India's winning spree makes Pune go crazy

India's winning spree makes Pune go crazy
JOE WILLIAMS

PUNE, March 26: No Indian cricket fan would have liked to miss India’s victory in the opening one-dayer against the Australians at Bangalore. With the teams hardly finished with the match, Sunday for several city fans was no holiday. Instead, for the majority, it was a watchful wait all through the night to procure the ‘limited’ tickets for sale at the Deccan Gymkhana for the second ODI slated for Wednesday, March 28.

Festival, business were all kept aside, as these fans were there at the Gymkhana gates almost 15 hours before sale. The road was transformed into a makeshift waiting room replete with bed sheets, water bottles and the little they could carry as eats. ‘‘I’m here with my daughter and son since 8 p.m. last night,’’ informs Rajendra Khale, who sells bhelpuriin the city. Was it necessary? And Khale informs ‘live’ action is something he has never seen, something that has been confined to a television set. So fanatical is Khale that he went to the extent of keeping aside his daily bread-winning business to be among the first’s to buy a ticket.

An overnight camp by the fans meant keeping up with the limited essential food and water for starters. However, these aspects were not a bother as the come-what-may attitude, all for a ticket, sufficed needs by the hour every hour. Helping one another was the only way out and so it was as many got acquainted overnight.

There were helping hands for everything and for everyone ‘‘It was feeling of togetherness,’’ informed Rajendra Hadwalane, who along with his wife were one among the many present.

For the Hadwalanes, and for all Maharashtrians present, Monday was an auspicious day the new year (Guddi Padwa), which meant a traditional pooja too. Says Rajendra, ‘‘Some of my friends came in the morning and helped us out.’’ Further enquiry revealed that these friends needed ‘tickets,’ ‘‘all fair as they were ready to pay too,’’ Rajendra adds.

While these cricket enthusiasts were braving the heat and dust, there were others who did nothing but still got tickets. Among them were two defence officials. They walked in a few minutes before the sale of tickets and in a jiffy they were out happy for the ‘mission accomplished.’

The Pune city police too were not spared in duty as they were summoned to be present at the venue at 8 p.m Sunday evening. Police constable Nandu Kishore Jangam was an aggrieved man. Not content with the way in which the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) went about in selling the tickets, ‘‘It could have been much better had MCA sold tickets at various counters. It’s maddening to control a huge crowd converging at one venue.’’

The serpentine queue had no head nor tail the moment one reached the venue. Even MCA secretary Anant Mate was a confused man and was heard asking a cop on duty ‘‘Can you tell me where the line ends,’’ which when realaised was almost a kilometer long!

And as the sale started (1.10 pm), all those who bought tickets were seen waving their proud possessions amidst cheering. After all that wait it was finally to home sweet home, something several so badly needed after a watchful night out. ‘‘Now its for India to perform,’’ comes a die-hard expectation from a fan who boasts that not many can brave the long-wait.

Finally, only 6000 tickets were sold on the opening day with all club house tickets be sold out. Ticket sales continue on Tuesday from 10.00 am onwards. according to the MCA secretary.