Home of Champions - ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP
Arguably the most anticipated cricketing event that comes once in 4 years, the ICC Cricket World Cup is finally here! This sporting event, which remains the favourite of millions across the globe, is all set to give fans of cricket a real treat.
The World Cup has quite a long history. The first World Cup was played in the year 1975 in England, a country that boasts of being the biggest promoter or exporter of this amazing sport. It was West Indies that bagged the trophy that year. Ever since, there has been no looking back. With several matches spanning many decades, the biggest cricketing extravaganza has entertained one and all.
Many exciting matches and moments are still afresh in the minds of cricket fans!
From the 1983 World Cup win for India, defeating the then favourites West Indies in the final and thereby starting a new era for Indian cricket….. to the unforgettable riots which took place in Eden Gardens during the 1996 World Cup semifinals between India and Sri Lanka (when the hostile home crowd became violent when it was evident that India were going to lose), the tournament has witnessed many highs and lows. Furthermore, India’s famous 2011 World Cup win and the dramatic tied match between Australia and South Africa in the 1999 World Cup, still remain some of the golden moments in the World Cup’s history.
This time, the hosts of the World Cup are England. Scheduled to start on 24th May, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is all set to enthral faithful followers, just like every edition before it.
Its not just the popularity, crazy following and legendary history this event has that makes it so special, but the fact that The World Cup is one event which brings families and friends together like nothing else. It’s not just a tournament, but a celebration. As people sit in front of their televisions to watch the game, or throng to the stadiums, collectively yelling encouragement at the players when they score or groaning when somebody becomes out, its a beautiful time. The kind of aggressive frenzy fans have towards the World Cup is just something else.
In India too, cricket fever is really high. In fact, ICC research says that India constitutes 90 percent of one billion cricket fans! Such is the craze for cricket, especially the World Cup, in India, that fans are ready to go any extent to just watch a match or proclaim their love for cricket.
Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary is one such fan. For every cricket match involving India, he comes to the stadium with his body fully painted in tricolor, and the name of his idol, Sachin Tendulkar, along with his jersey number, 10, etched on his body. This might seem stupid to a person who does not follow the sport, but it is not so for true worshipers of this game. For them cricket is life and their country winning the world cup would be the biggest dream of their lives coming true in front of their eyes.
With the grand date coming closer, heated arguments on who will take the trophy home have become common. So have bettings and predictions.
Indian Fan : Bro, which team do you think will win the World Cup this time?
Australia Fan: Australia
India Fan: They have got absolutely no chance!
Australia Fan: Says who? They’ve got Warner and Smith, that's enough for them to win!
India Fan: India has Kohli, Rohit, Dhawan who are no match for these people. I am telling you this time the trophy is coming back home to India!
Australia Fan: We will see!
India Fan: Yeah sure!
Those who go to the stadium to watch cricket matches will know how difficult it is to get a single ticket for the game. And its no surprise that for this World Cup, the opening match tickets got sold out in 120 seconds! With crazy fans already pre booking their seats for crucial matches, stadiums are expected to be jam-packed with die hard cricket enthusiasts.
So this World Cup too, promises a lot of surprises. Which team will knock out the others and emerge victorious? Will we have a former champion team lifting the trophy again or a brand new champion?
We can only wait and watch!
