Four reasons why every cricket fan must watch a match live in the stadium

It was poetic to watch Virat Kohli produce yet another masterclass from the Sachin Tendulkar stand at the Wankhede. And yet, I can’t quite describe yet in words. It's just the kind of experience that you would only understand if you were there.

While the West Indies finally managed to get the better of India. the Ind-WI semifinal was a treat for spectators, especially those who were in the stadium. Here are 4 reasons that make the stadium viewing experience a must for every cricket fan.

#1 A one-of-a-kind carnival

Placards always have formed a big part of the in-stadium experience.

From vendors selling vuvuzelas, jerseys and other merchandise, to the fans in the stadium with their colourful signs the experience is certainly one-of-a-kind. Add to it the festive mood and a sea of blue around the stadium and the stadium becomes nothing less than a carnival. It can get chaotic, but that’s what makes it truly entertaining and a unique experience.

#2 The view

A view of the ground from the stands.

There was no shortage of fans cheering on Team India.

No matter how good your camera, it can never really capture the feel of the stadium view. A top view of the lush green grass, with your heroes just a few feet away from you, is quite a surreal experience. No matter how good TV broadcasting gets with its various angles and spider cams, it can never come close to giving you the feel of the real thing.

#3 Strangers turned friends

There are no strangers in the stadium.

Making new friends along the way is what life is all about. And a few with whom you might even like to get framed with.

Whoever said India is a cricket-crazy nation must have visited an Indian stadium at least once! Thousands of fans around you, chanting with you, singing and screaming coherently, is a magical experience.

If cricket is a religion, the stadium is the place of worship. You connect with complete strangers, whose names you will never know, and find friends in them, all here for the love of the game. From wild cheering to critical analysis, to hope beyond hope, you share a wide myriad of emotions with thousands of people you will never see again. We’re not the same, but we’re one

#4 Realising what it means to be Indian

The pride of being an Indian is etched is some faces.

The Indian flag flying all around.

We all claim to love our country, and sometimes we may believe it, sometimes not. But on occasions like this, you realise how attuned we are; how much it matters that our country wins.

From the one minute silence for the national anthem and the roar after it ends; from the chants of ‘India jeetega’, to singing along to the chorus of ‘Vande Mataram’ it makes us all come together. The giant Indian flags unfurling around the stadium will bring a sense of the occasion and the pride and you will be filled with goosebumps when you realise how lucky you are to have experienced this. It’s the kind of thing that truly makes us united, even if it’s for a little while.

The brand new Oppo F1 T20 Special Edition selfie phone.