E is for… England and Cricket Match Stories

I had chosen Travel stories as a theme for my AtoZ Challenge this year. However, my mind is wandering and I feel like writing some fiction. So, after today, I will write stories, but they can be about anything! Lets do this.
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If you want to learn how to do a great business deal, learn it from a Sindhi. I was at the Oval, in London, you know. India was playing against Australia in a league match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. We were thrilled to get the tickets which we had chanced upon only one day before the match. I wore my best clothes lest I came on television, just like the last match. Last match? Oh yes…

Let me start from the beginning. We decided in 2014 that we will go to London in 2019 when they host the Cricket World Cup. I don’t know my right arm swing from my LBW, but I do know Virat is a vegan and Dhoni has a daughter. I love clapping, screaming, dancing and trying all my moves to come on television. So, I tried to get the tickets for the event in 2018 and succeeded.

We went for India vs South Africa in Southampton. I was on television just after the toss, so bucket list no. 1 was done and dusted. People from all over the world messaged me that they saw us on television. Mission was accomplished, task was completed, now we had to sit through 8 hours of bat and ball.

Me and the Boy on TV. Someone paused Hotstar and took a photo for us!

Easy-peasy. Sing, dance, eat, drink and be merry. I had fun doing the Mexican wave too.

We went to London thereafter and met many friends while we were there. We hardly saw the city because we were busy chit-chatting with people from college. I had planned my stay in London according to a scheduled match date because I knew we will get lucky. Overconfidence, I tell you. It worked.

Watching a match in the Oval was the best experience. I don’t know how many times I screamed – Dus rupay ki Pepsi, Mera Kohli Sexy. Also, Panch rupay ka cola, Mera Dhoni Shola. There were some cool, rowdy boys behind us singing patriotic hindi songs. I sang along in my croaky voice just because you only live once!

We had a huge group from Gujarat sitting in the row just below us. You know how some Gujaratis are – they had theplas, haldiram bhujia, laddoos, and what not in their backpack. As much as we frown upon this strange characteristic, I would anytime eat Haldiram bhujia over French fries with Beer in a stadium in London! There is a certain amount of thrill attached to it.

Anyway, although we had exchanged quite a few smiles between us, I could never ask for those snacks. We were happily sitting with our flags and hair wigs and just eyeing the goodies. The ladies below us wanted to wear those props and take cool selfies to send home. Very conveniently, one of them almost pulled the wig from my hand and then, one by one, they all started posing and taking pictures.

Now I am certainly not the type who would let this go without a barter. I mean, asking for my stuff is one thing, literally taking it was another! When they opened the next packet of bhujia, I commented how it all looked yum. With some hesitation, they filled a plate with spicy Haldiram mix and handed it over to us!

I cannot tell you how fulfilling that was! Also, watching them go crazy so that they can come on television was a whole lot of fun too. I am sure someone was relishing my excitement just as much!

Even though we explored a bit of Scotland and then went to Ireland as well, the best thing about this trip was the experiences we had watching the matches. I cannot wait to go to another event like this one – whenever that may be.

Also, no matter how many IPL matches you go to, or watch Twenty-twenty from close quarters, nothing can beat the thrill of a One-day international match. I hope and pray that this generations starts to like this form of cricket and keeps it alive.