It’s nice to step into a stadium and get goosebumps… walking with Sachin maybe made it feel even more special: David Beckham

The former England football captain is in India as a Unicef goodwill ambassador.

Mumbai: Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and former English footballer David Beckham before the start of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final match between India and New Zealand, at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)

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Former football player David Beckham said he had goosebumps when he entered Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to attend the first semifinal between India and New Zealand. He acknowledged that maybe because he was with Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar it felt that much more special to him.

“I think it’s nice to step into a stadium and get goosebumps, and I felt that as soon as I walked into this stadium. There’s something about it, maybe it was because I was walking with Sachin, and maybe that made it feel even more special. But you feel the energy within the stadium even when there weren’t that many people at the start,” Beckham said speaking on BCCI TV.

When asked to pick between football atmosphere and cricket Beckham would say, “You know what? I would always say football fans, but being here today, I am not so sure. The atmosphere is incredible. The fans are creating an electric atmosphere and they are very loud, so I am not so sure.”

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Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, like the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker of the current edition, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site.

The crowd played the role of the 12th man during the thrilling semifinal in which Rohit Sharma’s men defeated New Zealand by 70 runs on the back of Mohammed Shami’s seven-wicket haul.

Speaking about his cricketing credentials the footballer would say, “I used to play cricket when I was a young kid at school, and I always liked being a batter. But, I also like to bowl and I also like to field. So, maybe I am an all-rounder, but see myself more as a batter.”

Beckham is in India on a three-day visit as a Unicef goodwill ambassador.

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The co-owner of the Inter Miami soccer club, earlier shared on Instagram a few photos from Gujarat, where he is seen interacting with children and playing cricket.

Beckham also posted a story on Instagram in which he is seen passing the football to Kohli. As he and Tendulkar were walking on the ground, Kohli passed a football to Beckham, who passed it back to him.

Unicef and the ICC have joined hands to promote gender inclusion and women’s empowerment through cricket.