Agencies
Bangalore, Apr 19: This was a moment Bangaloreans weren’t going to miss. For a city used to hosting top international acts making their Indian debuts, the launch of the Indian Premier League could have been just another event on another evening. That certainly was not the case as the crowds made a beeline to the stadium from as early as 3 pm, and most parts of a decked-up Chinnaswamy Stadium getting filled much before the start of the opening extravaganza.
As BCCI president and Union minister Sharad Pawar put it, the world was watching Bangalore on Friday night and Bangalore wanted to be present in strength where it was all happening. History was made at 7.25 pm when IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi declared the world’s richest domestic tournament open.
Earlier, at 6.30 pm, all hell broke loose in a nice sort of way when the host for the evening, Charu Sharma, took the stage to introduce on the biggest acts going around India. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy made for a perfect beginning, their heady music setting the trend for things to come.
A four-piece band took over from the famous Indian trio, playing their music from the four corners of the centre square at the ground. Literally dancing to their tunes were the First Ladies of American football (as Charu chose to put it). The Washington Skins cheerleading squad rocked the crowd over both with their hot pants and hotter steps.
Cricket and cricketers weren’t forgotten, with all the eight captains paraded in their dapper suits. Welcomed on stage by former Indian captains Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar, each of the captains walked on to a fantastic reception and lined up before the Spirit of Cricket Declaration.
The best, though, was reserved for the man who came on to the stage last. Called ‘The Living Legend’ and ‘The Boss’ by Shastri, Sachin Tendulkar saw Bangalore’s best put their hands together in a fitting tribute that spoke volumes of his immense popularity wherever he goes in India. “Sachin, Sachin” went the fans as each captain grandly signed the declaration.