November 21st 2023.
The Narendra Modi Stadium hosted the World Cup final between India and Australia on Sunday, and what was meant to be a world-class event was marred by the behavior of the spectators. Far from embodying the spirit of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', the home crowd showed blatant partisanship throughout the match.
At the beginning of the match, some spectators began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, echoing the 'Jai Shri Ram' chants that were heard during the India-Pakistan match in October. As the match progressed, the crowd applauded and cheered for every Indian batsman, while remaining silent when the Australians scored.
Things took a turn for the worse at the end of the match. When the Australian captain Pat Cummins was presented with the trophy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hastily exited the stage, leaving Cummins alone on the podium. This was seen as a major faux pas by Australian media, which described the crowd's behavior as 'pathetic' and 'boorish'. Not only did the crowd boo the on-field umpires, but some took to Instagram to troll Travis Head, even going so far as to target his wife and one-year-old baby.
It's clear that the Indian crowd weren't in the right spirit that day. The lack of respect and dignity shown towards the Australian team and the umpires has left a sour taste in the mouths of the international sports fraternity. It's a lesson to be remembered in the lead up to the next World Cup in 2023.
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