D Stand Blues
Blame it on my inaction. Or my friends'. I'm not watching the November 22 match from the D stand in Chepauk.
If there's a cricketing jannat in this world, it is right here in the D Stand. Why?
1. If Chennai has the most knowledgable and sporting crowd in India, then in Chepauk, it is the D Stand. Remember Saeed Anwar's 194 in 1997, Afridi's century and the standing ovation for the Pakistan team taking a lap of honour after their (in)famous win in 1999 (our kids couldn't knock off a few runs and instead the blame went to Sachin, inspite of his incredible 139, fighting excruciating back pain)?
2. The view. You are staring straight down the pitch. Bang opposite to the pavilion
3. The characters: Munnusami, the peanut seller (once Kris Srikkanth's buddy), "Dance" Thatha-dancing with his poonal running across his pot belly, the Rajinikanth imitator and the division/league cricketers
4. The atmosphere. Some of the most memorable moments of my life have come in the D-Stand, none more memorable than Sachin's 155* against Australia in 1998 and Sachin's 139 against Pakistan in 1999.
Fuck it! This time, if at all i'm lucky, i could get to watch it from the square on view in B or C stand :(
If there's a cricketing jannat in this world, it is right here in the D Stand. Why?
1. If Chennai has the most knowledgable and sporting crowd in India, then in Chepauk, it is the D Stand. Remember Saeed Anwar's 194 in 1997, Afridi's century and the standing ovation for the Pakistan team taking a lap of honour after their (in)famous win in 1999 (our kids couldn't knock off a few runs and instead the blame went to Sachin, inspite of his incredible 139, fighting excruciating back pain)?
2. The view. You are staring straight down the pitch. Bang opposite to the pavilion
3. The characters: Munnusami, the peanut seller (once Kris Srikkanth's buddy), "Dance" Thatha-dancing with his poonal running across his pot belly, the Rajinikanth imitator and the division/league cricketers
4. The atmosphere. Some of the most memorable moments of my life have come in the D-Stand, none more memorable than Sachin's 155* against Australia in 1998 and Sachin's 139 against Pakistan in 1999.
Fuck it! This time, if at all i'm lucky, i could get to watch it from the square on view in B or C stand :(
posted by Bala (Karthik) at
1:54 PM
7 Comments:
Tough luck but atleast you are getting to watch the match in the stadium.
Believe it or not,I didn't even know B'lore was hosting an India-SA one dayer.
Imagine my shock when I read the paper day b4 yesterday saying all 12,000 tickets on sale for the public were lapped up within a few hours of the counter being opened&ppl actually slept the previous night forming a line.
By
Anonymous, at Thu Nov 17, 04:19:00 PM
cinefan,
When i was in Bangalore, i didn't miss the two tests played there Ind-Aus and Ind-Pak last year.
On both occasions i got to watch the match from the members pavilion/terrace, with drinks served in the pavilion bar to boot.
The first time, a lady (a member's wife) standing outside the gates was kind enough to give me an extra ticket and for the Ind-Pak match i paid Rs.3000 for 3 days [black of course!] just to watch Sachin :)
However, i guess it will be difficult for one-dayers though...
By
Bala (Karthik), at Thu Nov 17, 04:40:00 PM
tough luck, this time me watcing from pavillion, not the D stand, sadly, i too am a hard core D stand fanatic
By
ada-paavi!!!!, at Thu Nov 17, 05:21:00 PM
Vatsan,
Kalakkunga.... Sachin kalam erangunbadhu pavilione nadunganum! :)
By
Bala (Karthik), at Thu Nov 17, 07:04:00 PM
cellvi,
Yes, now we have a series on!
Unless, it's going to be one-way traffic from the other side :)
By
Bala (Karthik), at Fri Nov 18, 06:24:00 PM
sooper. D stand view madiri varaadhu.. awesome! chepauk rocks:)
By
NS, at Fri Nov 18, 07:59:00 PM
Nithya,
Absolutely!
"Rain rain go away
Woodcutter Dhoni wants to play"
By
Bala (Karthik), at Mon Nov 21, 02:33:00 PM
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