It all began with a horde of dark clouds in the air along with the tinge of the first few drops of rain as it hit the freshly manicured earth. Providing solace from the threatening sun, which had peered over Kolkata for the last few weeks, the rain, which turned into a steady downpour from a slight drizzle, was much needed.
Only not on 19th March 2016. A date which needed no introduction to cricket aficionados across the nation, and may I say, the world. It was after all the historical day of the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. If more than anything, on this day, the City of Joy needed to be at its reeling best.
Days after Kolkata had been 'gifted' the marquee high-octane rivalry due to political interventions in Dharamsala, all souls and all beings, had just one wish spread across their lips, that was to get hold of the tickets, which could fetch them an entry into the fortress called Eden Gardens. With even gold chains being exchanged for a couple of tickets, Kolkata portrayed to the global audience that its tag of being the most passionate sporting city in India still held true.
Ticket fiascos done and dusted with, political and security concerns all forgotten about, it was now hoped that the rains would relent. It had to relent for the game of cricket, for India to stay alive in the competition and for the thousands of people who had promised to throng the Gardens, irrespective of the weather conditions that the divine forces had to offer.
Eden Gardens out in full force with its indomitable passionate spirit intact
5:30 PM- Eden Gardens has never ceased to amaze. With just over two hours to go before the rivalry between MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi took centre-stage, Nature played a rather cruel trick on its servants.
With the darkest of dark clouds pouring over what should have ideally been a grand spectacle, hearts sank as it tried hard to evade catastrophic thoughts of a washout. Yet, the indomitable spirit refused to budge as the stadium started filling up slowly but surely.
It could not have been a washout. It just could not have. How could it, when over 61,337 people in unison muttered a similar prayer, even if one did not believe in the Almighty. And finally, the droplets of rain gave way.
A thunderous applause greeted the half moon, encapsulated between the four pillars of the floodlights. The covers were off and it was time to pursue the fervour which surrounds the colossal stadium, once more.
7:30 PM- There was a prelude before the high-octane match was to get underway, with a host of legendary cricketers from the two nations being felicitated by the chief minister of West Bengal. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag were all present.
And so was the best batsman Sachin Tendulkar. No one could hear what he had to say on the loudspeaker as deafening chants of "Sachin Sachin" reverberated in all ears, reminding one of the concluding lines of his emotional farewell speech in Mumbai, two years ago.
Well, no one cared about what he had to say after his opening lines were addressed in Bengali. His mere presence was enough to fill the ground with hysteria, nostalgia and mania.
8:30 to11:30 PM- At last it was ball time. Well, not before the legendary Amitabh Bachchan had rendered a soulful recitation of the national anthem, which filled the venue with goosebumps.
If any adrenaline was missing, the chants of "Jaya He" must have given the players the much-needed impetus to go all out and flourish in a do or die encounter. A curtailed game could not dampen the spirits as decibels reached pitch-high, with every wicket and dot ball being cheered on lustily.
The Mexican wave swayed to the belting beats of the Bollywood numbers, while on the field, Pakistan were restricted to a challenging target of 118 in 18 overs.
The silence before the uproar
And then came the miracle during India's innings. As they collapsed to a lowly 23/3, the Eden, known for its vocal chords, did not utter a sound. From chants of "India India", no one made a move, frightened at the prospect of their first loss to Pakistan in a World Cup encounter. In solitude, in the pin drop silence, each one prayed once more.
Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh however soon ensured that the foot tapping numbers made sense to the crowd again, courtesy hefty blows and sensible batting. As the legend in the making Virat Kohli bowed to his master Tendulkar in the stands after yet another well deserved half century, the Calcuttans were back to the highs of the crazy passion which has come to define them.
A customary six by Dhoni followed after Yuvraj had been dismissed. Roars of Vande Mataram, which scaled the summits of patriotism, filled the now-clear night sky as the captain hammered away for a single to hand India a much-needed win.
Even 72-year-old Bachchan could not stop his childlike excitement, waving the tricolour gleefully.
A bow down to the Eden crowd makes it a night to remember
Kohli was forced to bow to the stands once the presentation was done with, only highlighting that this city had, once again, lived up to its billing of being a place which handed out the warmest atmosphere. It had earlier applauded the efforts of young Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Sami after their brilliant bowling spells.
Yes, there were a few light-hearted banters, directed towards India's own son-in-law Shoaib Malik, but in the end, the spectators had had more than their money's worth. Every moment has been etched on in the mind, which will be evoked every time this match is mentioned years down the line.
"First love is what happened between Eden Gardens and me," Rahul Dravid had echoed these sentiments on his first memory of this grand stadium a few years ago. Yesterday was not my first trip to the Eden Gardens, but I did fall in love with this place once more as I entered the hallowed arena.
I know I was privileged. Very very privileged.
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