The highly anticipated World Cup fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad considered the acme of all cricketing contests, had an atmosphere that was a rollercoaster of emotions, swinging from deafening crescendos to moments of profound silence, and ultimately settling into a jubilant celebration that would last long into this weekend.
While the organizers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the International Cricket Council (ICC), may have hoped to create the impression that fans from around the world had gathered at the venue, the reality was somewhat different. Understandably, only a handful of Pakistanis were present in the stadium, including just seven journalists and a few officials, due to delays in the visa process. However, the turnout of overseas Indians was also limited, primarily because online ticket sales were launched too late to facilitate their travel plans. Nevertheless, the crowd’s infectious spirit and unwavering support for the Indian team made the stadium come alive with an undeniable energy and enthusiasm that transcended borders.
The national anthems in the afternoon set the tone for a long day and ratcheted up the atmosphere producing seemingly inconceivable images of one lakh Indians standing up for the lyrics of Pak Sarzamin, the country’s national anthem. A few Pakistan flags were also spotted in the colossal arena. But enduringly the most breathtaking moments in the stadium, the cauldron that is, were when it reverberated to the collective chords humming Jana Gana Mana. The deafening crescendo was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Rohit Sharma and his team delivered a remarkable performance, with the captain himself leading from the front and providing the fans with something truly worthy of celebration. The crowd, raucously partisan and filled with unbridled enthusiasm, remained deeply engaged throughout the game, even in the face of initial resistance from the Pakistan team. Then came the collapse which meant that, even in these times of post-truth, it was not difficult to conclude which was the better side.
While it seemed like the roof would come down, if there was one at the Motera, thanks to the raucous crowd, the popularity of the event on television and streaming was nothing short of it. For the IPL final between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at the same venue, Jio Cinema reported a concurrent viewership of 32 million, surpassing their previous record of 25.7 million for the second qualifier between the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians. The ICC and Disney Star were optimistic that this match would far surpass those figures on Hotstar.
The match was witnessed by 35 million concurrently online, an all-time record.
In terms of India-Pakistan viewership, ICC data reveals that the 2011 semifinal in Mohali had the highest World Cup viewership, with 313 million viewers. The 2015 match in Adelaide recorded 186 million viewers, while the 2017 Champions Trophy final in London had 431 million. The 2019 match in Manchester saw 273 million viewers, and the T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022 garnered 297 and 226 million viewers, respectively. Once again, the broadcaster and the ICC were confident that this match would break all previous records. “The only way we can imagine the numbers coming down is if India loses; the interest would fade,” noted an ICC official. However, it was not to be.
The BCCI had faced a barrage of criticism, both nationally and internationally, for choosing Ahmedabad as the venue for this explosive contest between the traditional rivals. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had even issued warnings of a potential boycott, and some Indians were concerned that the city’s communally charged atmosphere might lead to trouble if the match didn’t go in India’s favour. The match even had to be rescheduled. But, in the end, these concerns turned out to be unfounded.
Long before the match, the city of Ahmedabad and the state of Gujarat were gearing up for the extensive Navratri celebrations, set to kick off the following Sunday. No one would now be complaining that the festivities began a night early.
