Please read my earlier post "Cricket and Me" before reading this as this is a continuation of the earlier Post.
With the ticket in my hand I had the day marked in my calender, mobile, Outlook etc. IPL 2010 started with a bang and it was huge event in the Indian cricketing calender as last year's IPL was packed and sent to foreign shores because of the General elections and security issues.
The match for which I had the ticket was between the Chennai Super Kings(CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals -RR (Shilpa Shetty's team and the inaugural champions). My choice for this match was because it was at 4:00 PM and hence would end by 8:00 PM so that the transport was not a problem and I could use the train without any apprehensions. Also the match would have Dhoni, Shane Warne and the big hitting Pathan (Yousuf) who's fame has sky rocketed because of IPL these days.
The day came and it was a Saturday and a long weekend too. Decided to reach the Venue an hour before so that I could find a good seat located strategically to get the best view. Planned to reached by 3 PM and hence started at 2 PM so that I could be there on time. I had to catch two trains to Chepauk and there was no delay and reached near the stadium at 2:30.
On my exit out of the station, I saw there was a huge deluge of people with banners,posters and blowers with a huge posse of policemen and security guards. Tight security in fact...!!
The gate to which I had to go was farthest away and I had to keep walking till I saw one of the boards saying Gate No 11. A huge crowd was standing in a serpentine queue under the hot sun ...sweating and shouting. This will not suit me and I decided to walk further and went as close to the entrance as possible where there was some shade. Waited for some 10 min and suddenly there were few people who were coming in the wrong way and used this to join the line and got inside. This is called "jumping the queue" . Clever act ?? as long as it saved me from the scorching sun.
Then there was frisking and checking and nothing was allowed except your own self, not even water bottles.
As I entered with my heart thumping the great grand stands(Stand F - Top tier) there were already people occupying the vintage points to get a clear view. I searched for a while and then occupied one which I thought was a good one. Tried calling my office colleague who had got tickets with me. He was on his way at that point, so decided to wait and try reserving the adjacent seat for him. The noise was deafening with trumpets,drums and whistle. I sensed a mild pain in my left hear because of this noise being above the decibel I am used to.
The field was smaller than what I had in my mind and Shane Warne and Dhoni. came up to the middle for the toss. There were 4 electronic screens put up around the stadium which beamed the images which we usually see in the television. The crowd erupted suddenly , while I was admiring the fabulous stadium. Reason - CSK WON THE TOSS and ELECTED TO BAT.
Soon the Cheer girls joined on the stage and one out of the five groups was very close to me. This group really was not looking all that great (mokke foreign figures) while the one a few meters apart was good.(True to the saying - "the grass on the other side is always green"). The match was about to begin and my friend still had not arrived and the seats I had reserved for him had been taken by some body else.
The match was about to begin.....
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