IPL 2019: Delhi Capitals’ home ground of Feroz Shah Kotla gets swept away by ‘yellow fever’

The Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg near ITO is renowned notoriously for its traffic snarls. When cricket takes place, international or Indian Premier League, the traffic congestion multiples. The Feroz Shah Kotla is hosting it’s first IPL 2019 encounter, with Delhi Capitals taking on Chennai Super Kings. The excitement for this match was palpable for the thousands in attendance at the Kotla. Delhi Capitals, with their new name, had a great start to their campaign by winning against Mumbai Indians while Chennai Super Kings got the better of their Kaveri rivals Royal Challengers Bangalore. The positive result for both teams has made this match much anticipated among the fans. 

In most of the games, the prominent colour and enthusiasm seen among the fans was yellow. The mood was more inclined to support Chennai Super Kings than Delhi Capitals. Only one jersey was in demand and the vendors were struggling to fulfill the demands of the fans. The number seven yellow jersey, which is worn by Dhoni, was in massive demand and most of the spectators wore only the No.7 yellow Dhoni jersey. 

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In the long, serpentine queues, there were people who cheered only for Chennai Super Kings. Some had flown down from Tamil Nadu, others were local Tamilians in Delhi while even the non-Chennai people supported the Chennai Super Kings. Even in the stadium, from the Mohinder Amarnath to Bishan Singh Bedi stands, the yellow jerseys were in abundance. One felt that the match was once again being played in Chepauk, instead of the Kotla! 

At the Bishan Singh Bedi stands, Saravanan Hari, the Chennai Super Kings superfan waved the yellow flag of his team vigorously. He was surrounded by a sea of yellow and when ‘Thala’ Dhoni came out for the toss, the roar across the Kotla was simply great to hear. In one end of the Mohinder Amarnath stand, a group of Delhi Capitals fans were unfurling a big banner and trying to get noticed but they were simply blown away by the yellow fever sweeping across the stadium. 

Indeed, the love for Chennai Super Kings transcends boundaries in India and it is all due to the love for Dhoni and the aura surrounding the franchise in their second return back into the tournament.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Chennai Super Kings won their opening game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
• Chennai Super Kings lost their previous encounter to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018.
• Delhi Capitals defeated Mumbai Indians in their opening game.