Australia tour of India 2013- 2nd Test, Day 3

To know what happened with me in the match yesterday, click here

Yesterday i had to watch the match on a bright sunny day without any shed facility on the stands for around 9 hours. The skins were showing some signs of that. Another such day was unbearable for me. Being an office day, i was dressed up and left home on time. On the way, i saw some of my friends were preparing to go to watch the match. Don't know why, my foot moves stopped. They asked me to go to watch with them. They have the legal tickets but i don't have. But one of my friends got the Black ticket easily yesterday. So finally i decided to apply a one day casual leave in office and go to watch the match with them.

When i reached the venue, it was already 9:35 am. I have to buy a black ticket asap. I approached a policeman to ask that where is e-Seva center here? He asked me that "Do you want a ticket? I have a ticket. I got it free and it is of AC luxury room." I asked him that "How much money will you take for this ticket?" I was expecting that he will charge me around Rs. 1000. He replied that "if you buy this ticket at e-Seva center, this ticket will cost you Rs. 500 but i am ready to give this ticket if you give me money for Chai and Cigarette." I asked him that "Tell me, Exactly how much you want." He replied that "Rs. 100 for Chai and Rs.50 for Cigarette". I overwhelmed with joy as i didn't expect such a cheap ticket. I gave him Rs.160, took the ticket and ran hard towards the stadium. I had taken umbrella to protect myself on bright sunny day but gatekeeper didn't allow it to take it inside. I threw the umbrella and ran hard inside the stadium. I saw the scoreboard. Only 3 overs had been bowled till then and Vijay and Pujara were still on the crease. God of cricket is yet to come on the field.

Crowd were making chants of "We want sachin" and "Common Aussies. Get a wicket". Unlike yesterday morning, Vijay and Pujara were playing strokes today. Sooner Vijay completed his 1st 150 of test career. A sigh of relief was reflected from his face but he had to carry on and make it count. After some time, Pujara completed his 1000 test runs. It was his 11th test and 18th innings. This is 2nd fastest for India. Fastest player to reach is Vinod Kambali in just 14 innings. Both together surpassed the best 2nd wicket partnership for India. Crowd continued making chants of "We want sachin" and "Common Aussies. Get a Wicket". Finally the debutante Glenn Maxwel got the wicket of Vijay. Pujara came from the non-striker end and congratulated him again for this great knock.

But the Crowd reawaken and started hooting extremely as the screen displays "Keep Silence! God is coming". A few posters about him from the spectators was displayed on the screen. His huge fan who watch his every match was displayed on screen. Then sachin came. He was looking like a U-19 player or a guy who may be studying in his 5th standard. His test career was displayed on the screen. OMG, such a terrific CV. Everyone will love to have resume like him. 196 match, 323 innings, 33 not out, 15746 runs, 248* highest, 54.29 average, 51 centuries and 67 half-centuries. He came to the crease and did his traditional warm up and exercises. Then as usual he turned towards square leg, the crowd went high in hooting. Then he turn back to return to crease but now he was facing backward point. Again the crow goes high in hooting. Crowd started chanting of "Common Sachin, we want a 100" even before he started his innings. First ball of Maxwell he faced, he simply defended, but the crowd went high in hooting. I never seen such noise level ever in my life. I am sure the noise level of the world had been increased by a considerable margin at that time.

Sooner Pujara completed his 200. Sachin was on non-striker end. He turned right to see the mid-wicket fielder probably where he is but the crowd thought he was seeing them and went up high in hooting. Then he turned back to see the cover fielder probably and again crowd went up high in hooting. Then he turned towards the bowler but the crowd in the long-off and long-on region thought that he was seeing them and they also went up high in hooting. Pujara got out on 204. A great knock indeed. He got a standing ovation from the crowd. My current favorite player Kohli comes in, started with a 4 towards Cover region. Meanwhile sachin took a single. In fact every delivery which sachin faced, the crowd was hooting extremely. After some time, Lunch was declared.

Again today Heyden with another Aussies came to the ground. The crowd went high in hooting. They replied with a hi5. They came to show how to bat on this wicket for a TV channel. Meanwhile Aussies players who were on bench for this test match started fielding practice. They were much-much better than as Indian players who were on bench for this test and practiced yesterday.

