New Delhi: After holding its nerves throughout the day, Delhi witnessed spontaneous outburst of revelry late in the afternoon as India launched its cricket World Cup campaign in style by thrashing Pakistan by 76 runs. As the arch-rivals clashed in distant Adelaide on a lazy Sunday, Delhiites mostly stayed indoors and remained glued to television sets resulting in largely deserted streets.
Following the victory, scores of young bikers wearing patriotism on their sleeves zipped through the city streets waving the tri-colour with gusto.
Sporting team India jerseys and their faces painted with the tri-colour, fans celebrated on the streets decorated with buntings by bursting fire crackers and dancing to the beat of drums.
“Even though it was a cakewalk for us, any victory against Pakistan is always special. It's like we have won the World Cup already,” gushed 23-year-old Sharad Joshi of Patparganj. While for many families, the match was a perfect opportunity for a get-together as they sat together and cheered every run scored, every wicket claimed. “It was a welcome break after weeks of political speeches and controversies.
We called over relatives and sat through the match while also enjoying a hearty lunch together,” said Vinod Kumar, a resident of Timarpur. Adding to the festive spirit, giant screens were put up in many localities as residents preferred a collective viewing experience.
