Kochi: The usual frenzy associated with an international cricket match was noticeably missing with the city going about its routine even as the India-West Indies match got off to a sedate start at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at Kaloor by Wednesday noon.
Unlike the previous occasions of matches involving the home side, traffic flow was smooth for most part of the day in the city even in the Kaloor-Palarivattom stretch.
Tickets were available till 11 am as authorities allowed free entry into empty seats at Gallery. Fans were seen entering the stadium even after the match was in progress and finally the seats became full by around 4 pm.
“We’ve made elaborate arrangements for traffic and the vehicle flow was not affected due to the match,” said K S Baby Vinod, ACP, Traffic West. “The reports of the possibilities of the match being called off and the chances of rain might have contributed to the dampened spirit.
However, the crowd at the stadium were energetic, even cheering West Indian players like Marlon Samuel who sent the ball out of the park many a times,” said Rakesh Narayan, a cricket fan. From the morning itself, vendors were seen selling Indian flags and jerseys of players in front of the stadium.
Though there was not much presence of VIPs and cine actors, former players like Tinu Yohanan and a host of political leaders were present.
Bihar native Sudhir Chaudery, a diehard fan of Sachin Tendulkar, arrived at the stadium with his body painted in the tricolour and with the message ‘MISS-U Tendulkar’. The local fans recognised the ardent follower of Indian cricket and many took selfies with him.
