Over four month long wait of cricket enthusiasts in Jharkhand is precipitating into spontaneous exhilaration as the dates for two IPl matches on May 12 and May 15 draw is nearing.
Hopes are afloat of Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, owners of KKR team, consenting to grace the IPl 6 match to be played on 12th May at JSCA stadium, Ranchi. The flamboyant Vijay Mallya and his son Siddhartha Mallaya, owners of RCB, team plausible anticipated presence for the same doubles up as a bonanza for the star struck fans.
However, confusion prevails over the commencement of sale of tickets from the counters. Earlier, the date announced as May 7 is likely to be deferred by a day to May 8. The avid fans ready to brave the heat by drumming the beat of excitement would queue up at ten ticket counters, two of which are earmarked for ladies & children. Nearly 50 per cent of the tickets have been sold online.
JSCA administration convinced the KKR management to sell 50 per cent of the remaining tickets from the counter thus ensuring a berth for fans not well versed in online transactions. The tickets are priced at Rs700, Rs1500, Rs2000 & Rs4000. Each seat in an array of hospitality boxes is valued at a whopping Rs25,000.
The JSCA stadium, Ranchi, which is the host venue for the two IPl 6 matches for KKR, is bartered at tenancy fees of Rs30 lakh for each match payed to JSCA administration. Sanjay Singh, Vice President JSCA, informs, “The authority for the administration of the 2 IPl matches rests with the KKR management personnel. Our role is restricted to liaisoning. Venky Mysore and Mathew Abhishek of KKR, the CEO and second-in-charge respectively have made several visits to Ranchi. All crucial preparations are near completion. Next year onwards, the JSCA would vie for at least five matches for better fortunes to our coffers.”
Snippets of information leaked out suggest the plausibility of Bollywood Badshah, Shahrukh would likely be requested to do the honours of inaugurating the ‘Country Cricket Club’ of the stadium. The club at a present strength of thousand members boasts of a modern gymnasium, a swimming pool, tennis courts and umpteen facilities for recreational sports. The inaugural plaque flaunting Shahrukh’s name would bear testimony to the moment of pride for years to come. While the KKR team is arriving on 10th May, the RCB team would be our guests from 11th May. The high-flier owners are expected to fly in their charted planes.
Provisions for freebies as ‘passes’ have been doled out for VIPs. And, the who’s who in administration & politics though constrained have been arranged. The 800 members of JSCA get only one free pass.
Spectators in Jharkhand would be witness to first-hand-feel of the fun packed IPl matches that ensure adrenaline punch and entertainment galore. JSCA is due to host cheerleaders swaying to the music. An entertainment stand on Western Hill with live music and DJ to whip up electrifying aura has been planned.
Abhinav Kumar, a DPS student of class X is eagerly waiting like many other frenzied fans for Hurricane express- Gayle’s tsunami of 6s. Not-to-forget son of soil Saurav Tiwari and rising star of Indian Cricket Virat Kohli’s expected batting blasts too.
“To keep the milling crowd under control, 10 companies of security forces comprising 20 per cent women constable and Police personnel from the JAP, RAP & District Police would man strategic locations at the hotel and inside & outside the JSCA stadium”, enunciates SSP Saket Kumar Singh.
In addition to the above, newly recruited Sub-Inspectors undergoing training will also be deployed for their crowd management deftness & expertise exhibited during ODI played on 19th Jan in Ranchi. Security personnel in plain clothes would gel with the crowd for better vigil to discipline the overly enthusiastic errant fans if any. There will be one platoon force at each of the three parking zones at the JSCA stadium.