The hot weather did not deter cricket fans from flocking to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal on Sunday to watch the first Indian Premier League (IPL) match in the city in three years, when hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad faced Rajasthan Royals.
Fans began to form lines as early as 1 p.m. in the sweltering heat. While the Metros were packed, the long lines at the Uppal stadium gates indicated that the city crowd had greatly missed the IPL. The last IPL match in Hyderabad was in 2019, and the event didn’t return until now due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The stadium was nearly full before the toss, and the cheers began with the first delivery. A sea of orange filled the stadium, giving it a festive appearance. When the game began, there were approximately 29,845 spectators inside the stadium, and by the end of the first innings, the stands had reached their full capacity of 37,731.
The Rajasthan Royals’ innings proved to be a perfect stage, much to the delight of the crowd. In the first innings, the belter of a track on offer produced over 200 runs.
The Orange Army — Sunrisers Hyderabad fans — cheered the loudest whenever the host bowlers took a wicket.
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“It is fantastic to see my favourite team play live after a long time. We missed this badly. Though my favourite player (David) Warner is no longer in the side, I am thrilled to see the Sunrisers play,” said Anand, an IT employee.
However, as the Sunrisers were never in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals, fans began leaving the stadium long before the game was over.
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