Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Set for blade of glory
CAN THEY DELIVER? : Dinesh Mongia and Tinu Yohannan in playful mood.
THE MAN who can strike the most melodious of notes on the cricket meadows, Sachin Tendulkar, isn't here. Sad. After all, the cricket's reigning music conductor had whipped up a symphony two-and-a-half years ago - one of his best ever - that still rings loud in the city. And that's the biggest disappointment as One-Day international cricket returns to the city.
And there is the all familiar excitement and the unbelievable fervour everywhere. After all, the stars of international cricket are going to shine over the Hyderabadi skyline. The unflinching love for the game is visible everywhere with people lining up the road outside a star hotel and Lal Bahadur Stadium waving and cheering at the `stars' driving away in the gathering dusk. Then, there is the mad rush for `complimentary passes' all over. And the usual coups to absent oneself from office!
Indeed, cricket is the lingua franca for the diverse souls of the city, all eager to wander into the lush green meadows as all roads lead to the stadium. Even a newcomer who does not speak cricket (or drink and breathe, if you please) can make out that streak of desperation in the cricket crazy Hyderabadis to be a part of the electrifying atmosphere. While the stadium holds 21,640, the demand is many times the figure and not surprisingly, tickets vanished from the counters in a few hours flat.
``We rarely get an opportunity to watch the Indian team in flesh and blood. What better way than watching them play in our own backyard,'' says Sunil Goud, a senior league player and captain of the A.P. High Court cricket team. "There is nothing that can match the euphoria whipped up by cricket. Even an Alfred Hitchcock movie pales in comparison as the game of glorious uncertainties produced some real edge-of-the-seat thrills,'' says Ajay, a software marketing man. "'I'll be there only for Rahul Dravid,'' drools a teeny-bopper, Nivedita.
But, Sachin's absence is a big letdown for many. There's no better sight for cricket fans to watch him hoist the cherry into the stands with disdain.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid doing stretching exercises.
"It's bad luck. Absolute bad luck not to see him in action,'' says Pravin, a local league player. "He is simply the best," chips in Venu, Pravin's friend, as they recount the out-of-the-world outing they had the last time watching the master blaster and Dravid recording their career best scores.
As the crowds train their vocal chords and dig deep for the creative juices to flow in those catchy phrases and punch lines, one can only pray that their cricketing heroes, who are unstoppable one day the next give up without a fight, come back to life. And live up to the crowds' great expectations.
By K.V.S. Madhav
Photos: K. Ramesh Babu
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
|
