The Diary could never have imagined itself covering cricket. Yet, here it was, about to report on a sixth consecutive match of the Women’s Premier League within the span of a week. To say the experience had been overwhelming would be an understatement. So, before making its final walk to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for this assignment, the Diary decided to explore the sights Bengaluru had to offer.
The first stop was a roadside shop on Indiranagar’s 100 Feet Road, selling vintage film cameras. The venture was Instagram-famous, which had prompted a friend to persuade the Diary to visit Mr Azmath — the entrepreneur behind it. That the friend ultimately did not make a purchase was inconsequential. The sight of small and large point-and-shoot cameras from yesteryears —boasting brands such as Kodak, Konica, and Yashica — was enough to charm the Diary.
Possessing a film camera itself — a Yashica MF-2 from the 1980s — the Diary was keen to capture some scenes from the much-talked-about Cubbon Park. A 30-minute auto ride later, it entered the park. Within seconds, the Diary was transported back home. In Kolkata, Rabindra Sarobar Lake — colloquially known simply as ‘Lake’ — is a favourite spot for people to idle away time at any hour of the day. Cubbon Park had the same charm, only on a much grander scale. Friends were enjoying picnics on the sprawling lawns, lovers strolled hand-in-hand, and, to the Diary’s surprise, Pokémon Go was still a thing — groups of boys and men aimlessly walking around or perched on benches, eyes glued to their screens.
Wandering along one of the many nature trails, the Diary spotted a tree adorned with vibrant yellow flowers, a striking contrast against the green grass and the blue sky.
Seeking the perfect vantage point for the 35mm lens to capture the scene, the Diary climbed to a higher perch and clicked. Fortunately, that shot marked the final frame on the roll of film, and the Diary exhaled in relief.
Now back in Chennai, it eagerly awaits the grainy photographs to be developed, ready to relive the sights of the Garden City once more.
Rajdeep Saha
Fan favourites
In Lucknow, where the WPL was being staged for the first time, a sizeable number of fans turned up for the matches.
| Photo Credit:
SANDEEP SAXENA
In Lucknow, where the WPL was being staged for the first time, a sizeable number of fans turned up for the matches.
| Photo Credit:
SANDEEP SAXENA
In the Indian Premier League’s 17-year history, it is no secret that Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Chennai Super Kings have established the largest fan bases. While the WPL is only three years old, MI and RCB (CSK does not have a franchise in the WPL) are already benefiting from their vast networks of supporters. In Lucknow, where the WPL was being staged for the first time, a sizeable number of fans were backing these two franchises. Even the counterfeit jerseys sold by hawkers outside the Ekana Cricket Stadium were largely those of MI, RCB, and CSK.
When asked about home advantage while playing in Vadodara during the opening phase of this year’s WPL, Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner said: “Yeah, I mean, home advantage, I don’t know about that, but there were a lot of RCB fans wherever we went. Hopefully, with the game growing and hitting different parts of India, we can have Gujarat fans wherever we go.”
Among the fans in attendance for the game between MI and GG on March 6 was 22-year-old Divyanshu. A native of Delhi, he is currently completing his internship in Lucknow. Like a true Delhiite, his loyalty lies with Virat Kohli and RCB. “I’m a Kohli fan. In the WPL, I like Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry too,” he said.
He had also attended the WPL Eliminator and final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi last year. “There was considerable buzz in Delhi for the WPL last year. In Lucknow, the venue is slightly away from the heart of the city. That may be a factor in the lukewarm response to the league here,” he observed. However, he concluded on an optimistic note: “The WPL is definitely growing. The players are becoming more familiar to the fans.”
Vivek Krishnan