View from the pavilion

Throughout the match, almost everyone around spent their time having loud conversations on cellphones, abusing young women in the stands and people who applauded Australia’s efforts, screaming obscenities at Australian fielders on the boundary and getting agitated every time Australians appealed.

The Indian players were applauded while they were performing but abused otherwise. Only a boundary or wicket would do. Every time an Indian batsman hit a firm stroke, people in front of me stood up to watch and if it was likely to be a boundary, they would stand on their seats. What was probably symptomatic of the times was an incident where a father encouraged his young son to tear a piece of paper into shreds and throw it at the spectators in front, an act which was applauded by the people around the boy. There was a constant flow of people in and out of seats during the game.

Of course, as soon as it looked likely that India would lose, the spectators started leaving the stadium in droves. I watched the prize distribution and had hoped that the Australians would do a victory lap and the Indians might just show that they were graceful in defeat by waving to the few who had stayed behind till the end. Sadly, both sets of teams disappeared into the pavilion right after the ceremony.

The arrangements for spectators at Eden Gardens were also disgraceful—long queues at the toilets and food stalls meant that unless you were prepared to miss a good bit of the game, you may as well forget it! The giant scoreboards displayed the barest of information but I do not suppose most people noticed or cared. The awards ceremony was not audible and, in the absence of a giant TV screen for replays, you were left to conjure up the scene in your imagination. The crowd in front of you ensured you would never see a complete ball unless you joined them in their gyrations.

For Eden Gardens, then, it is a complete fall from grace. The next time a match is hosted here, I shall heed the advice the louts gave some genuine cricket lovers who had objected to their despicable behaviour: stay at home!