Roads deserted as fans cheer for India

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 16

Unlike the regular Sunday’s, this Sunday was undoubtedly among the most unusual days as the roads were silent, the markets were peaceful and fewer passengers were seen at the bus stand and railway station.

However, amidst this outer tranquility, roaring cheers, voluble applause and racing heartbeats greeted the India-Pakistan cricket match, which was certainly the most-anticipated match of the World Cup 2019 tournament.

Swayed by cricket fever, fans in the city either remain indoors or visited the hotels, restaurants and clubs to catch each and every glimpse of action.

Not keeping any calm, excited fans said they had already reserved their seats in restaurants showing the match on big screens.

Meanwhile, hotels were also decked up with cricket props to entice fans. Cricket caps, India cricket team jerseys, bats and balls were easily spotted at any club or restaurant.

At Hotel Fortune, which had already converted its banquet hall into a cricket stadium look-alike, mannequins of cricket player were placed for audiences’ gaze.

Excited about the match, Rooplal Sharma, a resident of Model Town, said, “No matter what, I never forget to watch India-Pakistan matches and when it’s a world cup tournament, the excitement doubles.”

Remembering, the earlier days, he said wireless radios were the only source for them to get the score updates, but now smart phones have solved the purpose as not only could they get the updates, but also track the match visually.

Similarly, Manmeet Singh, who works in a private bank stated, thanks to the God that the match was scheduled on Sunday, otherwise he would have missed the live moments and commentary.

Nothing could be better than enjoying the Sunday with India-Pakistan match and food. Moreover, a group of youths, who claimed to be fans of Virat Kohli, were full of confidence that the Kohli-led team would definitely be victorious.

They had even bet to serve each other with drinks on every boundary.

The cricket fervour didn’t end here. Fans also shared memes and post of cricket match on social media.

Images and Tik Tok videos with #worldcup, #IndiaPakmatch and #CricketMeinHaiBeat were taking rounds on social media.

Great day for food joints

Managing the banquet hall at Hotel Fortune, Abhishek Bali said the sale of food items and drinks was manifold today. Unlike other days, the whole day was spent like a celebration and special catering helped them to earn good business. The home delivery of foods items was also at par with the sale in hospital. A Swiggy delivery boy said he had received around 20-25 orders in half a day.