Two days to go for the big India vs Pakistan 2023 World Cup clash in Ahmedabad and the buzz is yet to grip the city. Except for the skyrocketing hotel, BnB (bed and breakfast) tariffs and the odd question around tickets, the asking price of which is touching the roof too, the usual business continues.
As of now, the airport is perhaps the only place which reminds you of an ongoing World Cup as a giant hoarding stares down the moment you make your way to the baggage belts.
“Welcome to the home of Gujarat Titans. Best wishes for #CWC2023. #AAVADE,” reads the message on the LED billboard. An escalator down is a World Cup installation where scores of travellers lined up for their perfect Instagram story and walked out of the airport into a very busy taxi pick-up zone.
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The first encounter with the Ahmedabad sun hits differently. Different from the humid Chennai and heat with a dash of breeze Delhi. It feels dry and sucks energy out of the body within a few minutes of exposure.
‘Packed house’
After quick acclimatisation to the unforgiving sun, QnAs with locals on the way to the Narendra Modi Stadium assure that it will be nothing short of a packed house for the big clash and the streets here will wear a deserted look from the afternoon hours on Saturday.
“I will watch the match on my phone and juggle watching the game with completing my rides. The streets are going to be empty that day and all roads will lead to the stadium,” says a taxi driver.
Everyone, however, has some disappointment in their tone even on the mention of tickets. “2,000 ka ticket 20,000 ka bik raha hai sir, kaise dekhege. Bahut match dekh liye IPL ke yaha, ab ghar se dekhege India-Pakistan (ticket worth Rs 2,000 is being sold at 20,000, how will we watch? Have seen a lot of IPL games at the venue… will watch from home),” says a juice vendor on the street while he patiently separates pulp from the juice.
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“Pulp mai vitamin hai sir, take it (pulp has vitamin sir, take with it),” he asserts with a smile and hands over the 300ml glass of fresh sweet lime juice. Much needed in this weather.
Dream come true
While most would be watching from home, there will be 32 young boys of the Central Board of Cricket Ahmedabad team who will be cheering for their heroes from the stands. They have got “free tickets” for the match and can’t wait to be in the world’s largest cricket stadium for arguably the biggest clash.
“We have got free tickets for the match and a total of 32 players from the club will be going to watch the match,” says a U-14 cricketer making his way to the Sardar Vallabhail Patel stadium for his afternoon training session.
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For him, the dream of watching his hero Virat Kohli will finally come true when he sees the former Indian captain in action vs Pakistan.
“Virat Kohli is my favourite cricketer. I am excited to watch him play,” adds the youngster before he adjusts the straps of his kitbag and continues the walk into the stadium.
Can Team India inject some life?
Unlike previous high-profile fixtures – IPL eliminator and final, fourth Test between India and Australia – at the venue this year, there is very little activity outside the stadium too. There aren’t many waiting for an update on who’s practicing inside and just a handful of fake jersey sellers have occupied pavement slots near the giant entrance gate to the stadium.
The Indian team arrived in the city today and it’s very likely that tomorrow could be different. Shubman Gill was the only Indian player who trained at the venue today and more star players are expected to train tomorrow ahead of the big match.
The Pakistan team was in attendance in the evening hours but it was only business as usual for them in very tight security. Babar Azam & Co. started their evening with an extended fielding and fitness session in the main ground and then made way to the nets area, which had a thick security cover. Not many Pakistan fans have managed to get visas for the multi-nation event and support is expected to be very one-sided when the stands start filling up in a day’s time.
As the evening turned darker, the workers working on some set for the little programme tomorrow switched into powerplay mode and started applying finishing touches to a giant iron instalment near one of the practice grounds. BCCI secretary Jay Shah was spotted taking rounds of the venue, ensuring preparations are in order for the marquee clash.
A lot is riding on this fixture for all stakeholders and if India vs Australia well and truly got the World Cup underway, India vs Pakistan has the potential of setting the tournament on fire.
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