Hyderabad wooed
By Sehwag and Sachin

Virender Sehwag: the crowd demanded runs and he obliged • AFP
If Laxman was like a kid who got his toy, Hyderabadi cricket lovers were like kids lost in a toy shop. So much to take home. After waiting 22 years for it to happen, there was no excuse to miss this Test.
India. Undoubtedly. Against any other team, I'd have supported New Zealand, especially if Nathan Astle - one of my favourite batsmen - were to feature in it. But not today.
I had to ditch Groucho Marx and Joseph Heller, because the security officials didn't allow anything inside, including books. I had to leave behind the music of Kishore Kumar and co too, because no electronic gadgets were permitted. Thankfully, Sehwag ensured I didn't miss them too much.
Virender Sehwag. The spectators and Viru seemed to have an interesting relationship - they demanded, he obliged and they demanded some more. They wanted him to hit every ball to boundary and he tried to do nothing but that.
Sehwag's straight six. I had wanted an upper-cut six so that it would land in our stand but this shot was no less of a treat.
Sehwag's dismissal for 96. After a moment of shock, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. A few deliveries later, Gambhir was out. Two quick wickets. Two well-set openers gone. But no one gave a damn because they were too busy holding their breath, waiting for the first glimpse of God.
The Hyderabadis were vociferous, with high energy levels even after sitting under a very harsh sun. When Chris Martin came to field at long-on after his over, the crowd applauded him for his performance in the last match. Kids begged, demanded and yelled to get an autograph from him. But he remained unmoved, giving the crowd a reason to tease him.
An unparalleled experience. A priceless experience. I just hope that there's a Laxman or a Viru or a Zaheer in the making, among the kids who were lucky enough to watch their heroes.
9. Sehwag's batting and the few moments when Sachin walked out to bat made up for the facilities that were so poor that there wasn't even drinking water to be had. But when you've had the chance to see God, nothing else bothers.
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Purnima Tammireddy is a software engineer in Hyderabad, an off-campus MS student of BITS Pilani and a co-admin of a book website, pustakam.net but she prefers to be identified as a cricket maniac. She has never played the game but hasn't missed a chance to watch, discuss or read anything related to it. Cricket's been her love for almost two decades now and the affair is still going strong.