Sharmistha Gooptu in London
The Indian supporters and fans at the Oval this Saturday are getting their money’s worth and every bit of the cricket they came to watch. With the beer flowing fast and the scent of fish and chips wafting in from the stands towards the outdoor media seating, the fans were observed erupting in joy at every dropped catch by England, when Akash Deep got his fifty before lunch, and then Yashasvi Jaiswal his hundred some time into the post-lunch session. Super fan Sudhir is among them, sounding the conch every time the match seems to take a turn in India’s favour.
Counter-jinxing is on inside the media group! With everyone doing every little thing to add their power to the universe to get India closer to a bigger total at the end of the day. It’s almost the end of a long Test series, and the sounds of the conch and the sight of the tricolour are keeping the spirit up. The England bowlers have started to look frustrated, if not angry, and the home crowd a less buoyant. A couple of seats to the right of me, a very senior British journalist has a look of resignation.
Then comes the Jaiswal wicket. But the mood is still not greatly affected. When Ravindra Jadeja is declared ‘not out’ after India’s review, there is yet another eruption. And at the point of a 260-run lead for India, someone in the stands directly below us shouts it out for the assembled crowd.
Another four, and Sudhir’s conch bellows with joy! And as tea is called and the players walk back to the pavilion, the Indian tricolour punctuates the sea of heads here at The Oval.
Follow Revsportz for latest sports news