Jubilation fills city air as India clinch 3rd CT title
Bhubaneswar: The capital city burst into jubilant celebrations as India secured a thrilling four-wicket win against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday evening, ending a 12-year wait since their last triumph in 2013. The city streets lit up with fireworks as India lifted the coveted trophy.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the ‘men in blue’ displayed exceptional cricket throughout the tournament, culminating in a masterful performance in the final.
The city came to a virtual standstill during the match, with streets wearing a deserted look as cricket enthusiasts remained glued to their screens. Local clubs, restaurants and cafes transformed into makeshift viewing centres, offering special match-day promotions to attract viewers.
“India played well against New Zealand in the final. Captain Rohit Sharma set the tone of the match right from the beginning, showcasing great leadership skills,” said Aman Tripathy, a cricket fan.
The chase of 252 for India had its share of tense moments. “We were a bit anxious when the first three wickets fell in quick time. It was really tense,” said Vikrant Jena, manager of a popular city restaurant.
He said the middle order showed resilience. “The knock by Shreyas, Axar and then Rahul helped calm the nerves. They showed great determination in the middle overs,” Jena said.
The victory sparked spontaneous celebrations across the city, with youngsters organising community feasts to mark the occasion. “With the current form of the Indian players, we were confident of a win in the final against New Zealand,” said Krushna Puhan, who arranged a community celebration in Bomikhal.
Wishes poured in different quarters, with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and leader of the opposition Naveen Patnaik taking to their social media handles to congratulate the team for their tremendous victory.
The Sunday match added to the festive atmosphere, with families gathering to watch the game together. Many followed the action on their smartphones. The win reignited cricket fervour in the city, with celebrations expected to continue well into the week.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the ‘men in blue’ displayed exceptional cricket throughout the tournament, culminating in a masterful performance in the final.
The city came to a virtual standstill during the match, with streets wearing a deserted look as cricket enthusiasts remained glued to their screens. Local clubs, restaurants and cafes transformed into makeshift viewing centres, offering special match-day promotions to attract viewers.
“India played well against New Zealand in the final. Captain Rohit Sharma set the tone of the match right from the beginning, showcasing great leadership skills,” said Aman Tripathy, a cricket fan.
The chase of 252 for India had its share of tense moments. “We were a bit anxious when the first three wickets fell in quick time. It was really tense,” said Vikrant Jena, manager of a popular city restaurant.
He said the middle order showed resilience. “The knock by Shreyas, Axar and then Rahul helped calm the nerves. They showed great determination in the middle overs,” Jena said.
The victory sparked spontaneous celebrations across the city, with youngsters organising community feasts to mark the occasion. “With the current form of the Indian players, we were confident of a win in the final against New Zealand,” said Krushna Puhan, who arranged a community celebration in Bomikhal.
Wishes poured in different quarters, with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and leader of the opposition Naveen Patnaik taking to their social media handles to congratulate the team for their tremendous victory.
The Sunday match added to the festive atmosphere, with families gathering to watch the game together. Many followed the action on their smartphones. The win reignited cricket fervour in the city, with celebrations expected to continue well into the week.
