“Oh, Ravi Jadejaaaaa, Oh, Ravi Jadejaaaaa” – that energizing refrain created a carnival-like atmosphere in the Bharat Army stands at The Oval after Ravindra Jadeja disrupted the aggressive flow of runs from Steven Smith and Travis Head, the pair who put on 285 runs in the 1st innings.
When Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur were displaying grit and determination to stitch together a resilient 109-run stand to bring India back into the game, the whole stadium was chanting “Ganpati Bappa Morya” in unison to support every drive, cut, pull, defence, and nudge, backing the ‘khadoos’ and ‘kadak’ cricket from the Mumbai duo.
Each time Shardul took a blow on his right arm from Cummins, the crowd was oohing, aahing, and clapping to cheer Lord Thakur’s fight.
Every time the team needed moral support, all it would take was for one enthusiastic fan to start a “Mexican wave” that would do three to four rounds of The Oval.
Even Virat Kohli appreciated this support and egged on the fans to keep up the noise, especially when Mohammed Siraj was running in hard and spitting fire on the day-three pitch to trouble David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne!
There was never a dull moment in the stands on Friday as – even during the quiet periods in the game or breaks – the fans waved the tricolour, danced to Bollywood beats, and shouted jingoistic mantras while enjoying their beer, whiskey, scones, and sandwiches.
At the ICC Hospitality Box, on the other hand, fans enjoyed a different kind of experience. We had the privilege of meeting and chatting with cricketing legends such as Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Chris Gayle, Ross Taylor, and Roger Binny; commentators and writers like Harsha Bhogle and Mark Nicholas; administrators from various cricketing boards; sports aficionados like Dr. Shashi Tharoor, and business leaders from the world of sports media, technology and sponsor partners like Bira91, Nium and more.
One even got the chance to reconnect with old friends and classmates after more than a decade, who had flown in from all the over the world – that’s the power of live sports, to bring people together and help them reconnect through shared experiences.
Hospitality was at its finest in these boxes, where there was a constant supply of delicious English and Indian food. The bar had beer on tap and some Pimm’s to enjoy the British summer. There were also some artisanal cakes, scones and kheer at tea time.
There were lounges for private chats, desks, and free Wi-Fi for those who had to get some work done in the breaks. These areas had numerous TV screens for people who wanted to catch glimpses during their chats and calls or wanted to watch some replays.
We were gifted some free memorabilia to take home, and given an opportunity to take a snap with the ICC Test Championship mace that will soon be held either by Pat Cummins or Rohit Sharma.
The corridors were decorated with photos of international legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Alex Stewart and Kevin Peterson, as well as heroes who had brought glory to Surrey cricket.
For the history buffs, you could go down memory lane by walking past nostalgic photos that captured sepia-tinted footage of Sir Donald Bradman’s historic 70th Test innings, where he failed to score a run, thus ending his career with a memorable and enviable average of 99.94. There is also a picture from August 24, 1971, when Indian fans brought in Bella, a two-year-old baby elephant from Chessington Zoo, to The Oval, as a way to support Ajit Wadekar’s team, who need a further 97 runs, with eight wickets in hand, to clinch India’s very first series win in England.
And win they did, the third and final Test at the Kennington Oval by four wickets, to give such pride and glory to a nation that had won its independence just 24 years earlier. As we enter the fourth day of the WTC final, I wonder if Team India might need the services of Bella’s grandchild to usher in some luck and help them chase down what might be a target in excess of 375 runs.
With or without a Bella, I know that the Indian fans will continue to bleed blue for the next two days, likely to be very warm by English conditions and cheer their lungs out to back their side to the hilt.
Ironically, what I overheard in the restrooms yesterday, a chat between an Aussie dad and his son, best captured the essence of the Indian fan: “They cheer for a boundary, they cheer for a single, they even cheer for a solid front-foot defence. They travel all around the world to support their team. They show up, rain or shine. They support when the chips are down, and they celebrate every little victory. They are true fans, son”.
And I must admit, the intimate environment of The Oval makes this fan experience even more memorable and joyous.