If it is cricket, you just cannot ignore the Indian fans. Australia is finding that almost every day during this World Cup.
– #360view: McCullum’s captaincy takes NZ to their first final
– New Zealand beat South Africa in thriller to reach final
– PLAY: Sport360’s Cricket World Cup Stick Cricket
The latest is that Fox Sports, broadcasters of the World Cup Down Under, have decided to provide Hindi commentary in their interactive telecast of the Australia-India semi-final.
So, for almost a million-odd Indian expats, a simple push of the red button on their remote will help them enjoy the match with commentary in their own language.
Hindi commentary for cricket World Cup http://t.co/PSmO1lK4vR #cricket
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) March 23, 2015
Obviously, there have been various indicators as to how this World Cup has benefited from the huge Indian interest. It is estimated that Indian fans have picked up almost 70 per cent of tickets for tomorrow’s match, and that led to some desperate tweets from Michael Clarke and David Warner to their fans to rally behind Australia.
Dream comes true, finally
A heart-breaking tale of an Indian fan, which has turned into a heartwarming one, is getting a lot of play in the Australian media.
Jignesh Sanghrajka, a 28-year-old Mumbai resident, was the lucky winner of an all-expense trip for two, organised by Emirates Airlines, to witness the March 29 final in Melbourne.
But despite it being an all-expense paid trip, and the fact that Jignesh submitted a letter from the ICC, the Australian High Commission in Mumbai rejected the visa application, saying they felt the “trip wasn’t genuine”.
However, after local Indian daily Mid-Day carried the story, the Australian High Commission reacted quickly and granted the visa. The Sydney Morning Herald called it a “case that almost mirrors the hit film Slumdog Millionaire.” It is also getting mention on all major TV news channels.
