
sport news AADAM PATEL: When India play, Mumbai stops to watch... and after their most ... trends now
To walk along the streets of South Mumbai is to feel the pulse of Indian cricket.
In these parts, they call Mumbai the heartbeat of the game.
Forget Lord’s they say. This is the real home of cricket.
Here, the Oval, Cross and Azad Maidans all lie within touching distance of each other.
They are Mumbai’s fields of dreams where those of all ages and abilities play the game.
India thrashed Sri Lanka in an emphatic 302-run win at the atmospheric Wankhede Stadium
The venerable stadium in Mumbai could arguably be the home of the game - and is the heartbeat of Indian cricket
Fans have turned out in their number to spur on a sensational side that could yet clinch the title
In the distance, you can see the floodlights of the Wankhede Stadium. Close enough for those youngsters to dream of what could be. Close enough to hear the roar from inside when India come to town.
As if they are the Harlem Globetrotters, India are travelling around this cricket-mad nation with games at every venue to give as many of the 1.4 billion population the chance to see their heroes in action. Thus far, they haven’t disappointed.
On Thursday, their World Cup juggernaut landed in Mumbai in the most destructive fashion as they bowled Sri Lanka out for 55 to record their largest ever World Cup victory. It made England’s feeble score of 129 in Lucknow on Sunday look slightly more respectable.
With seven wins out of seven, India are yet to show even a sign of weakness and this 302-run victory was the most emphatic yet.
The tournament slogan says ‘It Takes One Day’ but it took India the best part of just under two hours to clean up Chris Silverwood’s side as the trio of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah caused carnage with the new ball. At one stage, the scoreboard read four wickets for three runs and between them, Sri Lanka’s top five scored just two runs.
Relentlessly, the crowd roared the Indian seamers in for every single delivery, baying for blood and celebrating each wicket like it was their last. The Sri Lankans were helpless in the face of bowling of the highest class.
The crowd on Thursday were treated to bowling of the highest order against hapless Sri Lanka
There is a growing anticipation that India are champions-in-waiting ahead of the knockout ties