapally, Kaloor and stadium premises
The Kochi roads were full in the morning rush hour with die-hard cricket fans flowing from outside the district.
The metro works worsened the situation with traffic jams witnessing in areas like Kadavantra, Edapally, Kaloor and stadium premises
The Kochi roads were full in the morning rush hour with die-hard cricket fans flowing from outside the district.
The metro works worsened the situation with traffic jams witnessing in areas like Kadavantra, Edapally, Kaloor and stadium premises
Next: Shashi Tharoor sits in gallery
Shashi Tharoor sits in gallery
Kochi: Union minister Shashi Tharoor watched the one-day international match between India and West Indies by sitting in a gallery as a protest against the Kerala Cricket Association. It is learnt that the minister opted to sit in the gallery to show that he was with the public and not with KCA.
The minister had also taken an online ticket beforehand to express his protest. It is understood that the KCA officials had also snubbed the cricket-loving minister, by not inviting him to the VIP box before-hand.
Tharoor with TC Mathew and Hibi Eden MLA in the gallery - DC
However, when they found that Mr Tharoor was sitting in the gallery, the officials of KCA, including its president Mr T.C. Mathew, approached him midway through the match and invited him to the VIP box. Anyhow, Tharoor denied the invite and watched the match from the gallery.
Tharoor had earlier lashed out at KCA after the fourth day of the recent Duleep Trophy final between North Zone and South Zone, which was called off due to a wet ground following heavy rain. He had alleged on twitter that KCA had brought disgrace by not providing proper drainage at the Ground.
Next: Chris Gayle gets hurt
Chris Gayle gets hurt
Kochi: The Medical Trust hospital here had a special patient on Thursday, the day city witnessed the ODI between India and West Indies. It was none other than the swashbuckling opener of the Caribbeans, Chris Gayle, who suffered a hamstring injury on his left leg.
Chris Gayle of West Indies is taken out on a stretcher after he suffered an injury - PTI
In the second ball of the first over while running into crease and writhing in pain, he was taken in a stretcher out of the ground. He was immediately examined by the orthopedic surgeons of MTH and was given first aid. Later he was taken to the MTH and an MRI scan was done on him.
It was found that there was a small blood clot in the injury. It would take two-three weeks for the injury to heal.
