The big, fat Indian welcome

Real frenzy, though, was being whipped up across the familiar Kotla boundary wall. Every passing minute, more and more of the yellow and green chairs disappeared as the multitudes filled in, impatient eyes and fickle adoration in tow.

Saffron, white and green was in abundance, of course, it was Republic Day all over again with its bouncing balloons and flowing flags and the easy talk of national pride. The big screen tried to flicker into identifiable images, last-minute tweaks still awaited, but available in plenty was an ear-piercing collection of the best patriotic songs, intermingled of course, with the super-hit ditties. It was a party all right, and then the emcee joined in.

Considering the off-field punches this series saw, it was okay in a way that the show-manager at the felicitation was a guy who commentates on wrestling bouts on television. The exhortations were inspiring alright, even if the directions given out in English and their implementation had an obvious time-lag.

IPL marketing

Anyway, he talked of the players we love and the team we worship, and thrown in off-handedly with the national team’s success were references to look ahead to the IPL’s Delhi Daredevils. So there, that was the BCCI making use of its best marketing strategy. World champions-conquering, slegding-originators-snubbing Team India has got its timing just right.

But it was the new national sporting anthem that really got the adrenaline pumping. Chak de blared out and as the wait got longer, gathering TV cameras were gifted with screams and tricolour waves.

But with the entertainment kings still somewhere between the Bollywood capital and the political one, some serious diversion was the order of the hour. So out came the bhangra dancers, rendition often off-key, but it was their time under the blazing sun before the stars came out.

“Sachin is god,” said the placard in the middle of the stands on the left, and then they announced, they were back on earth. Yes, the boys had landed.

Tired players

Of course, three months of non-stop cricket, a long flight back home and then the connecting one to Delhi meant that putting on the camera-face would require a weary stopover at a five-star hotel. And then, out of nowhere, the screen panned to a content Sharad Pawar and right after, came the ear-splitter. MS Dhoni led his players out into the acropolis and the play was on.

When you know the show is about the showing of it, give the media prime place. So as the chock-a-block stadium craned for a glimpse, the squeezed in cameramen clicked away.

The loudest cheers were reserved for Harbhajan, but home boy and pace-spearhead-in-making Ishant Sharma got all the hoots. Then the point of the matter was dealt with, loud announcements of the generous booties the BCCI and the DDCA were doling out. No trophy exhibition, and no victory laps. The confetti streamed as a belated team picture pose was thought up.

The wrapping up was understated, hopefully the success run is not as fleeting.