Beginning with a bang

One Gayle alone does not make a storm. The supporters of Royal Challengers Bangalore thought so as they turned up to watch their team’s inaugural match, which did not have Chris Gayle, the star player.

The RCB fans only wanted to enjoy the game till it lasted. The team too lived up to its supporters’ confidence by beginning its campaign on a winning note. The stadium was jam-packed and almost all the stands were overflowing with people. Actor Shivrajkumar was visibly disappointed as the Gayle storm was missing, while Ramya kept her fingers crossed hoping the team wouldn’t let down its fans. Commissioner of Police Jyothi Prakash Mirji had also taken time off to watch the match.

While the match was going on, there was much entertainment on the sides — be it the cheerleaders, the luxury lounges with their unlimited food and beverage or the colourful merchandise that was distributed in the stands. The mood of those who had come to watch the match was upbeat. Their energy, enthusiasm and excitement were palpable throughout the match. Some of the stands even had a professional photographer taking pictures, framing them on the spot and giving them to the fans. The enticing food had people helping themselves rather generously.  

Fan soaked themselves in the loud music and the constant chants of ‘RCB’.  But it seemed like they hadn’t got enough of it. Said Suruchi, a professional, “I don’t really follow cricket. But when it comes to the IPL, it’s a whole new experience. I wasn’t really interested in the previous seasons but after hearing about the fun from my friends, I just had to experience it first hand.”

With Gayle not playing and Virat getting out after making just eight runs, the prospects of RCB’s victory were rather bleak. Some people were disappointed, but they didn’t lose heart. Hopes were high and some fans even observed that RCB always started slow and gathered momentum towards the end. It was AB de Villiers and Muttiah Muralitharan who rose to the occasion and changed the fortunes of the game. “I really enjoyed AB de Villiers’s batting and Muttiah snatching three wickets. That’s the beauty of a T20 match, one cannot predict the outcome till the end,” said Manoj, a professional.

Neha Khincha, a chartered accountant and her mother Bela, have never missed any season of the IPL. “We simply love Daniel Vettori and come here to watch him play. IPL is entertaining and the format is short and sweet,” said Neha.

Divya and Priyanka, both students of PESIT College, wondered how people can dub IPL as not real cricket. “I never followed cricket until I came to watch the IPL. There’s so much energy and I love the sport now,” said Priyanka.  “IPL has brought women into the stadium, which is a good thing,” Divya signed off.