The crowd trouble that disrupted the second T20 between India and South Africa in Cuttack brought back memories of the infamous 1996 World Cup semi-final played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata — venue for the third T20.
For the past decade or so, the disruptions by the crowd had dropped in this cricket mad country where every step or decision by a player, captain or the board is keenly followed.
But the most iconic image and the most embarrassing instance of crowd misbehaviour has to be during the 1996 World Cup semi-final against Sri lanka.
Chasing 252, India were coasting at 98/1 with Sachin Tendulkar and Sanjay Manjrekar at the crease. But just as ‘The little Master’ was stumped by Romesh Kaluwitharana off Sanath Jayasuriya, began the end of India’s hopes.
With India losing seven wickets in a meager 22 runs, the crowd had seen enough. A capacity crowd started to burn fruits, newspapers inside the stands and threw bottles on the ground. The images of objects on fire gave it an impression that the stands were on fire.
Seeing no recourse, match referee Clive lloyd took players off the field but an attempt to restart play later turned futile. Sri lanka were awarded the match by default and Vinod Kambli’s teary face became one of the most remembered images in World Cup history.
On Monday too, the crowd were incensed with the abject performance of MS Dhoni and his men as they were bundled out for only 92 runs. With people paying an exorbitant fee to witness their heroes in action, they expect a good show or at least a contest. But that didn’t come about in the end as the Proteas won by six wickets.
Cramped into small space, most of the ire came from the stands where the tickets were supposed to be cheap but weren’t. Disappointed at the show by their IPl stalwarts, fighting for space, the crowd did what felt like last resort — throwing bottles at the heroes they worship.