Fans don the blue jersey for their heroes on pitch

CHANDIGARH: More than a bird's eye view of the match, what draws most cricket fans to the stadium is the thrilling ambience, which fans create by dressing the part for one. For a cricket crazy nation, blue is almost sacred. No wonder cricket fans are scouring sports stores in the city to get the blue jerseys of the Indian team ahead of the India-England match in Mohali.
Besides the jerseys, t-shirts, autograph bats and caps also sold like hot cakes. Dipinder Verma, a student from Sector 21, Panchkula, said, "I love cricket. I have bought a T-shirt of Team India which I will wear for the match in the stadium. It is my way of showing support for the Indian team. Later, it will help fuel enthusiasm during matches with friends."
For sports store owners, this is a time of ringing cash registers. According to a sports shop owner in Sector 22, "T-shirts of Team India are very popular among youngsters and little children. Autograph bats are also very much in demand." "The blue jerseys of the Indian cricket team engender a sense of deep belonging. Its good to see fellow fans cheering the country in the blue jerseys", said Nitinder Mohan, an engineering student.
Cricket goodies have always been a big sell out and this time too markets have interesting keepsakes for fans. "Mannequins in the sectors 22 and 17 markets have cricket merchandise on display. Whenever there is a cricket march in Mohali, I go there to get tees and caps," said Aman Dhillon, a student of DAV College, who was shopping in Sector 17.
Tight security dismays many
Even as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men were finalizing their play plan ahead of the crucial fourth ODI at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Wednesday, eager fans played hide-and-seek at the Sector-35 hotel where the team is staying.
Cricket buffs were annoyed with tight security that kept them from getting close to their beloved heroes. Many college-goers like Ashish, Jitender, Abhishek, Nitin, Sahil and Deepak, who had bunked classes to have a peek at their stars were upset. "We are not even being allowed into the hotel, we have been waiting since morning.''
A group of girls waited outside the hotel, ready with messages for Dhoni, Gambhir or Virat.
Disappointed, Astha, a student of MCM said, " I have been here since morning , waiting to meet Yuvraj Singh. I am going for the match, I hope I will be able to shake hands with him."