vaibhavtewatia
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The date was 6th January 2013, shivering cold at 10 in the morning, sat beside the TV to check the build-up to the 3rd ODI b/w India and Pakistan scheduled to be played at the Feroze Shah Kotla. Same time, my friend called to ask if I was free today to go there and watch the match. Well, you simply don't ask these questions. Do you?
So my first match was to be against our arch rivals, excited as I was, expecting the stadium to be jam packed even for the ODI which was inconsequential, as Pakistan had already won the series!
We were four with a ticket each ( non-saleable) , but the problem, two of those tickets were for general stands, and the other two were for West End - Platinum Lounge (Lower level), ie, the one straight below the pavillion ( which was first floor). I somehow managed to convince my friends to let me go for the West End.
So 12.30 it was when we reached inside (at 12.00 the match had started) and India were already 3 down.
. Pakistani bowlers were steaming in - this is just when I reached the stadium:
Indian batsmen failed yet again in the series, posting only a meagre 167.
These were the pics when 1st innings ended / 2nd innings was about to start.
Soryy about the image quality, captured it from the video I made, didn't have a good video phone then, neither it had a very responsive click to capture!!
A lot as expected from the new ball bowlers, and we had a new entrant in the side, Shami Ahmed. The crowd was on their feet cheering for the side as every ball was bowled. The bowlers started well for India.
There were only a bunch of Pakistani fans in the stadium, a whole delegation of Pakistani elite on my left though,ie,beneath Pakistani dressing room, and yeah!! Paki girls are so beautiful. But we weren't allowed to go into their area.
The crowd got silent as Pakistan's innings progressed as India was failing yet again. The only thing that kept us going was the Mexican wave, loved that!! We had to leave early as my friends were freezing in the top general stand and I too had to go to a relative's function. Just as we had an exit from the gate , there came a big roar from the stands, then another, and another!! India had taken 3 quick wickets in a span of 10 minutes or so. We were like, we have a chance in this game, and before I had left, I said to a lady sitting beside me that hey, we're gonna win this.
And we had by the time I was in the metro leaving for home, my dad called me up and confirmed!!
One of the finest experiences of my life, to witness the players from soo close!! Remember each and every moment while in the stadium
Key incidents during the match:
1. In the break while Jamshed was stretching, Sharma had a hard round ball (those like bowling types) and gestured as if he would hit Jamshed with it. Jamshed stood up and became too furious, though it was a spat for just seconds, and obviously Sharma was just playing around
2. Some naughty little kid shouted Jaddu from the hole in the glass and ran away, Jadeja, who was sitting behind the ropes waiting to go in, turned back and had a long stare at me, as he thought I was the one who did it!! Well, you need to bow down before the Sir as they say!!
3. Billy Bowden ran fairly quickly into the official rooms ( I assume he had to pee as it was too cold) and all of us had a big laugh.
These are my memories from my first ever match inside a stadium, one of the happiest days of my life!!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/current/match/589310.html
Post your memories from the first match you witnessed inside a stadium
So my first match was to be against our arch rivals, excited as I was, expecting the stadium to be jam packed even for the ODI which was inconsequential, as Pakistan had already won the series!
We were four with a ticket each ( non-saleable) , but the problem, two of those tickets were for general stands, and the other two were for West End - Platinum Lounge (Lower level), ie, the one straight below the pavillion ( which was first floor). I somehow managed to convince my friends to let me go for the West End.
So 12.30 it was when we reached inside (at 12.00 the match had started) and India were already 3 down.
. Pakistani bowlers were steaming in - this is just when I reached the stadium:Indian batsmen failed yet again in the series, posting only a meagre 167.
These were the pics when 1st innings ended / 2nd innings was about to start.
Soryy about the image quality, captured it from the video I made, didn't have a good video phone then, neither it had a very responsive click to capture!!
A lot as expected from the new ball bowlers, and we had a new entrant in the side, Shami Ahmed. The crowd was on their feet cheering for the side as every ball was bowled. The bowlers started well for India.
There were only a bunch of Pakistani fans in the stadium, a whole delegation of Pakistani elite on my left though,ie,beneath Pakistani dressing room, and yeah!! Paki girls are so beautiful. But we weren't allowed to go into their area.
The crowd got silent as Pakistan's innings progressed as India was failing yet again. The only thing that kept us going was the Mexican wave, loved that!! We had to leave early as my friends were freezing in the top general stand and I too had to go to a relative's function. Just as we had an exit from the gate , there came a big roar from the stands, then another, and another!! India had taken 3 quick wickets in a span of 10 minutes or so. We were like, we have a chance in this game, and before I had left, I said to a lady sitting beside me that hey, we're gonna win this.
And we had by the time I was in the metro leaving for home, my dad called me up and confirmed!!
One of the finest experiences of my life, to witness the players from soo close!! Remember each and every moment while in the stadium
Key incidents during the match:
1. In the break while Jamshed was stretching, Sharma had a hard round ball (those like bowling types) and gestured as if he would hit Jamshed with it. Jamshed stood up and became too furious, though it was a spat for just seconds, and obviously Sharma was just playing around
2. Some naughty little kid shouted Jaddu from the hole in the glass and ran away, Jadeja, who was sitting behind the ropes waiting to go in, turned back and had a long stare at me, as he thought I was the one who did it!! Well, you need to bow down before the Sir as they say!!
3. Billy Bowden ran fairly quickly into the official rooms ( I assume he had to pee as it was too cold) and all of us had a big laugh.
These are my memories from my first ever match inside a stadium, one of the happiest days of my life!!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/current/match/589310.html
Post your memories from the first match you witnessed inside a stadium
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