On 1 March, India and West Indies faced each other in a virtual quarter-final. It was India who finally booked a spot in the semi-finals, but the credit also goes to the fans for keeping the atmosphere electrifying. The crowd did not just watch the match; they lived every single moment of it.
Even before the toss, the seats were almost full. Supporters arrived early to avoid missing a single second of the game. There were small children with Indian flags painted on their cheeks and jerseys of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma everywhere. Every time something significant happened, people rose from their seats, watching with great anticipation.
When India won the toss, the reaction was explosive. Fans screamed and chants of “India, India” echoed around the ground. As a cricket fan who has watched many matches at Eden Gardens, this sight was not uncommon. People in the City of Joy always appreciate a good contest.
The national anthems were sung, and at that moment everyone felt united. The Indian national anthem connected the players to the fans present at the ground and to those supporting from different parts of the world.
At one point, when Sourav Ganguly was shown on the big screen, a few fans in the J Block attempted to remove their shirts to recreate the iconic Lord’s balcony moment. Their attempt was halted by the police on duty.
During the West Indies innings, the crowd reacted to every ball. Whenever a West Indian batter struck a fine shot, the stadium suddenly fell silent as tension spread across the stands. But when Suryakumar Yadav took a flying catch to dismiss Roston Chase off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling, silence turned into an explosion of joy. People leapt from their seats, flags waved in the air and celebrations broke out everywhere.
Whenever players such as Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma or Axar Patel came near the boundary, fans rushed towards the railings, waving and shouting to catch their attention. When Rinku Singh fielded near one stand, supporters behind him kept clapping and chanting his name. It was an expression of love, admiration and respect, and perhaps also their way of offering condolences for his personal loss.
Every Indian wicket sent waves of celebration across the stadium. Despite the massive turnout, security arrangements remained smooth, allowing fans to move comfortably. During the drinks break, a Mexican wave began in one section and gradually travelled around the ground.
When India began their chase, the excitement instantly returned. A boundary from Sanju Samson brought the crowd to its feet. However, whenever a wicket fell, the noise disappeared completely. The shift from roaring cheers to pin-drop silence reflected just how emotionally invested the fans were.
The light and sound show during the second innings added to the spectacle. Thousands of mobile flashlights illuminated the stadium as supporters recorded the moment. Between overs, music played and some fans even danced in their seats. Notably, when the West Indies produced moments of brilliance in the field, the crowd applauded them as well.
Finally, when Shivam Dube struck two boundaries to seal the match, the stadium erupted once more. Pure joy spread through every stand. As celebrations continued, the crowd echoed “Maa Tujhe Salaam” in unison.
The only regret among many supporters was that Sanju Samson fell short of a century. However, most were willing to overlook that disappointment as India had secured victory.
The noise was deafening and the turnout immense. It was yet another reminder of how much joy cricket brings to the City of Joy.
For more updates, follow REVSPORTZ.