Phew !….. Betting on a Multibagger on BSE carries more conviction than betting on getting a Ticket for the World Cup Cricket Finals on April 2,2011 at the rebuild from scratch Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai !….Millions have been chasing a few thousand tickets
….just got confirmed a ticket !…in a ballot for privileged tickets allotted to cricket clubs for its members and which are affiliated with the Mumbai Cricket Association…..in fact it’s a combo…no options but to buy the ticket for all three matches that will be played at the Wankhede Stadium…..two preliminaries featuring New Zealand in both…Day Match against Canada on Sunday March 13,2011 and a Day & Night Fixture against Sri Lanka on Friday, March 18,2011…and then the Day & Night Grand Finals on Saturday,April 2,2011
…..Preliminary Matches Tickets have been released while the Finals Tickets will be released month end….may not go for the preliminaries…so if anyone out there is interested in the March 13 and 18 Matches do let me know…will give them to you at cost
…..India beat Netherlands today and thus becomes the first team from Group B to have qualified for the Quarter Finals….regardless of our final position in Group B after the Preliminaries and as per World Cup Rules,being the Host Country and also with a higher ICC World ranking for ODIs if it comes to this,we will play this Q F in the venue allotted for a Q F in the host nation……This happens to be Ahmedabad on Thursday,March 24,2011…..as per official format A 2 plays B 3 in Ahmedabad…but this now becomes irrelevant…..
Always have prayed that India make the Finals and win it….Now that I’ve a ticket my prayers have intensified !
“Sachin ! Sachin !…Sachin ! Sachin !”….the last time we shall get to chant his name as this should be his last World Cup…a record Sixth……the Mexican Waves….the constant whistle,horn and trumpet blowing….the flag waving….the witty banners……the charged atmospshere….the energy and deafening roar of 33000 spectators….their indignation when Umpiring Decisions are seen as unfair and even biased against India !….most of them crazy and passionate and knowledgable about the game of Cricket….screaming to Dhoni to change his bowling or field setting……pushing and jumping over people and benches to get to your seat….getting up often to breathe as your bench is now crammed with 50 and on it’s way to a record 100 !….the legendary ‘kaka’ who legally and lovingly distributes free icecream to spectators when he wins in illegal betting that goes on!…… and that really pretty girl asking “What happened ?” every over….Cricket being an insect for her !….. try catching this on even a 33 Inch TV Screen !….you just cannot compare a World Cup Final Live at the Stadium with Live on TV !…and those who say they prefer the latter is probably because they’ve not got tickets !
Square of the Wicket are the East & West Stands…..East is rowdy and petty fights are common…named after our great Opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar….now a sought after TV Commentator…West Stand is named after the late Vijay Merchant and the crowd constitutes members of various MCA affiliated Gymkhanas…NorthWest Stand is named after Sachin Tendulkar….the best stump and wicket to wicket views are from the North and South Stands….Crowds in the North Stand are fun….South Stands are privileged….MCA Pavilion and Grand Stand Pavilion for VVIPs and current and ex cricketers….Divecha Pavilion for other Dignitaries…Garware Pavilion for members of the Garware Club,an affiliated club of MCA…my seat is in Level 3 of this Pavilion …should give me a good top view of the whole field…..may need a pair of powerful binoculars……there are a few airconditioned corporate boxes too
….in the past we have been squashed on benches at Wankhede Stadium as 60000 piled into 40000 capacity !….the rebuild stadium now has a lower capacity of 33000 and bucket seats….so should be more comfortable and more air to breathe !
Cheers !
1 thought on “Hope India makes it to the Finals at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2,2011 in the ongoing ICC Cricket ODI World Cup…because I was just confirmed a ticket!”
Was fortunate enough to watch two practice matches as well as the Eng V S.A one last week Live and I agree entirely with you that watching a match Live beats watching it on TV by miles !
On TV one gets to watch only what they show you whereas when you watch it Live, you decide what you want to see. IMHO it is better to opt for a seating position that is 45 degrees from the pitch say North-East/North-West or South-East/ South-West. Tickets are not as expensive as either the North or South Stands.
OTOH, if the criterion is to have fun then the cleapest stands are the way to go. Non-stop screaming and action !
Pity the folks seated in the A/c corporate boxes. They know not what they are missing !
Looking forward to two more matches at Chennai – March 17th W.I v Eng and the biggie – Ind v W.I on March 20th ! Hopefully we should score 340 and then the Gayle force and Pollard should entertain us (albeit only for a while !)
All the best for the Finals – Happy viewing ! I await the online auction results tomorrow !