Five things that lifted me on a spirit-sapping evening at Sahara Stadium, Pune

Although a regular follower of cricket, I somehow never got the opportunity of watching a cricket match in a stadium. I sought to remedy that by attending the first ODI between India and Australia. When I got to know that it was the first ODI ever to be held in the Subrata Roy Sahara stadium as well, I was looking forward to a smashing debut both for the stadium and my stadium going, where India’s win would trigger wild celebrations all around. So, you can imagine my disappointment sitting there by the boundary and watching in horror as Team India slowly tumbled downhill towards defeat. But despite all that, I left the stadium with a smile, as a few little things kept me afloat on what was otherwise a depressing evening for a hardcore Indian fan.

5. Pune crowd:

It is said that the mob has many heads, but no brains. Well, the Pune mob did have one, and an admirable one at that. While the occasional glare or word by the Australian infielders was vociferously booed and hooted, Pune crowd has been exemplary as sports spectators. It’s not every day that a touring team is greeted with wholehearted applause for good bowling or fielding efforts, especially when the home team is floundering with barely one foot on a buoy. It was heartening to see that amidst all the boisterousness and clamor, the Pune crowd did not lose its sense of hospitality.

4. The surreal beauty of the stadium

Even during the daytime, the shiny new stadium smack in the middle of nowhere, stands out like a piece of porcelain would, if kept in an uncouth roadside tea-stall. The shabby, narrow lanes leading up to the stadium, the crass makeshift parking lots outside it, belie the well-maintained stands, the glamorous super stands and the lush green ground that one would find within. But, once the angry red sun had set, taking away with it the sweltering heat that scorched everyone alike, that’s when the Pune’s new stadium shone like the jewel it is. Under the floodlights, set up by the cool westerly breeze, a thin veil of mist had settled down on the stadium. Words cannot begin to describe the surreal sight that was to be beheld from atop the stands – it looked like a giant holographic projection of some greater being’s dream.

Add a light screen of fog and a cool evening breeze to the already beautiful stands and outfield, just another evening at Subrata Roy Sahara stadium

3. Mexican waves:

Watching sport on TV, one of the things that always awed me was the Mexican wave. When the cheering crowd rises and settles in their seats in a perfectly rhythmic manner carrying the crest of the cheer across the stadium, I couldn’t help but feel how all the people in the crowd looked like cogs that are part of one giant mechanism. But, it was only yesterday that I learnt that it wasn’t all as easy and effortless as appears on TV to start the waves. I was lucky enough to be a part of the bay that was responsible for initiating the waves. My first impression of it was that starting a wave is like kindling a fire with flint and iron – The first few sparks fall, charring the firewood a little before dying down; on your second attempt, you might even see a little ember before it goes down; it’s only on your fourth or fifth that you would be treated to the warmth of a kindling fire. The same was the case with the Mexican waves – in the first few attempts, it barely crossed a handful of bays, but once it caught on, we could sustain three to four continuous laps of waves. On an evening with little to cheer for, the Indian fans found joy watching the waves flow, as kids would, watching a flame grow.

2. Australian bouncers:

File photo

Contrary to what I feel is the popular choice among cricket fans, I enjoy watching good bowling more than good batting. So, going into the stadium yesterday, I was hoping that the teeth that Indian pace department discovered in recent times would cut into the Australian line-up with sharp swing and pace bowling. Well, the only teeth I got to see from the Indian pacers were gritted ones as they were being picked apart, with their docile good-length balls being smashed all over the park. By the time the Australian innings finished, I was starting to get the feeling that if I had stayed home, I would probably have enjoyed more. As I sat there hoping that batting at least would be more fun, Johnson was running in to bowl the 4^th ball of the Indian innings. What followed blew me away, and from the crowd’s reaction, so were they; pitching just short of the good length and rising sharply, the ball rocketed past a wary looking Shikhar Dhawan at 153 kmph, who could only manage to weave past it. If the momentary silence and rippling applause that followed don’t summarize the thrill of that delivery, I don’t think I can find words better. Throughout the innings the Australian pacers continued to test the Indian batsmen with sharp bouncers. If it wasn’t for a sinking Team India on the receiving end, those bouncers would have easily made my day.

1. Mitchell Johnson’s cheer-leading act:

George Bailey might have been the “Man of the match”, but the man of the crowd undoubtedly was Mitchell Johnson. On a day when the crowd was desperately trying to get the attention of the fielders (both Indian and Australian) in the deep, every wave of the hand and acknowledgement was loudly cheered. So it was, when Johnson came to field at deep mid-wicket after the field restrictions were lifted. The East stand crowd that was standing behind him, failing to receive any acknowledgement even after a lot of “Johnson, Johnson” calls, resorted to something new. As Johnson started his warm-up routine getting ready to bowl again, the crowd behind him started imitating him; when Johnson stretched, so did the crowd; when he started windmilling his arms, so did the entire stand behind him. This did not miss the keen sight of Johnson. And being the sport he was, he led the crowd on – continuing his warm-up stretches even after completing his over and coming back. He slowly moved on to some awkward stretches, stopping at weird positions and the crowd obliged, doing the same. Whenever his teammate bowled or fielded well, he turned to crowd and clapped and so did they. This entire episode continued for about an hour or so and was certainly the funniest experience of the entire day. And finally when Johnson had to change fielding position, the East stand responded with a chant of “Johnson come back” calling out their cheerleader.