The team hotel is just across from the Gateway of India monument, from where the spectacle of an ICC branded bus pulling up seemed to inspire a mass change of heart over what constitutes a worthwhile day of sightseeing, hundreds of people catapulting the fences, steaming across the four-lane road and forming a cheering press - the appearance of Trent Boult caused an outbreak of Beatlemania-style squeals - held back at one end by a commendably patient duo of stick-wielding policemen.
It was at least confirmation that New Zealand are definitely in the country, an actual functioning elite national team about to play a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, as opposed to just a necessary piece of staging, another prop in India's march towards Indian glory in this, the World Cup of India.
Have any host nation ever been such powerful favourites to progress at the sharp end of an International Cricket Council tournament? Or indeed, required to operate under such a concerted weight of brainmangling pressure (answer: no)? At which point things start to get interesting.
"India Seek a Perfect 11" was the headline in the Times of India yesterday. And why not, with nine wins already stashed away at this World Cup? Except of course without meaning to be a drag, they haven't actually got to 10 yet.
An accompanying preview of all four semi-final teams listed India's weaknesses as "there aren't any".
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 15, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 15, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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