There was only one topic of discussion everywhere in the city on Monday - the ODI .
Nearly 52,000 spectators are expected to throng the huge stadium on Tuesday, when India plays the second match of the five match One-Day International (ODI) series against England. Adorned with a lush green outfield, a batting-friendly pitch, giant screens and good seating areas, the stadium too is wearing an excellent look in perfect tune with the hysteria that the match would generate.
Unlike the last time when rain played spoilsport, now the forecast is favourable.
This is the eighth ODI (including the match abandoned in 2010) to be played in Kochi. And when India played against England here in April 6, 2006, the host had the last laugh. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina had played here against England with Yuvraj winning the man of the match award.
Among the English players, Kevin Peterson is still with the team and is the lone player of the present English team which had played an ODI in Kochi. Interestingly, KP was the top scorer for England in that match by scoring 77 runs from 82 balls. The rest of the members of the current English team are playing for the first time in Kochi. Currently the number one team in the world, they are expected to pose a huge challenge to India. And when current World champions under the World Cup winning captain is playing against the side that is currently ranked numero uno in the world, Kochiites are expecting a cracker of a contest.