After lunch, the match resumed at its scheduled time. Sachin was around 10-15 minutes on the field. He turn towards the crowd around 10 times and surely the noise level of the world had been increased each time by a considerable margin. He started with a bang hitting a 4 in backward point region. But sooner he got out on 7 glancing a ball to wicket keeper's gloves.

The crowd gave a standing ovation to the great man. Some were making chants of "Pattinson.. Potty kha" as he was the reason why they were not able to watch their favorite for much time. Then the captain of team India and the man with golden luck Dhoni came in. The crowd went up high again in hooting. Dhoni started with 3 back to back 4s against Doherty. He was playing well and giving full entertainment to the crowd. They even forget that sachin was just out. But he got out by a foolish shot lofting a ball straight to mid-off. Then all the batsman who followed him got out on foolish shots and gifted their wickets to Aussies. They destroyed the benefit created by Vijay and Pujara. India was all out on 503. A lead of 266. It should have been better.

Any way its tea time now. Navjot singh Siddhu and Ramiz Raza came in the ground to do discussions on the proceedings for a TV channel. The crowd started chants of "oye paji... oye siddhu paji.. o balle o balle." Siddhu as usual replied in his own style, coming down the track and lofting the ball for a six. The crowd went high in hooting. After some time, Ishant came first and started bowling practice. Then Bhuvi followed him. Then Vijay and Dhwan (in place of injured Pujara) came and they started fielding and catching practice for short leg position with fielding coach. Then comes Dhoni with all the team.

Team India spread in the field. Sachin went to mid on. The crowd started chants of "Sachin.. Sachin.." and "Sachin.. We love you." Sachin replied with a hi5. Australia's 2nd inning began. Warner started with 3 fours of Ashwin's 1st over. Bhuvi was luckless as Kohli dropped the catch of warner and Dhoni dropped the catch of Cown. The crowd made chants of "Sehwag.. Sehwag" and he replied with both hands up. Then the crowd made Kohli as the next target and started chanting "Kohli... Kohli". He also replied once by a hi5 and second time by one hand up. Dhoni was the next target for the crowd. Ishant, Bhuvi and Bhajji who were fielding at the boundary line also received hooting for them. Meanwhile the openers completed 50 run partnership. The crowd became silent for some time as wickets were not coming.

Sachin knows how to reawaken the crowd. He gave a hi5 to the crowd again from mid on. The crowd went high in hooting. He turn back continuously after each balls of that Bhajji's over. The crowd's hooting multiplied by 2 or 3 times each time. Meanwhile Ashwin changed the angle. It paid as he bowled Warner and then Hughes (for duck) behind their legs. Watson came. He hit a straight six to ashwin to release the pressure. Then they defended the rest overs of play so that they don't loose any more wickets that day.

Team India started their way to the dressing room. Sachin was on mid on as usual. So he lead the team to the dressing room. The crowd started chants of "we love you sachin... Sachin, love you.. Please don't retire." My dream of seeing the God of cricket live was completed and i came back to my home happily.

Waiting for the next match at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad which is of IPL-6 and will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sahara Pune Worriers. Hopefully i will complete another wish of seeing DADA live in case he chooses to be the mentor of Sahara Pune Worriers.

Australia tour of India 2013- 2nd Test, Day 2

From the time i read in the newspaper that BCCI confirmed that the venue for the 2nd test will not be changed in spite of Hyderabad facing a bomb blast just 2 weeks ago, i decided that i will watch this match at least a day out of five. I searched the calender. Sunday was falling on 2nd day of the test match. I was eagerly waiting for the ticket to come in the market or online. But as soon as ticket came in the market, all tickets of Sunday was sold within few hours. When i went to market to buy tickets after completing the duty at office, there was no ticket left for Sunday. It was extremely disappointing.

On Saturday evening, I got a call from my friend that his senior had sold 3 tickets to him and he offered me to go with him to watch the match. I was extremely overjoyed. I quickly finished weekly tasks which i used to do on Sunday. I used to wake up around 6:30 am normally and around 9:30 am on Sunday but on this Sunday i woke up at 5:58 am, i called my friend to be ready quickly. We took the breakfast outside and booked an auto for the stadium. We reached there around 8:15 am. We went there with our mobile. But the gate men were not allowing anythings even food stuff to bring inside the stadium. It because of the bomb blast 2 week ago in Dilsukhnagar. We decided that one of us will go back, put the mobiles and other stuff at home and then will come back.

