Pune Prepares for Historic India vs. Bangladesh World Cup Clash on October 19

Pune is abuzz with excitement as it braces for a historic moment in cricket history. Next week, the city will host its maiden World Cup match, with India taking on Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Gahunje on Thursday.

The Indian cricket team’s arrival at Pune airport on Sunday, at around 4:30 PM, marked the beginning of the cricketing fever that has gripped the city. A day earlier, the Bangladesh cricket team had landed in Pune, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. India’s arrival followed their impressive victory over Pakistan by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

According to information from the venue manager, the Indian team will be accommodated at JW Marriott on SP Road, while the Bangladesh team will be staying at the Conrad hotel. “The team left Ahmedabad earlier today and arrived in Pune in preparation for the upcoming match scheduled for October 19. The team manager has stated that there are no planned media interactions or public engagements at this time. Both teams will commence their practice sessions after a one-day rest, starting from Tuesday,” he confirmed.

As the Indian team disembarked from their flight at the airport, eager fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes and give them a warm welcome. The joy and excitement on the faces of the crowd were palpable, especially after the spirited clash between India and Pakistan. Fans enthusiastically greeted the team with resounding chants of “India, India” and “well-played.”

In an interesting note, the Indian cricket coach, Rahul Dravid, and K L Rahul were the first to emerge from the airport, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma followed the rest of the Indian team. Cricket enthusiasts were seen capturing the moments on camera and taking photos of the players.

India’s journey in the 2023 World Cup has been impressive, marked by a seven-wicket victory against Pakistan. With this triumph, India has secured three wins, having previously defeated Australia and Afghanistan in the past week. Currently, India stands as one of only three undefeated teams in the tournament, alongside New Zealand and South Africa. Furthermore, India has claimed the top spot in the standings by bolstering their net run rate (NRR) higher than that of New Zealand.

While cricket fans were delighted to welcome the Indian squad at Pune Airport, they missed the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma, who opted for a discreet exit via Mumbai from within the airport terminal.

While other team members exited the terminal building and boarded a bus to their hotel, Kohli and Sharma were not seen outside, leaving hundreds of fans disappointed.