Just outside of footprint range, however, it was blissful.
The media barricade is about six feet away from the pitch, a pristine sea of green with two sticks marking the 22-yard strip currently covering the pitch. Thank heavens we don't have to hit those in bowl-outs.
A local group of Maharashtrian entertainers took the stage, and proceeded to belt out anything remotely desi, no matter how inappropriate. So Kahin der na ho jaaye ('Hope it isn't too late,' literally) was played, just because the chorus has Mahi in the name, which happens to be Mahindra Dhoni's nickname.
Not that the crowd was nitpicking. Just demanding a chorus they knew, the crowd -- all stands now nearing capacity -- chimed in with extreme passion, and a brief vignette from the turban-clad frontman describing the Misbah skier caught by Sreesanth saw them silenced to a hush before erupting madly. Goosepimples were inevitable; where was Team India?
Also read: Celebrate Team India: Send in your pics/videos!
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