Overcast skies and cool breeze Thursday evening brought much needed relief from the searing heat to Bangaloreans, but led to worry among cricket fans that the crucial IPL tie between Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers may be washed out if it rained.
Fortunately, the skies did not open and fans trooped into the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the clash between title holders Deccan Chargers and the Royal Challengers. It was to Chargers that the home team lost in the finals in the last edition of the IPL.
The nearly 40,000 capacity stadium was near full an hour before the match began at 8 p.m. marking the return of cricket frenzy to Bangalore after an 11-day break.
With high-tech hub reeling under frequent power shutdown for the last three days when day temperature hovered about 35 degrees Celsius, two to three degrees above normal, the Karnataka cricket authorities were forced to deploy additional generator sets to ensure the game goes on uninterrupted under the lights.
“It is surreal to have a dazzling fairyland in a city where several parts remain dark for several hours due to power cuts,” said R. Harish, an RCB fan as he jostled with the crowds along with his friends to enter the stadium.
Along with cricket, the frenzied fans also got a glimpse of Kannada film heart-throb Ramya, an RCB brand ambassador, and Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone.
Ramya’s entry to the stands was greeted with wild cheers, catcalls and clapping while Deepkia sat with RCB owner and liquor baron Vijay Mallya in the diamond box.
Dozens of fans were frantically searching for touts to buy tickets in black as ’sold out’ boards were up at the stadium counters Tuesday itself.