The ongoing series between India and Australia is a special one for quite a few reasons, one of them being the fact that this is the Indian team’s first home series in almost two years. The last time a visiting team came to India was in March 2021 when the Proteas came to Indian shores for a limited-overs tour. The entirety of the tour was played out in Lucknow owing to the restrictions put in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was no surprise then that the return of cricket to India, that too with fans being allowed, was a reason of pure joy and ecstasy for the various stakeholders, including the players. The first T20I saw a record turnout with more than 25000 people turning up to watch the game between two champion sides. It only got better as on Sunday, more than 45000 people were present at the DY Patil Sports Academy Stadium to watch the second game of the 5-match series.
India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana who was also the player-of-the-match on Sunday acknowledged the massive turnout and expressed her gratitude to the fans for turning up in huge numbers and getting behind the women in blue.
“Thank you everyone for coming, it was an amazing atmosphere. We all just love the people who come to support us. It was an unreal game but the win was only possible because of the crowd and the support”, she said in a video posted on BCCI’s social media handles. She also requested the fans to keep coming in big numbers and said that the team would try its best to make them proud.
Later in the post-match conference, she added that India has one of the best fans in the world who support the team no matter where they play. She admitted that it was a massive source of motivation and that the enthusiasm from the crowd lifts the players as well.
Other players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma also took to their social media handles to appreciate the crowd. The action now shifts to the Brabourne Stadium for the remaining three ODIs and India will hope to receive the same support in a bid to defeat Australia in the series.
“This series is definitely a stepping stone”
~ Smriti Mandhana in the post-match press conference#INDvAUS #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/AFIJf4bJgx
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 12, 2022
Latest Update on Tickets for 3rd, 4th and 5th T20I:
• Entry for the 3rd T20I is free.
• There will be tickets for the 4th & 5th T20I, to be available on Book My Show Website and App from 13th Dec onwards and cost INR 300.
Official Confirmation awaited.