AB and the fans' dilemma with delirium

The cricket aficionados of Bengaluru had enough reasons to fill up the Chinnaswamy Stadium on the first day of the second India-South Africa Test - Weekend, the Diwali holidays and India's 1-0 series lead. There was also the small matter of this being AB de Villiers' 100th Test match - a man, the city has grown to consider its own.

Yet, the dwindling patronage for Test cricket had been a genuine cause for concern. Tests in Colombo, Sharjah, and Mohali, in the last month, have mostly been played out in front of empty stands despite providing engrossing contests. The incessant rainfall received by the city in the build up to the Test hadn't helped. A member of the organising committee assured journalists of good attendance ahead of the game but the clouds hadn't reflected his positivity.

The first rendition of the 'ABD' chant is heard, a full one-and-a-half hours before start of play, when the security officials declare the stadium open for spectator entry. The next, with an increased amplitude, resonates from inside the stadium as the South African team break their huddle and split into teams for a round of 'foot tennis' right in front of the most populated stands, to the left of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) pavilion.

The eyes have zeroed in on the target. Now, every touch by de Villiers is met with vociferous appreciation and every mis-control attributed to a team-mate's inability to pass the ball properly. It is not enough for AB to just be good at golf, rugby, badminton, swimming, science and cricket. He has to be the best at foot tennis too. At this point, Virat Kohli and Co, going about their drills in a nondescript part of the ground, are conveniently ignored.

At the end of this exercise and a short fielding drill that follows, AB is summoned to a KSCA felicitation, where he will receive commemorative plaques for becoming the 63rd cricketer to feature in 100 Test matches. He breaks from the fielding group but not before raising an arm in acknowledgement of the crowd that has swelled significantly in number since he started the game. Cue for pandemonium.

The Indian cricket fans are satiated during the apparent inter-lull with Virat Kohli winning the toss and Ravichandran Ashwin, as is his wont, quickly prizing out a wicket in his first over. The South African fans in the pavilion stands have barely taken their seats in the eighth over when the stadium bursts into a roar of anticipation. Their joy is short-lived as Hashim Amla walks in to bat at No. 4.

Jacques Woldock, a botanist and lifelong South Africa fan, teases the Indian contingent with a Sachin Tendulkar reference: "You guys know a thing or two about cheering for the second wicket to fall, don't you?"

Not to be left behind, the Indian fans find their voice in Rahul Ramesh, an IT engineer and self-proclaimed biggest fan of Indian cricket who is eager to take on Jacques in a healthy round of banter.

"Should you really be wearing the 1992 World Cup jersey for a match that has rain forecast?" is met with "Don't tell me you didn't wish for rain at the Wankhede the other night?" Laughter all-round.

Varun Aaron ends this exchange in the crowd with a gorgeous delivery that sends Hashim Amla's off-stump cartwheeling. Brief silence and both the bantering parties now erupt in unison. A...B...D! A...B...D!! Nothing. Then the first sight of de Villiers as he climbs down the stairs from the dressing. The din reaches a crescendo, causing a bemused Jacques to retort: "You guys know that ain't Tendulkar right?!"

There is no time for banter now. That will come later. Now, Bengaluru wants to get its tickets worth. Kohli walks up to de Villiers and shakes his hands. "He is not retiring," Jacques quips as the master batsman walks to the non-striker end. Aaron's over has ended, AB won't be taking guard straight away.

The stadium braces itself as AB takes strike for the first time. The Indian fans' loyalty is now tested. The ABD chants continue to resonate but they are now interspersed with Ooohs and Aaahs. At times all three in quick succession; AB is beaten on the cut - Oooooh! AB hits the cut for four - Aaaah! A...B...D! A...B...D!!

This is new. Even in a cricket crazy India.

Bhavesh Bafna, a star drummer and a regular in this part of the world, gets into the act now. He joins the children on the top-tier stand and takes over every time he senses the crowd tiring. The crowd has cried itself hoarse by the end of the first session but finds its voice again when their man gets to 50 early in the next. "A 100 on the 100th Test would be special. Inzamam did it at the very ground ten years ago," says Rahul echoing several thoughts.

AB is going through the gears but he isn't getting any support from the other end. The spinners have South Africa in an almighty tangle on a track that isn't really doing anything out of the ordinary. The fans are behind India now. AB love will resume as he gets closer to that century.

But wait. Wriddhiman Saha has just pulled off an acrobatic catch off de Villiers and the umpires have referred the decision to the men equipped with technology. The crowd, 22600 in all, waits expectantly. They are going to celebrate either way. The decision goes in favour of India. They are firmly in control of the match now. The crowd erupt in joy before breaking into a rapturous applause. AB acknowledges the crowd with a raised bat as he makes his way back to the pavilion, 15 short of a century.

And that's Tea!