"Sab nach rahe hain (Everybody is dancing)," a man said at the K block of the Eden Gardens. It was 8:35 pm. India had just blown away South Africa, one of the top teams of this World Cup, by 243 runs. Many fans started shaking a leg as Bollywood chartbusters kept playing out in the background. Many spectators stayed back for the presentation ceremony. As Virat Kohli's name was announced as the Player of the Match, another round of cheers rang out. Many fans had come hoping for a blockbuster clash. Some of them left the stadium well before the match ended because the contest was over. But those who stayed back celebrated their hearts out. The Telegraph caught up with some of the fans, from near and far, before and after the match.
Two men flew in from Houston, Texas, to watch the “preview of the final”. Dhiren Shethia (left) and Jaspreet Pal have been living in the US for three decades but still call themselves “Calcutta boys”. “We are very passionate about cricket and the Men in Blue. We went to the last ODI World Cup (2019) in England as well,” said Shethia who grew up in Tollygunge and went to St Joseph’s College, Bowbazar. “Today’s match is a preview of the final. These two teams are most likely to play in the final as well. The result will be the same though. India all the way,” said Pal, an alumnus of St Thomas’ Boys’ School in Kidderpore.
Six-year-old Kabir Pandya was on his way to Eden with father Raunak (centre) and uncle Rajat. “This is the first time he (Kabir) is going to a cricket match in a stadium. There cannot be a better debut than one at Eden during a World Cup. When he grows up, he will thank me,” said Raunak. The Pandyas live in Hyderabad but have friends and family in Calcutta. Raunak has been to Eden before. Seeing so many spectators get their face painted in the colours of the Indian flag, Kabir insisted on getting his face painted. Considering the “dream debut”, the elders did not object.
Kevin Miles stood out because he was one of the few in the green shirt amid a sea of blue. Miles, a South African who now lives in Munich, Germany, travels around the world to root for the Proteas. “Not the result I was hoping for but being in the ground for Kohli’s 100 more than made up for the disappointment of South Africa losing. The crowd were amazing and the intensity of enthusiasm and social energy was relentless. A great game to sign off my 10-day 5-match CWC 2023 of India. It was an unforgettable experience and a bucket list item ticked off. Thank you India!,” he said.
