Parched fans suffer from dehydration, giddiness in Pune

THE prelude to the Mumbai-Pune expressway is dotted with high-rise buildings in various stages of construction. Some of them are half done while some of the others are ready for occupation.

- Swaroop Swaminathan

On Thursday, at about 8.30 AM, the entrance to most of these construction sites was filled with vendors hawking India jerseys at knockdown prices.

The fans, en route to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, a venue constructed next door to the expressway, were busy bargaining with vendors. At 8.30 AM, their eyes were filled with hope. Will I get to watch a Virat Kohli cover drive? Can I catch a glimpse of a Rohit Sharma pull for six? Will Jasprit Bumrah entertain me with another rousing spell?

Three hours later, scores of these fans were fighting for something more fundamental. Access to drinking water. Because parts of the stadium had run out of drinking water around lunch time on Day One of the second Test between India and New Zealand. What compounded matters were the afternoon heat as well as the lack of a roof over vast parts of the facility. It left fans having symptoms consistent with dehydration, giddiness or sun stroke.