Ahmedabad: Hours before the most-awaited ICC One-Day International (ODI) World Cup 2023 final on ‘Super Sunday, an ocean of blue was seen marching towards Motera, the Narendra Modi Stadium, where Rohit Sharma and Co will look to avoid the repeat of 2003 World Cup tragedy when Team India lost to Australia in the summit clash.
Fans shared glimpses from outside and inside the stadium on social media. It seems as if the entire city is moving in one direction with the streets leading to the stadium’s main entry gate lined with sellers of counterfeit India jerseys.
Goosebumps🔥🔥 Outside Narendra Modi Stadium for the World Cup Final 🏆🏆#INDvAUS #MSDhoni #DoltTibara #Ahmedabad #WorldcupFinal #Formula1 #IndiaVsAustralia #TaylorSwift #Shami #Modi #ViratKohli𓃵 #RohithSharma𓃵 pic.twitter.com/Avdt5w2tay
— Ankit Khanna (@ankit_khanna) November 19, 2023
“THE SEA OF BLUE”💙🇮🇳🔥
The 12th Players of Indian Cricket Team at outside of Narendra Modi Stadium 🏟️#INDvAUS #ODIWorldCup2023 #ICCWorldCup2023 #INDvsAUS #WorldcupFinal #INDvsAUSfinalpic.twitter.com/jvPX76pWyM
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) November 19, 2023
Crazy environment at Narendra Modi Stadium.
Cricket is like a religion in India. #WorldcupFinal
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) November 19, 2023
Absolutely nuts outside the Narendra Modi Stadium. Never seen anything like this. #INDvAUS #CWC23Final#INDvsAUSfinal #WorldcupFinal #Worldcupfinal2023 #INDvsAUS#INDvAUS #INDvsAUSfinal#100CrorekaCup #NarendraModiStadium
#CWC2023Final pic.twitter.com/oUFEiHTlkQ— santosh (@Workplazaindia) November 19, 2023
Incredible visuals at Narendra Modi stadium.
– The Madness and Craze of Team India…!!!!🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Jt4a9ywLto
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) November 19, 2023
Team India leaves for the Narendra Modi Stadium from the hotel.#NarendraModiStadium #India#WorldcupFinal #Ahmedabad#CWC23Final #INDvsAUSfinal #INDvAUS #WorldCup2023Final pic.twitter.com/6b48BnSuP4
— Vikrant Gupta (@VikrantGupta73_) November 19, 2023
The final ceremony is expected to be an high-octane affair with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni in attendance. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has also arrived in Ahmedabad for the clash of titans.
A crowd of 130,000 are expected to cheer for Team India from the stadium, with 70,000 or more fans having flown in from different parts of India and a few thousands from UK, USA, Australia, Canada and Singapore. At least 20 charter flights with dignitaries, politicians, businessmen and Bollywood personalities have landed in Ahmedabad for the game.
Anushka Sharma has already reached Ahmedabad, accompanied by her adorable daughter Vamika.
Anushka Sharma with Vamika at Ahmedabad Airport 😍❤️
(Dm me aake without emoji mt magna)🗿👍🏻#viratkohli #anushkasharma pic.twitter.com/uU7IUUHQR5— 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣🥂 (@wrogn_edits) November 17, 2023
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were clicked at a private airport in Mumbai en route to Ahmedabad. Ranveer posed in his Team India jacket and cap, expressing his excitement for the big match. Deepika arrived at the airport with her father Prakash Padukone. She was also seen sporting the Team India jersey.
Ayushmann Khurrana took to his Instagram stories and shared, “Going to see the India vs Australia World Cup finals at the spectacular Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad with a lot of hope in my heart. I don’t think any Indian has forgotten 2003. So, this is a grudge match… Come on India let’s bring it home again boys!”
The Indian Air Force’s Suryakiran Acrobatic team will perform an airshow after the toss and before the start of the final match. Aditya Gadhvi of famed Khalaasi (or Gotilo), Bollywood music composer Pritam, singers Jonita Gandhi, Nakash Aziz, Akasa Joshi, Tushar Joshi, and Amit Mishra are set to make the final a star-studded event.