MUMBAI, India – For millions of Indians, the memory of losing the Cricket World Cup at home to Australia is still fresh, two years after the final in Ahmedabad.
The wound continues to sting in this cricket-mad nation of at least 1.4 billion people, tens of thousands of whom packed into the world’s largest cricket stadium on November 19, 2023, and millions more to watch the match elsewhere.
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But just as the heartbreak of the ‘cursed day’ brought them together two years ago, local fans will be hoping this Sunday will be a reason to celebrate when India face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at the same venue.
Australia defeated India with a six-wicket win at the Narendra Modi Stadium, turning the unbeaten home team’s finest moment into a day where thousands of seats emptied before the last ball was bowled. The audience of over 90,000 people watched in stunned silence.
On the eve of the 2023 final, the sombre atmosphere felt like a prophecy had come true, as Australian captain Pat Cummins famously said, “There’s nothing more satisfying in sports than hearing a huge crowd go silent.”
“The loss in the 2023 final is still in my head,” Sounak Biswas, a 29-year-old fan from Mumbai, told Al Jazeera. “Social media posts that the Ahmedabad stadium is a bad omen further strengthen the idea.
“On Sunday, I want to forget the bad memories and create more happy ones.”
cautious optimism
From fans to experts to the media, the overall mood in the country is optimistic.
Oddsmakers predicted a 70 per cent chance of India beating New Zealand to become the first hosts to retain the title, local media backed Suryakumar Yadav’s side to overcome the final hurdle and cricket chatter took center stage at workplaces, homes and outdoor gatherings.
On Sunday, fans from Mumbai to Kolkata and Chennai to Chandigarh will flock to pubs, roadside cafes and restaurants to watch the match on big screens and smartphones. People without internet access gather outside the electronics store, separated by a glass panel from the live broadcast on high-end televisions inside the store.
Fans also travel from all over the country to Ahmedabad to watch the match up close and soak up the atmosphere of the World Cup final.
Mumbai-based fans Biswas and his friend Piyush Nathani will join around 30 other members of Wankhede Stadium’s hardcore fan group, the North Stand Gang, to take their support to the neighboring state.
For Natani, Sunday’s final concludes an exhilarating month-long journey to stadiums in India and Sri Lanka to watch the tournament.
Amid all the ups and downs for Team India, he has stuck to one small ritual and doesn’t plan on changing it even in the big matches.
“I wear the same jersey and pants every game,” the 29-year-old said.
Squad Depth for India Relief
India had its fair share of problems before reaching the final. Co-hosts India didn’t look too strong against weaker Americans in the first match, losing to South Africa in the next stage and being pushed to the brink by England in the semi-finals.
But as the team began to falter in its pursuit of victory, another player stepped up.
From the ever-reliable pace bowling star Jasprit Bumrah and versatile all-rounder Hardik Pandya, to the young wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan and the brilliant Sanju Samson, who made a glorious return to the playing eleven, India never lacked for a match-winner.
“The Indian team is by far the best in the tournament because of the quality of the team,” Indian cricketer and television analyst Aditya Tare told Al Jazeera before the final.
“There were moments when the team was under pressure, but they showed character, bounced back from tough situations and finished the game.
“The biggest example of the depth in the team is Sanju Samson. He didn’t get a place in the squad for a few games, but the moment he came in he won two man of the match awards. This shows that India is not relying on just one or two players (to win games).”
“Pressure is a privilege”
Suryakumar’s team will undoubtedly carry the hopes of the more than 1.4 billion people at home and the millions of Indian diaspora watching elsewhere in the world. Sunday’s outcome will shape the nation’s mood the next morning, whether Indians wake up filled with joy or grappling with fresh heartbreak.
But for some fans, that pressure isn’t a burden, it’s a sign of how deeply they love their team.
“I think pressure is a privilege,” Bengaluru fan Aritollah Mustafi said of the expectations placed on his team. “If 90,000 fans are back together and the pressure is on the team, it’s a privilege (for the players) to have that many people cheering them on.”
The venue has been a major part of the discussion leading up to the final. The decision to once again hold the World Cup final at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, rather than at the traditional home of Indian cricket, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai or Eden Gardens in Kolkata, sparked debate among fans online.
Those who watched the match there believe the spacious stadium will give more supporters the chance to witness India play for another world title.
Mustafi, who attended two matches in Ahmedabad during the 2023 50-over World Cup, said: “Gujarat may not be the best place in terms of fan atmosphere, but stadium-wise it’s pretty good because of the crowd management. I’m worried about how such a big crowd will get in and out, but I didn’t have any problems in my last visit.”
Seeing your team lift the trophy on the biggest stage is a dream for many fans and Hyderabad-based Praketh Reddy is no different.
“I want to experience what it feels like to see India win the World Cup,” he said. “It will be amazing to sing our national anthem, Vande Mataram, in front of a crowd of 100,000 people. If we win, the post-match celebrations will go on till late… I don’t think we will be able to get back to the hotel until about 3am!”
For Biswas, the final also has personal significance. The finals will be the day after his birthday, and victory will be the best present.
“When our captain lifts the trophy, it will be a dream come true,” he said.
