Mumbai'sWankhede Stadiumadded one more to its illustrious list of great matches. as India and England came together to produce one of the finest T20 games in history in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup. The hosts advanced to the final after a thrilling seven-run victory and will take on New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday. As is always the case in Mumbai, a fantastic pitch met with a passionate crowd led to an entertaining affair, which was played in an incredible atmosphere that saw the Men in Blue in their element.
What added to the atmosphere was a star-studded crowd, which included both Indian T20 World Cup-winning captains, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. KL Rahul was also spotted alongside brother-in-law and movie actor Ahaan Shetty. Several Bollywood stars were also in attendance, like Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Varun Dhawan, among others.
There is no doubt that Mumbai has one of the best atmospheres for cricket matches, and it is no surprise. It is a city that lives and breathes cricket. While Lord's is called the 'home of cricket,' Wankhede remains the ‘Mecca’ of Indian cricket, which also hosted India's first-ever international match at home in 1934.
Go to any part of the city or its suburbs, and you will find people playing cricket in the streets and gullies. A walk through Shivaji Park or Azad Maidan is the most fascinating sight for any cricket lover, who will spot dozens of matches taking place simultaneously with hundreds of players in action. There is a reason that after the 1983 World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup, and 2024 T20 World Cup, the victory parades took place in Mumbai, while destiny ensured India's first-ever home World Cup win in 2011 was at the Wankhede.
It is not surprising that watching a match inside the Wankhede is the epitome for any cricket fan. It also has a lot to do with the venue, as some of the most ardent sports lovers come together to watch their favourite players in action in the hub of the city nearMarine Drive.
Moreover, the design of the stadium is as good as it gets with the stands near the boundary line, which helps in creating a high-voltage atmosphere.
However, there remains a big problem—the capacity.
The stadium can only house 33,100 people, which means that its capacity is far less than most venues in India. At a time when Ahmedabad can house more than a lakh people, a city like Mumbai deserves better, which is universally accepted as the place where the biggest matches should be hosted.
Although several VIPs and celebrities are spotted in the stands, it makes for great viewing; the real stakeholder in the sport is the common cricket fan, and in Mumbai, it is nearly impossible for one to get a ticket.
For the semi-final, many stood outside the stadium looking for a way to buy tickets, while several looked for ways to buy online and found no success.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
