Artist Paresh Maity’s works painted live during ICC World Cup on display in Dubai

Approached a few months before the tournament began, as ICC’s first in-stadia artist, Delhi-based Maity painted live at five matches during the tournament and captured the rest on television and through photographs. “It’s a confluence of art and sports. There is so much that is happening; it is about selecting that one moment or sentiment,” says Maity.

The last canvas painted by Maity in the series is celebratory. It captures the Indian cricket team on the victory bus ride through Mumbai after India won against South Africa at the ICC T20 World Cup final in June 2024.

At the England vs Sri Lanka match at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 26, 2023, he shared a distant view of the pitch with the flags of the two countries highlighted in the stands. At the India vs New Zealand match on October 22, 2023, at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala, the snow-peaked mountains were painted in the backdrop. For the India vs England match at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 29, 2023, he opted for a circular canvas. Present at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the India vs Australia final on November 19, 2023, he recalls how the mood was somber and the crowd was disappointed when India lost by six wickets. His 4×5 ft canvas has been signed by Australian Caption Pat Cummins and Sharma. “The crowd was understandably upset,” says the artist.

A cricket buff, he still recalls several moments from the India vs West Indies 1983 World Cup final that he watched at a neighbour’s house as a teenager in West Bengal’s Tamluk. “The game has an inherent ability to unite people, and they forgot all the differences,” states Maity.

A work from the series

The last canvas painted by Maity in the series is celebratory. It captures the Indian cricket team on the victory bus ride through the city of Mumbai after India won against South Africa at the ICC T20 World Cup final in Barbados in June 2024. The winning team was greeted by a sea of fans at Marine Drive. On Maity’s canvas they appear under the night sky as their bus rides through the streets teeming with crowds. “It was so magical,” states the artist.