The average Kolkattan went cock-a-hoop after their team's win against Hyderabad on Friday. Bring on Bangalore, they say now.

By Kashinath Bhattacharjee

Subhendu Bandyopadhyay, once a regular ‘Friday first-day first-show’ watcher in local cinema halls, is now an INOX-visitor. For him, it was a great occasion to watch Kolkata matches live in one of the multiplexes. The big screen cricket enticed. “At the expense of Rs 230, the experience is awesome. The bigger screen, the comfort of an INOX with a cola and popcorn in hand is great”, said the WIPRO manager. “And Dada (Sourav Ganguly) made it bigger for all of us there. At the end, it was more like an Amitabh Bachchan movie during those 80s and 90s - we all were whistling!”

Lalit Modi’s newest idea – to show the Indian T20 series matches live on big screen, has been an instant hit here in Kolkata. From Rajarhat to Garia, multiplexes did good business. More so, because at the end the home team won, which prompted them to react the SRK-way in MNIK.

Men in the streets were ecstatic, too. Abhik Dey, a second-year Political Science student, said, “Ufff. What a relief! Aar haarte bhaalo laagchhilo na (was getting fed up of losing matches). I had switched off the TV in frustration after Dada was out for a duck. Then, a close friend called me and asked me to watch Angelo Matthews and Owais Shah’s batting. That was during the 14th over of the match. I switched the set on and was hooked on to it till the last ball. Great come back, great win! Now the urge to go to the Eden Gardens on Sunday and cheer for Kolkata is greatet for all of us.”

The firecrackers were not ready. Diwali was a distant past and Kolkata's performances were not convincing last year. So, even ardent fans of Sourav Ganguly were “not prepared”, said Rajarshi Das, a club-secretary in DumDum area. “We have a big screen TV in our club and used to watch matches live there. This year, since the football world cup is there, we all are excited. But before that there are Kolkata matches. The last year was pathetic, Dada was not treated well by Buchanan and Co and that was reflected in the team’s performances. Yes, we were hoping for such a come back. But the first over was really a heartbreak. And then Gilchrist was going great guns. When we came back, we wanted to burn crackers but the shops were closed. So, we could not celebrate it the way we like. But it would be done next time.”

Leave alone Kolkata, Abhijit Kundu, a sociology lecturer of a Delhi College is now in Denmark on an assignment. But he could not resist the temptation of watching the Indian T20 series live on Youtube. “I was really missing the Kolkata atmosphere. A few Indians were here with me and we all wanted to see Dada win. We cheered for him, clapped when another Hyderabad wicket fell. Even though we are in a country totally alien to cricket, how can I, being a Bengali, be away from cricket when Dada is there on the pitch?”

Despite the High Court rulings against crackers, Kolkata is ready to welcome Dada's boys against Bangalore on Sunday at their favourite Eden Gardens with more crackers now.