MUMBAI: Officials at the Cricket Club of India, which houses the Brabourne Stadium, had factored in the presence of about 10,000-12,000 spectators for the warm up One-dayer between India `A’ and England on Tuesday. This was a conservative estimate at best, given that India’s most successful skipper in the limited overs format, MS Dhoni, was going to lead the side out in blue one last time.
Expectedly, an hour-and-a-half into India A’s batting in the afternoon, the venue that can accommodate about 25,000 spectators was nearly packed to capacity.
Everyone associated with the organization of the game, including the policemen on duty, seemed to be taken by total surprise. All that one could hear from the stands were chants of “Dhoni, Dhoni, Dhoni.” And as luck would have it, Dhoni responded in the most magnificent manner, smashing an unbeaten 68 off only 40 balls to propel India `A’ to a challenging 304-5, a target that the visitors went on to surpass with three wickets intact.
