India’s T20 World Cup win against Pak unites City of Joy, Big Apple in ecstasy

Kolkata: Flags fluttered, toasts were raised and cheers rose to deafening decibels as Kolkata celebrated the victory of the Men in Blue over arch-rivals Pakistan at the World Cup T20 clash in New York on Sunday night. Across clubs, malls, restaurants, nightclubs and countless homes where the game was keenly followed till the last ball, cricket fans went wild with joy. As India won, the celebrations were kicked off. Fans on cars and bikes descended on the roads with the Tricolour. Many still had their faces painted in the colours of the national flag and sported the blue India jersey.College student Spandan Biswas, who watched the match at home with his family, was ecstatic. “Indo-Pak matches have always been about intense rivalry and I love them. It was an amazing match and the tension was high as always.”Anish Ganguly, an entrepreneur, followed the game with a group of 10 friends at a hotel where they had gathered for a reunion. “We booked a suite to watch the match, clubbing our reunion with our passion. I am a die-hard Virat Kohli fan. Watching such a high-quality game reinforced why the India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most celebrated in the cricketing world. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.” Several pubs and nightclubs saw guests taking seats much before the start of the match, which was delayed. Many also received group bookings. “We had done up the interiors in Team India colours. There were miniature cricket equipment and our staff wore Team India shirts,” said a representative of Five Mad Men in Sector V.Scientist Nabarun Chakrabarty, a former Kolkatan settled in Washington for 25 years, caught the match from the stands with a group of schoolmates who had gathered for a reunion. “The atmosphere was electric and we soaked it in. The rain threatened to spoil our party but we enjoyed the match and the ambience,” Chakrabarty said.Back in Kolkata, families and groups of friends stepped out to watch the match together. “We booked space at our favourite watering hole and ordered our regular liquor and finger food,” said Rohit Das, a resident of New Town.Songhai in central Kolkata offered a free drink for every six hit by India. “We had an 80% occupancy since evening and were full by the time the match started,” said owner Sudesh Poddar.Oasis on Park Street was fully occupied as the match began. “We had a full house with lots of youngsters walking in for the match,” said owner Pratap Daryanani.The heat and big crowds, however, prompted many to watch the match at home. “We didn’t want to be in crowded places in this weather and decided to organize a small party at home,” said Aditi Mukherjee, a resident of Chetla.Akash Chakraborty, a CMA student, said, “I watched the match with friends at my house. It was a splendid day filled with cricket, friends and food.”