As we entered the stadium around 8:40 am, team India was doing morning warm up. Some of them were playing football and if i was right, Vijay and Sehwag was doing batting practice since they had to come soon to bat. I saw Ashwin first who was holding the football at that time, then a player who came near him and caught the football, ran for some distance. He was my current favorite player Kohli. Then he passed the football to another player. OMG, this is Dhoni. The crowd went up in hooting seeing the captain of India. Look, how fast he is running with the football. Dhawan chased him unsuccessfully and Dhoni scored a goal. The goal keeper was Bhajji and he hardly moves or tries to stop the goal. Then Bhajji kicked the ball to jadeja, he ran for some distance and passed it to pujara/rahane (not sure) and he kicked the football for a goal but Kohli came in batween, stop th football and passed it to Bhuvi. The goalkeeper Ishant hardly moved. Kohli wore shoes of unique color. It was Surapankhi. He was easily recognizable in all. The god of cricket Sachin was not seen in the warm up though. Then Pujara padded up and did some batting practice.
Aussies players were also doing warm up on the other end.

At 9:30 am, the players dressed up in their uniform and came to the field. There was a 2 minute for bomb blast victims. Match stated soon. Vijay sliced a short delivery of Pattinson for 4. Sehwag didn't survive the demanding initial phase of the day and was out soon adding just 2 more runs. Then Pujara came in the crease and started with a bang towards point region for a 4. I was sure that at least Vijay will out soon and i was going to watch the God today. But both players batted very defensively as team India made just 37 runs before lunch session. It was very boring to watch that session. Lunch was declared at its scheduled time.

Heyden with another Aussies came to the ground. The crowd went high in hooting. They replied with a hi5.
They came to show how to bat on this wicket for a TV channel. Meanwhile Indian players who were on the bench for this test match came in the field to do fielding practice with fielding coach. The crowd went high in hooting again. Except Rahane who took all the catches, all others like Dinda and Dhawan were not fielding well.

After lunch, Both the batsman started playing shots, Pujara in particular. Vijay first completed 50 then Pujara followed him. Pujara started displaying his wide range of classical shots. The crowd were doing chants of "We want sachin", "Common Pattinson, get a wicket". Sometime when any bowler appeals for a wicket, crowd support them so that a wicket fell and GOD came to bat. There was a moment when the crowd at each stand hooted alternately for around 20-25 rounds. The activity was just to stand up for 1 second and lift the hands up towards the sky. The funniest one was "Watson : Bowling?". Actually in spite of being wise-captain, captain clarke send watson to third man boundary. The crowd started teasing him by chanting "Watson : Bowling?" "Watson : Bowling?". Its tea time now- Vijay and Pujara still on the crease and both are playing on 73.

Local boy VVS Laxman and Ramiz Raza came in the ground to do discussions on the proceedings for a TV channel. The crowd went high in hooting. Laxman replied with a hi5. After tea , Pujara became more aggressive and completed his 100. After some time Vijay also completed his 100. A sigh of relies for him as his place in the team was being questioned. Both batsmen were batting brilliantly. Time was not left much.
Crowd started chants of "We want sachin" and "Common Pattinson, get a wicket". But Pujara and Vijay played brilliantly. Pujara completed 150 soon. Before some 4-5 overs left for the day, my friends left the stadium as even if a wicket will fall at this stage, a night watchman like Ishant will come to bat. But i didn't loose the hope. I said i will see the god in evening warm up. The day ended with Pujara and vijay still on the crease. Probably the dream of seeing god remianed a dream for me.

But the crowd didn't go back to home after completion of match. They started chants of "We want sachin" "We want sachin" "We want sachin". Evening warm up starts. Kohli, Dhoni followed Bhuvi and Bhajji came but sachin didn't. Dhoni gave the hint to go back. Then the police started sending people out of the stadium by force. I was extremely disappointed. I sat for around 9 hours in a bright sunny day just to see the GOD of cricket but probably real god had some other plans.


Click here to know what happened with me on the next day.