#BleedBlue: Fans pad up to cheer for Team India

Isha Lahiri and Meghna Das
KOLKATA: From schoolkids to octogenarians and from solo watching to travelling up to London to catch the action from the stands, the India-Pakistan match has become the focal point of all plans cricket-lovers are making for a super Sunday. Though the weather update from Old Trafford — the match venue — is not very exciting (there is a possibility of rain), no one is allowing it to dampen the spirit of the build-up to a thrilling World Cup encounter.

Travel agent Anil Punjabi, for example, has planned a gala party at his home with friends and family on Sunday. They will all be gathering in front of a giant TV screen to savour the excitement. “It promises to be a mouth-watering contest. Pakistan can’t afford to lose and India will be eager to maintain its all-win record in the World Cup against their arch rivals. It should be a battle to remember,” gushed Punjabi.
But like millions of cricket fans across the country, he, too, hopes that rain doesn't play spoilsport. “It will be a pity if rain truncates the match. After all, everyone has been waiting for this match,’ he said.
Mahesh Daryanani from Kolkata reached the UK last week as part of a group that calls itself ‘The Twelfth Man’. They will be at the venue on Sunday to cheer for Team India. “For us, the match has already started. Fans from both India and Pakistan are already here and the mood is electric. Indian fans have taken over the streets and Bollywood songs are playing everywhere. We can’t wait for the game to begin and once India wins, there will be madness at Manchester,” said Daryanani.
Back in Kolkata, people are gearing up for a happening afternoon. Arpita Chakraborty (22), a resident of Behala, is all set to spend some quality family time with her parents and siblings at home on Sunday, watching the match. “We are a family of cricket fanatics and for us nothing could be more rewarding than an India-Pakistan faceoff scheduled on a Sunday. I really hope India wins this match and comes closer to bringing the Cup home.”
Amartya Roy Chowdhury (27), a resident of Salt Lake, is also looking forward to this match on Sunday. “It is going to be a fun solo match-watching session this Sunday. India and Pakistan matches are always thrilling and I am sure I am going to be glued to the television for the entire length of the match. I am watching out for Bumrah and Bhubaneswar Kumar’s performance in this match.”
The cricket fever has smitten not only the youngsters and working professionals in the city but the elderly as well. TOI caught up with 82-year old retired Port official Ahindra Chakraborty, who is eagerly waiting for a keen contest. “I have loved watching cricket all my life and nothing can stop me from watching an India-Pakistan match. I remember clearly Venkatesh Prasad’s power-packed performance in the 1999 match played between India and Pakistan at Manchester. Let’s see what these young men have in store for us.”