Champions Trophy diary: Indian fans rejoice as Pakistan fans struggle to accept the loss

By K.R. Nayar

Dubai.  The hardest part of an India-Pakistan match is witnessing the heartbreak of the losing team’s fans. In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, I witnessed the sorrow of Indian fans as they were thrashed by Pakistan by 180 runs at The Oval. Most of them had drowned their sorrow in nearby bars, while Pakistan fans danced joyfully on the streets, celebrating all the way into the Underground Oval railway station.

 

Virat Kohli celebrates his century. Photo ICC 

Dancing fans who don’t know how to dance

 

While it is inevitable, it is not a good feeling to see one group of fans walking out silently with their heads down while the other rejoices. At the Dubai International Stadium, from the moment Virat Kohli began striking the ball fluently, some Indian fans refused to sit down and continued to dance. One reason for this is the chance to appear on the Dance Cam display on the giant screen. Some who have never danced in their lives still give it a go. While their moves may be hard to appreciate, it is all part of expressing their joy over their country’s good performance.

 

Funeral and marriage processions

 

It was during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final when Australia was batting that the Indian fans could not dance in celebration. They were all dressed up to celebrate a World Cup victory, but after Australia beat India in the final, nearly 100,000 people walked out of the stadium as if they were in a funeral procession. Yesterday, however, they left like guests at a North Indian wedding procession. At the stadium yesterday, it took more than an hour to get on to the main road even after reaching the parking area.  One always sees that the losing team’s fans start to leave early, which actually helps ease traffic congestion once the match ends. In Barbados, after India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, I witnessed many fans racing to the beach near the stadium to celebrate.

 

Prince or Smoothman Gill?

When Shubman Gill started playing confidently, before Virat Kohli had begun striking fluently, one volunteer remarked that Gill was batting like King Kohli in his younger days. Another suggested that Gill should be called "Prince Gill." Incidentally, Gill’s real nickname is "Kaka," which means "baby" in Punjabi. Sunil Gavaskar has now given him a new nickname, calling him "Smoothman Gill." In the match against Pakistan, Gill played a straight drive reminiscent of Gavaskar himself, almost as if he were paying tribute to the Little Master.

 

Imran Khan who has been a regular visitor to Dubai at the Shyam Bhatia Cricket Museum 

Release Imran Khan and seek advice

 

In the UAE, many fans idolize Imran Khan as a cricketer; in fact there are Indian fans too who admire him. Since Imran, now a politician, is under arrest in Pakistan, one Indian fan suggested that the Pakistan government should release him to give some tips to the team. Another tweet making the rounds humorously stated, "Release Imran but arrest this Pakistan playing XI." Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was also present at the ground to watch the match, and someone was heard suggesting that he should once again reconsider his retirement decision.

 

Virat Kohli gets ready for a sprint at the ICC Academy. Photo by K.R. Nayar

What is the secret behind Kohli’s batting?

 

After witnessing Virat Kohli’s fighting century, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan remarked that while the world kept saying Kohli was out of form, he always delivers in big matches. This sparked discussions about the secret behind Kohli’s success. Is it his diet or fitness?, a journalist wanted to know. Someone responded: "It’s a special sauce called discipline." I’ve watched Kohli sprinting at the ICC Academy everyday after training. So, what happens to Kohli’s critics now? Maybe they’ll have to wait longer to regain their form. But for now, they’ll have to sprint for cover!