ICC World Cup: Patnaites remain glued to TV screens

PATNA: While Indian team were playing against South Africa in Southampton on Wednesday, Patnaites remained glued to their TV screens as if not willing to miss a single glimpse of the first match of India in the ongoing ICC World Cup.
The expectations among the fans was already high as it was battling against battered and depleted South Africa, who had already lost its last two matches in the World Cup.
As Mahendra Singh Dhoni is playing his last world cup, the fans in Patna were praying that he brings back the Cup to India after a gap of eight years. Many fans claimed that Dhoni had become better with age and nothing could stop him from getting the ‘cup of joy’ this time.
Although cricket fans had clearly made up their mind to get fixed to the television screens, Muslim devotees planned their get-together for Eid celebrations while watching the match.
Anubhav Dudwewal (20), who is preparing for a state level cricket match, told this newspaper: “I have my exams, but I can’t afford to miss the first World Cup match of India.’’
Many restaurants and cafés in the city had put up big TV screens to draw more and more customers.
Akhilesh Singh, manager of a café at Boring Road said: “We showed the match live on a big television screen, so that people could watch it with a distance as well. The footfall of customers was also high owing to the Eid festivities.”
Vicenarian Zakir Ahmad, while watching the match with his friends at home, said India’s victory would call for a double celebration of Eid.
Abhinav Singh (23) said he admired the Indian cricket team, especially Dhoni. “Dhoni is playing the World cup for the last time. Even this thought brings tears in my eyes,” Singh said.