Rocket Scandal

Why would one wear an Indian jersey and support Sri Lanka?

It was 18^th march 2011. Sri Lanka were playing New Zealand in world cup match in Wankhede.

The stadium was rebuilt and this was the 2^nd international match after the reconstruction.

Umang’s dad got four tickets for us. So Umang, me, Tej and Kshitij were going to stadium to watch the match. Suraj was left out.

We didn’t bother to ask Farhan. Farhan is someone who has no interest in sports. Criticizes Sachin Tendulkar for no reason, whereas he can’t  survive a single ball in under arm cricket.

On our way to the stadium we saw hardly 10-15 Sri Lankan fans, maybe they were some hardcore fans, who had come to support their team. There were no kiwi supporters.  All others were Indian.

Indians have great passion and excitement for cricket. But nothing like Umang.

A couple of news channel reporters were interviewing people.

Umang went forward.

Reporter asked him, what does he think about the world cup being hosted in India?

Umang excited that he would be live on tv, tried speaking like Ravi Shastri and used some phrases like, “atmosphere is electrifying”, “crowd is building up”, “PARDON” , “this iz going to bee a cracker of a match”, “edged and taken”, “that’s in the air and gone”. No one quite really understood why he said those last phrases as they were irrelevant here.

Then the reported asked him ,”so whom are you supporting today? What do you think who will win?”

No one knows what actually happened to Umang at that moment. He folded his hands like Goku getting ready for   “Kamehameha” attack. With all his power he shouted at the top of his voice,

“ YEAHHHHH SHRIII LANKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!”

He also jumped and pumped his fist in the air.

This would have surely put any Lankan fan to shame.

Kshitij and Tej started walking. I  bursted with laughter.

“Cut! Bas hogaya aaj ke liye” said the anchor. Camera-man feared that his camera would explode.

 “Dude why are you wearing Indian jersey if u can shout at top of your voice for Sri Lanka”, said the anchor and used words that start with C and rhymes with tutiya.

The stadium was fantastic. Sri Lanka were batting first. However they lost couple of quick wickets. Then Sangakarra and Jayawardene resurrected the innings and got Lanka to a respectable target.  It was a pleasure watching them bat.

New Zealand started badly. And by 20 overs even Farhan could have predicted that Lanka will win.

Game was getting slow and boring now.

Camera was positioned in our stand. Umang was dancing and cheering for every dot ball and for every run scored hoping to be seen on T.V.

His over excitement was really irritating people around including us.

The game had slowed down so much that people had started making rockets and airplanes of cardboards and papers and were throwing them in the stadium.

One such rocket fell on Umang.

Umang picked it up and relaunched it with full power.

Unfortunately it flew with the wind and got stuck in the curly goldy locks of Lasith Malinga who was standing on the boundary near our stand.

Some 10-15 minutes later two security personnel came from left and two from right and surrounded us and shouted “no one moves. Where is the guy wearing Indian jersey?”

Everyone pointed towards Umang.

He had no idea what had happened when he threw the rocket.

He tried hiding under his seat.

But that trick was of no effect. A security personnel came and caught hold of Umang and said, “What do you think the camera is for?

You think you are on T.V? hahahahaaaa

We have been observing you. You have been dancing like an idiot all the time. The people in the control room are frustrated seeing you dance and blow kisses for last 5 hours.

Launching rocket in the stadium. People like you spoil our Country’s name”

“But but sir I just re-launched it” said Umang sacred with fear.

“Re-launched it, you think this is fun..Ghar pe jake re-launch kar.

Now give your father’s number. I will make sure you don’t get out your house for next two days. Noob”

This provided entertainment for all in the stand. Umang pleaded that he won’t launch the rocket again.

Actually the security personnel was a nice guy and was just making fun. He even apologized to Umang.

Meanwhile New Zealand showed no resistance in their batting and Sir Lanka won the match comfortably.

At the post match ceremony when Ravi shastri asked Malinga about the rocket which landed in his hair, he replied with the same smile which is seen on his face when he is hit for a boundary.