Thiruvananthapuram: The cricket lovers in the Kerala capital had to wait a long time to watch an international match and it was worth it as their sporting behavior during the T20 series-decider between India and New Zealand was appreciated by the players as well as the commentators.
Indian captain Virat Kohli expressed his surprise that the Greenfield Stadium had not hosted any international game in the past after the home side pipped New Zealand by 6 runs in the rain-curtailed 8-overs-a-side game to win the three-match series 2-1 Tuesday night.
Former Indian player-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was bowled over by the crowd, who waited patiently braving the rain.
The ground has one of the best drainage facilities in the country and only because of that the series-decider could be played despite the rain which lashed the city.
Manjrekar tweeted: “Loved the crowd here in Thiruvananthapuram. Each & everyone clapped for the losing captain. Listened in rapt attention to all interviews.”
His co-commentator Harsha Bhogle too appreciated the crowd and the ground. “Thiruvananthapuram provided a magnificent atmosphere for the game. And the teams provided a wonderful short burst of cricket,” tweeted Bhogle.
Former Indian opener and commentator Aakash Chopra was mighty impressed by the facilities and the crowd and expressed hope that the venue will get to host Indian Premier League games in the near future. “How much time before Thiruvananthapuram hosts IPL games??? 55k capacity stadium. State of art facilities. What say?" Chopra tweeted.
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