NEW DELHI: Fan frenzy mounted Friday in India after their team reached the T20 World Cup final with a big win over England, putting the country on the brink of a first major title in over a decade.
Despite cricket´s huge popularity in India and the nation being the epicentre of the T20 game through the lucrative IPL, their only triumph in the competition came 17 years ago. India´s last major silverware of any kind was the Champions Trophy in 2013 and their hopes have been repeatedly dashed since.
They came agonisingly close to winning the 50-over World Cup at home last year but lost to Australia in the final, breaking the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians. On the eve of Saturday´s final against South Africa in Barbados, Indian fans dared to dream.
“The excitement has reached its peak,” said Pritam Kumar Sinha, an accountant and die-hard cricket fan in the eastern city of Patna. “It has been a while since India won any world title. If India can win on Saturday it will be a fitting finale for Rahul Dravid, the outgoing coach,” the 58-year-old told AFP. In the capital New Delhi, college student Varsha Sinha said she could hardly wait for the final to start.
“We have been undefeated in the tournament so far and I am praying the trend continues,” said the 20-year-old, who rejigged her weekend plans in order to watch the action on TV.