The game-watching destination

Every city in this country has a game watching destination. The restaurants, the electronic shop outlets or cafés — any one of them having a big LED television is on the priority list even if people have a good resolution TV at home. When asked about the reasons, Kumar said: “My mother and sister switch channels to watch soap operas when there is a commercial break during a match. It really bugs you. For us, a café or a mall is the most sought-after cricket viewing destination as they hassle free and women free!” And yes! The sofas, the cushions and the food are the added attractions that make the cricket destination perfect place to chill out with friends. Feel home!

Snacks galore

Whether it’s home or cricket viewing destination, you need energy to cheer up your team! Watching cricket with yummy snacks such as onion pakodas, chicken chops and kebabs add spice to the game. “These snacks are energisers that help us in continuous live commentary. Even over eating doesn’t affect us!” quipped Anmolan, student of CNLU.

Bird watching

Even while watching matches seriously boys don’t miss out a chance to check out girls. And if they are at a cricket watching destination, they leave no stone unturned to check out a girl! “After watching a match what relaxes us is the camera zooming on girls in the gallery. It’s like having a drink after an hour of thirst,” says Saket, student of Amity. What distract boys from watching cricket are the PYTs flocking at the restaurants.

Superstition at its height

Every cricket fanatic believes in some superstition when it comes to Team India winning a match. For every win of India, the credit does not go to the players only, but also to the serendipity of the fan wearing that blue tee, eating vegetarian food for a week, placing the television set in a particular direction or being served by a particular waiter.

Interestingly, things or people become lucky or jinxed for fans during a match. “My favourite cricket destination is Bollywood Treats. Last year, I was watching a match with my group of friends and there was no scope for India to win. While watching we ordered chicken sandwich twice and as soon as it was served, the match took an interesting turn and finally India won. From that day onwards, whenever we go to BT to see a match we order chicken sandwich and get it served by the same waiter,” said Saket, Patna University, student.

Oh my god!

Boys, who never accompanied their mom’s to temples, will pray hard, fast and make an earnest wish to the higher power asking for Dhoni’s century or for maximum sixes and fours. Vishal said: “We were watching a match and India was playing against Pakistan and needed 18 runs in 14 balls. Meanwhile, I saw one of the girls of my class in the canteen. I called her up and said ‘tu bhagwan se prayer kar na, ladkiyon ki thodi jaldi sunta hai’. (Please pray to God for India’s win, as god listens to girls’ prayer more than of boys) And the funniest part was that all the boys glued to the TV instead of laughing agreed with me.”

It’s fixed

The best excuse every cricket crazy fan has after India loses any match is “It was fixed!”

TV blame game

If the opposite team is playing well, a fan switches off the TV for an hour. When asked about the reason, came the craziest answer. “We actually think that if we switch off our TV set, there will be some wickets down. And believe us it has worked many times!” said Priyansh. Try this one!

Siddhuism

There is one Siddhu in every group playing with words and ready to make his commentary after every shot. Some of the words and phrases used are jio, hila diya, faadu shot, dho dala, mauke par chauka, chakka hai (when there is a good shot), gaya tel lene, aapke papa se bhi nahi hoga, mummy ne Complan nahi pilaya kya (when a player misses a catch) and many more.

Gully cricket

Cricketers might go back to the dressing room to rejoice their victory and the galleries of the stadium might turn vacant, but you will surely find a wannabe Virat or Dhoni hitting sixes and breaking windows. Copying the same style of bowling, holding the bat or trying to take a shot just like man of the match, you can actually watch another version of the game down the lane. Fans even copy the hairstyles, sunshades and body language of cricketers.

Apart from those playing, you will also find a few seriously doing critical analysis of shots, different styles of bowling and wrong movements. Gully cricket is not always about fun, but also about sharing knowledge. “I am a great fan of Sachin. Like him, I pull up my left hand’s sleeves after hitting a perfect shot. Even I have got those blue shades that he frequently wears,” said Ankit, student of Loyala.

No working hours

The office goers either complete work fast or complete it in advance in order to lower the pressure during the match hours. Some feel it is a sacrilege, if they are asked to finish some work while the match is going on as they consider it a ‘paid holiday’.

Colleague huddling near the television set commenting, betting and cheering together is a common sight a most offices. You will always find most offices vacant on the day of India vs Pakistan match and the reason for absence is fever or upset stomach. Dare to disagree?

Crazy commuters

Cricket fever is noticeable when you commute via public transport. People tuning into the FM for updates, discussing about the first innings, discussing the mach from co-passengers and even forgetting to take the left changes from the auto drivers. “I was going home after office when I heard two girls talking about cricket in the auto rickshaw. They were not discussing the game, but talking about the lip colour Dhoni’s wife Sakshi was wearing, who was in the gallery to watch the match. Guess these girls were forced to see the match in the office,” said Praveen, IT professional.

Eyes on Sachin’s last test

The god of cricket can never retire, but all said and done, he is going to play his 200th and last test at Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai. Though there are mixed feelings of excitement as sadness in the air, the fans here sure they won’t give Sachin a teary-eyed farewell and are raring to celebrate his final innings.

The cricket-watching destinations are going to be jam-packed to watch Sachin play. The cricket lovers are going to swear by their lucky charms and pray hard so that the Master Blaster scores a century.

“Our lucky charm Shubham is enjoying his long holidays at his native place. We are really worried about the last test Sachin playing. Hope is back as we are in no mood to take risks,” said Anmolan.

While some of them have applied for leaves in advance, others are deciding upon excuses to bunk work or studies. “I am taking a break from my office from November 14 to 18. I really can’t miss the chance of watching Sachin play his 200th and last test match,” said Rakesh Srivastava.

Sushant Singh, a government employee, decided to watch the match at work cheer for the Little Master.

“My leave has not been sanctioned. So, I along with my colleague will enjoy the match in our office. We have decided to complete work in advance so that we can watch the match without any work pressure,” he said.

For some fans watching Sachin on television is not the perfect way to bid him adieu, the only way would be to watch him play live. Shanu Shandilya, a software engineer, is one such fan. “I have packed my bags and I am ready to fly to Mumbai. I really want to see Sachin batting live. All set for Wankhede Stadium for 14th and 15th,” said the young fan.