Fans mourn IPL pause, but stand with the Nation

Cheers to chants: Although the disappointment of the suspension was evident, followers at the Ekana stadium raised patriotic slogans. | PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

After the BCCI suspended the Indian Premier League in view of the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, cricket followers who had assembled for Friday’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Lucknow Super Giants conflict at the Ekana Stadium right here have been left a disillusioned lot.

Though all followers whom The Hindu spoke to have been in settlement with the choice to cancel the matches in “national interest”, the tinge of unhappiness was inescapable. Supporters numbering greater than 200 – primarily of RCB and Virat Kohli – had arrived from faraway locations in Uttar Pradesh as early as midday, undeterred by the blistering summer time solar.

“I paid ₹5000 for one ticket and wanted to watch Kohli,” mentioned Shubham from Gorakhpur. “But I had expected something like this would happen because the points table was not updated after the Punjab Kings – Delhi Capitals match on Thursday. But it’s fine. They had no choice but to cancel. I just hope the same tickets are valid whenever the tournament restarts.”

Pavan Kumar, an area merchandise vendor, had began placing up his short-term stall as early as 11.30 a.m. But that was additionally when information first began filtering in that the IPL could possibly be stalled.

“I thought I would make some decent money selling Kohli shirts because he is the most popular. But now it won’t happen. I am not even sure when the tournament restarts, RCB will come and play here,” Pavan lamented.

Interestingly, Lucknow is just not new to last-minute cancellation of cricket matches. In March 2020, the India versus South Africa ODI was known as off owing to the onset of Covid-19.

Manoj from Prayagraj claimed that this 12 months’s IPL might have been saved if the Punjab – Delhi match on Thursday had been cancelled effectively prematurely and all fixtures moved to inside areas in India.

“It is not like Kohli comes to Lucknow everyday. Ever since LSG was formed, we cricket fans here have been very happy that we can watch famous players. Sadly, we can neither watch them live now nor on the TV,” he regretted.