Ahmedabad erupted with joy for the second time in three days after Team India gifted to the nation the coveted World Cup after comprehensively beating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on Saturday.
As Dhoni hit a six that brought India the World Cup after a gap of 28 years, Diwali made an early visit to the city. Fire crackers, traffic jams and general cacophony ruled. But nobody complained as the city cheered for the new World Champions — Team Dhoni and India.
Ahmedabad erupted with joy for the second time in three days after Team India gifted to the nation the coveted World Cup after comprehensively beating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on Saturday.
Fire crackers were set off across the length and breadth of the city. It looked like a sizeable chunk of the city's population was out on the roads cheering for their favourite cricketers.
Streetside eateries and restaurants did roaring business.
Celebrations began well before the target of 275, set by Kumara Sangakkara and his men, was achieved. Fans moved around town on their two-wheelers and cars with the Tricolour fluttering in their hands. The celebrations continued well past midnight.
Fittingly skipper MS Dhoni struck a six to cement India's second triumph in the world's premier cricket tournament. 'Kapil's Devils' had turned the form book upside down to post India's first win in the World Cup, in 1983.
When the first match of the 10th edition of the ICC World Cup was played between India and Bangladesh at Dhaka, Ahmedabad was unfazed by the buzz surrounding the sports extravaganza. Even the two matches played in the city, including the one which featured defending champions Australia against Zimbabwe, weren't able to set the tone.
Things, though, changed dramatically when MS Dhoni and his men arrived in the city for their knockout match against Ricky Ponting's crafty army.
It was only Australia's global superiority that was preventing other nations from showcasing their skills, in the last three championships. But Yuvraj Singh's responsible innings under flood lights at Motera Stadium on March 24 changed everything. A fast, fluctuating, red-blooded contest played out in front of a noisy, packed stadium suddenly awakened Ahmedabad.
Cricket is like a religion in India and this was proved in the streets that were silent during match time. Citizens huddled up in front of their TV sets savouring World Cup fare became a common sight.
As the Men in Blue geared up for the semifinal and the mother of all battles of the tournament, against Pakistan, the entire nation became as one. From a mere 15, Team India now had hundreds of millions of members.
Special havans, namaz and prayers became the order of the day.
Big LCD screens and projectors were the order of the day — and night — as everyone decided to watch the tournament in earnest. Certainly, the gentleman's game had brought Indians — and Amdavadis — together.
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