My first in-stadium-match-experience turned out to be something different than what I had expected. I came out wiser and educated.
The size of the stadium was a revelation. It was too small.
I felt that number of players on field was quite less. I literally counted them to recheck, in my excitement counted two less & felt proud of my discovery :-D
The player who are an enigma on screen become a spec on the field and u know its Shane Warne if he has a black band on his hand or it is Utthapa because your neighbor calls him idli-sambhar-uttapa ;-)
When suddenly the crowd rises & starts clapping without any shot being played you should assume that its cheer girls doing some stunt. The crowd uncle-aunty-daughter-son-college kids all were more interested in cheer girls.
- Tendulkar is God for his fans, period. His playing or not playing is immaterial people will sport his T-Shirt only and just a glimpse of him on screen and the chant of Sachin-Sachin begins.
- Its fun to see the waves being made and the way all the 6 levels of crowd synchronized and the excitement makes you join in the wave making.
The scoreboard was not there and several times I was tempted to call my bro and ask for score, I know he would have ROFLed. ;-)
The Camera-person’s are pro. Cat calls to them like Oye red shirt, ESPN, Halkat, uncle, bhaiya, khopdidoesn’t affect them they will focus where they want to ;-)
After every six/ four or wicket I used to wait for its replay, Alas!!! For that I had to turn to the small screen-big TV
Whichever team you support inside the stadium you go with the crowd. Every wicket is celebrated & so is every boundary. I guess inside the stadium every stranger bonds with another stranger as what mattters here is having fun & enjoying.
For me the overall experience was an excellent one.
Though we have always felt that watching a match in the comforts of home is better but now I feel if you want to enjoy the intricacies of match watch from home and if you wan to enjoy the madness then join the madness.
