Dhoni fever at Kalyani, almost a holiday at schools

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni at Kalyani on Tuesday. Image Source: XtraTime

Sabyasachi Bagchi, Kalyani: The small township of Kalyani have tasted the flavor of Dhoni fever as more than thousand fans came to watch the best finisher of the world in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Tuesday.

Such was the MS-fever that the Kalyani University Experimental High School which is next to the boundary rope just opposite of the academy declared a virutal ‘holiday’ as the students were seen leaving their classes and shouting ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ from the rooftop and nearby building structures.

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There were some great scenes outside the main gate near B-Block, Jamtala where thousands of Dhoni supporters gathered since hours before the match began at 9 am to get an entry. But only a lucky few hundreds who managed to get the Cricket Association of Bengal-issued free ‘gate pass’ distributed by the Kalyani Municipality.

But the crowd had to return disappointed without seeing Dhoni bat with Ishank Jaggi (116 not out) and Saurabh Tiwary (102 not out) sealing a 78-run win with 22 balls to spare. The frustration grew to such an extent that the spectators started trolling Tiwary with sloganeering of “Saurabh Tiwary Hai, Hai,” as Dhoni later came on the field after the match and waved at the crowd.

The CAB had claimed to have distributed 2000 free gate passes but according to local sources there were about 1000 passes out of which only 700 were given to the Kalyani Municipality.

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Denied entry, the frustrated spectators were seen pleading the security officials for entry and as the match progressed and when Dhoni came into bat there was pure madness outside the main gate.

“Only (political) party people who are known to the local councillors have managed to get passes. We had queued since morning yesterday but could not get a single pass,” a 25-year-old Dhoni fan sporting a Team India jersey said pleading for passes.

With the academy surrounded by several residential buildings, all the terraces were seen packed where some unique arrangements were made by installing giant umbrellas to protect them from the afternoon heat.

Many were also seen climbing on the fences to perch themselves on trees and some old buildings as police had a tough time in managing the crowd.

Dhoni will return to Kalyani on March 6 to play another match of Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the fans didn’t want to wait that longer. After the match more than 200 fans gathered at the Bengal Cricket Academy and chanted the name ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’. After that the local police and RAF moved aside the mass crowd and then the bus left the Stadium for Kolkata.

“I returned home late last night and in the morning I was asked to be on duty here. I managed to shave hurriedly and rushed to the venue by 8 am. Anytime an accident can happen here, we have to be vigilant,” an assistant police sub-inspector posted at the venue said.

The Nadia district administration arranged a heavy police arrangement for the Dhoni match with 200 personnel who included state police, combat force and private security.