Every time, India play Pakistan in a World Cup match, it’s always big. Way back in 2011 when India were playing Pakistan in the semifinal match, it was supposed to the biggest ODI match in the history of the game then.
It was big in terms of audience, money generated through TV viewership and number of fans inside the stadium. Again on Sunday, when India play their arch-rivals, the numbers are going to be staggering and expected to better the previous records.
It’s so big that no big event is going to take place on that day. The roads and by-lanes of busiest places in the country would be more or less empty and even the late-risers will bank on their alarm clock to watch the proceedings of the match from the very beginning. Even outside India, where the NRIs are well settled, this match cuts across all ages and genders, caste and creed.
The scene is somewhat same even in Adelaide – the venue for the coveted match. The tickets for the match are all sold out and there is practically no space for accommodating a few extra ones. The hotels are booked in advance and there is practically no way one can find a shelter in this city, if you haven’t booked a room earlier.
In this state of euphoria, what the Indian fans are expecting is nothing less than a win after all this match is supposed to be viewed by more than a billion cricket fans in the world!
