NRIs depressed with World Cup performance

Not just Indians in India, their expatriate cousins felt just as crushed after India’s dismal performance against Sri Lanka on Friday. The day started with the hope of the team coming good and Indian cricket fans in the United States watched the match expectantly but ended up reacting angrily.  
 

Indians in New York gathered at restaurants in the city, where the crucial World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka was being shown live. A few at the Leela Lounge, and about a hundred at Eight Mile Creek, an Aussie hangout in SoHo. There wasn’t even standing room as many spilled outside to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. There were a few cheers, but in the end, just dazed resignation.

A cricket buff, Monika Nahata told CNBC-TV18, "It was very disappointing. But what can you do, right?" Another fan, Anant Agarwal says, "Extremely disappointing and I’m sure a lot of people will be sharing the same sentiment: The players right now, they’re concentrating on a lot of other things apart from the game, I guess. And the way they played, they didn’t even put up a good fight out there."

Some fans came dressed for the occasion. But after the match had angry plans for their India colours. Auloke Mathur says, "I'm probably going to burn it after this disgusting performance." While Amit Singhal says, "I’m not buying one next year."

A few fans were thrilled at the result – the handful of Sri Lankans, naturally, who couldn’t help rubbing it in. Sharan Fernando says, "Very much thrilled, very much going to the next round. Who does India play next? Nobody!"

For the rest, it was a depressing day. A gloomy day in New York and a gloomier day still for Indian fans who gathered at an Australian restaurant  to watch India get eliminated from the World Cup 2007. 

Anirudh Bhattacharyya