Cricket fever grips Ranchi

RANCHI: Cricket seems to be the talk of the town. From street corners and tea stalls to offices and living rooms, it is the hot topic of discussion which is causing debates and stirring conversations. While some are sad about not getting passes for the India-England ODI on January 19, others are leaving no stone unturned to arrange for tickets.
Last minute calls to get hold of an entry pass is the only thing occupying every ones to do list.Adarsh Sinha, a banker said: "I have a few journalist friends who usually get passes for all the programmes to be held in the city. I have been contacting them for a pass for the ODI but even they say that it is not available. I really wanted to watch the match. My last try will be my uncle who is a bureaucrat. I will ask him if he can arrange a pass for me."
Heated conversations and predictions for the match are hard to miss if you happen to stand at the roadside. Self proclaimed cricket experts are heard predicting the fate of the match and Team India skipper, M S Dhoni's performance over cups of steaming hot tea. Verdicts such as 'Dhoni is playing in his home ground, he will definitely perform well' and apprehensions such as 'If Dhoni's side does not win it will be a shame for our state' is doing the rounds at every nook and cranny.
Sachin Mishra, a cricket lover and a college pass out said: "Dhoni will have to perform well in this match. It is not just about him but also our state's prestige. He should be able to perform well as playing on the home turf will be an advantage and will boost his spirits."
And then there are the female fans who are looking forward to be clicked alongside Dhoni and Team India. They can be heard discussing dresses, makeup and hairdo to make them look their best. "My cousin and I have tickets for the match and we are hoping to get few photographs clicked with the team. It will be fun to see other girls getting jealous when I upload those photos on Facebook," said Jiaanna Verma, student of St Xavier's College.
The cricket fever has hit the schoolboys the hardest. Bunking classes and playing a game of cricket at playgrounds, busy roads and empty lanes and bylanes have all of a sudden become the trend. Some are even making use of the free periods in school and playing with paper balls and notebooks in class. Vaibhav Singh, a student of Class IX said: "Cricket is in the air. Everyone is talking cricket which is exciting us and so we are playing it whenever we get some time."