Kolkatans come together to celebrate Champions Trophy triumph over Pak
Times of India | 24 February 2025
12 Kolkata: The city witnessed a cricket carnival on Sunday as fans came together to witness the India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy. From performing yajnas to setting up small tents in neighbourhoods, the passion for the game was on full display as thousands cheered for the Men in Blue at homes, clubs, and pubs. The support paid off as India cantered to an easy win by six wickets powered by Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami restricted Pakistan to a modest 241.
Chants of "Jeetega bhai jeetega, India jeetega" echoed in a Kali temple and the streets of Salt Lake as fans offered ghee and chanted mantras. The devotees were dressed in blue jerseys and carried posters of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli; a cricket bat and a ball were kept inside the temple.
Several clubs across the city, including some of the oldest ones with a rich sporting heritage, erected temporary tents with giant screens to accommodate crowds. In areas like Hatibagan, Garia and Behala, local cricket clubs hosted screenings. "It's more than just a match. It's an emotion," said Supriya Roy of Vivekananda Sporting Club in Behala. Soumya Das, a club organiser in Salt Lake's Sukantanagar, said: "We got a projector, chairs, and refreshments so the entire locality can watch together."
Kolkata entrepreneur Mahesh Punjabi was at the stands in Dubai International Stadium with friends, sporting India jerseys and cheering as Pakistan batsmen faltered. "The ambience was electric but the Blues seem to have outnumbered the Greens in the stands this time. It seemed that Pakistan fans lost faith in their team," Punjabi said in a text message as Mohammad Rizwan was bowled, which ended a crucial partnership.
"The target of 242 was not big but then, Pakistan had the arsenal to stop India. Gill needed to play well after Rohit Sharma's cameo, and he did," Punjabi said.
What left fans ecstatic was Kohli's return to form. The city roared as he struck two majestic boundaries off Harris Rauf. It looked to be India's day from then on. Many residential societies put up big screens. Clubs and lounges, too, recorded heavy turnout, especially during the second half of the match when India chased down the target. "It's like a festival day. We will renovate our place for IPL. This was among our last few big screenings, and we had a great time with dedicated patrons," said Bunty Vishnani of BJs Sports Lounge in south Kolkata.
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