LONDON:The Northern Line tube heading to the Oval is understandably filled with Indians already talking about booking tickets for the final. At the Oval station, about 50m from the stadium, there’s a huge crowd blocking the exit point as the steward yells, “Move on people, move on.” Only thing is, nobody seems to be hearing.
Apart from Kanpur, no other stadium in India has an open press box. At the Oval, you’re made to sit adjacent the sightscreen on the Vauxhall End, with absolutely no barricade separating the media from the crowd. It’s a new experience, sitting with a crowd eager to know what you’re doing at a cricket match with a laptop on.
Thursday is election day in Britain, and plenty predict Labour’s hopes reside on Indians, who have traditionally favoured them over Conservatives. But the gap, British Indians say, is decreasing each election, as most have settled here for decades and believe Labour will increase taxes in favour of the working class.
Nearly 30,000 turn up at the Oval, braving the cold weather. Votes? That’s for later they say. Cricket is the first priority.
As Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan make their way, apart from a loud cheer, there’s nothing unusual, until a 40-year-old sets the ball rolling with a Dholak. Suddenly, there’s plenty happening, as hundreds join in. This is why locals love and prefer the Oval to Lord’s, as you can’t carry dholaks and other musical instruments into the latter.
England is the place to watch sports they say, and it’s not without reason. Most stadiums get sell-out crowds, and unlike in India, fans add a great deal to the occasion. It’s not just about cheering and whistling, there are plenty of other things like chants, songs and people dressing up similarly, some even in traditional Indian clothing. Add to it the beer, and it’s a carnival.
There’s not a place in the world where India plays without a fan base. Take for instance the 2015 World Cup semifinal against Australia at the MCG, or the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England at Edgbaston. It looked like an away fixture for both hosts. It can be irritating at times for teams to play India at neutral venues, where fans make it more of a home fixture, and that can sometimes rub off on players too.
"Wherever we’re playing them, it’s the same, whether in India or away. Crowd support is amazing. Indians are everywhere, and they follow the team, and are passionate about the game. They love their players. We don’t have as many supporters as Indians in London, but they all come over to witness a great game of cricket, and hopefully the crowd will enjoy Indians and Sri Lankans,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.
And they did have fun.