Image Credit- AFP
There was a stir in the hospitality area on the upper
deck of the stands as Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma arrived at the Narendra
Modi Stadium. Sipping cups of hot chai (tea), the photographers had been taken
by surprise when they had to be in the middle to capture the training session.
Several of them grabbed up their kits, left their sweet drinks half-sipped, and
bolted. The commotion was entertaining if you weren’t a photographer and were
only witnessing it all from a distance.
You could see the curator rolling one of the surfaces
to the right, not dead centre, from up there in the elevated viewing area,
which is open to the public on non-match days.
Dravid and Rohit tried to study everything they could
for a long time. It was difficult to tell if they were looking at one or two
pitches from a distance. Deep conversation started when batting coach Vikram
Rathour joined them. They occasionally waved their hands in the direction of
the deck or decks; maybe they know something that others don’t. Maybe not.
As all was going on, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan
Kishan, R Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, and Rohit and Dravid started their nets.
With his arsenal of trickery, Ashwin gave Jadeja a working over. He loaded up
like a left-arm spinner and delivered from various positions.
You couldn’t help but wonder if there was more going
on here than this being an optional session as Dravid continued to focus on
Ashwin. Could he be the surprise player that India has saved for the
championship? He also put down some sick legbreaks.
Rehearsals for the closing ceremony started as the
performers finished up and the lights went on. Parents and hundreds of excited
kids lined up to carry the flags during the pre-game routine while the anthems
played. The focus then shifted to the committee entrusted with organising the
anticipated ten-minute spectacular aerial display, featuring nine hawk aircraft
from the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Acrobatic Team, which is expected to
dazzle the spectators.
On their part, the association authorities claim that
knowledge has been gained from the prior uncertainty, particularly in the
lead-up to the India vs. Pakistan match. What they haven’t been able to
address—and, to be honest, nobody really can—is the mismatch between supply and
demand for hotel rooms in the city.
As one of the hotel staff members put it, “the
city’s roads are all decked with lights, in what seems like an extension of the
Diwali holidays.” A laser show, musical acts, and a huge fireworks display
are all scheduled for Sunday’s spectacular finale.
Yes, it is one big celebration. Ideally, the cricket
match will be just as spectacular as it was at Lord’s four years ago.