The city is on the verge of exploding, with the 132,000-capacity stadium expected to have no space left. Streets leading to the main entry gate of Narendra Modi Stadium are lined with sellers offering counterfeit India jerseys.
The city of Ahmedabad is buzzing with cricket excitement as it takes center stage in the cricketing world. It feels like the entire city is united, moving in unison towards the epicenter of the action. The anticipation has reached its peak at least 24 hours before the much-awaited World Cup final, and with just three and a half hours to go, an overwhelming sea of blue is making its way towards Motera. Roads are pulsating with energy and a hint of madness as fans donning India jerseys and carrying the national flag joyfully head towards the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Families, friends, children, adults, teenagers, and senior citizens have all joined forces to paint the city blue. Traffic moves at a sluggish pace until Motera, coming to a complete standstill near the stadium. Without a VIP car park sticker, progress is impossible, and a hologram on the accreditation card is mandatory due to the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Deputy PM Richard Marles. The expectations from Rohit Sharma’s team have surpassed the realms of excitement.
The city is on the verge of exploding, with the 132,000-capacity stadium expected to have no space left. Streets leading to the main entry gate of Narendra Modi Stadium are lined with sellers offering counterfeit India jerseys. Little Hetwik, an eight-year-old and a devoted Hardik Pandya fan, faces disappointment as jerseys with Pandya’s name are unavailable. “Only Virat, Rohit, Maxwell, and Warner available,” the seller Qayamuddin mentions, catering to other customers. A young father tries to console Hetwik, suggesting, “Beta, wear Virat, you look smart in this.”
This final serves as a blessing for Sheetal Ben, whose ailing husband at home has led her to rely on the counterfeit industry to make ends meet. Selling around 200 to 260 Virat Kohli jerseys and 150 Rohit jerseys, along with popular India hats, has become her means of sustaining her household.
A significant number of the 70,000 fans with tickets are not locals but have flown in from various parts of India, along with thousands of NRIs from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and Singapore, spending generously for a cricket vacation. About 20 charter flights with dignitaries, politicians, businessmen, and Bollywood personalities are set to land in Ahmedabad.
For the affluent Indian elite, it’s not just about the cover drives of Virat or the yorkers of Bumrah but also about being part of a vibrant atmosphere and creating their “I was there moment” under the sun. The crème de la crème are booked at the team hotel, where the celebration is expected to continue into the wee hours if India emerges victorious.
Tickets worth Rs 3500 are being sold at a 30 times premium in the black market, and hospitality tickets are fetching lakhs. Hotel prices have skyrocketed, leading some fans to opt for overnight stays at the Ahmedabad railway station waiting room due to budget constraints. The ITC Narmada five-star facility, where the national team is staying, has witnessed a massive crowd gathering in front of the main gate for the past three days. “I saw Dravid, Rohit, and that coach (Paras Mhambrey) the other night getting out of the hotel,” shared an enthusiastic fan who arrived at Narendra Modi Stadium as early as 11 am in an attempt to beat the traffic.
The party began at 8:00 am, and if India secures a win, the celebrations are expected to continue throughout the night.
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