We realised yesterday that there was an India vs England Twenty20 match happening in Mumbai that evening. There were lots of noticeable England fans staying in our hotel (the Barmy Army as they are known back home). At breakfast I had even overheard one of them say something that implied the England team were staying in our hotel.

I’m perfectly happy to admit that I’m not a sports fan. I don’t follow any teams or participate, but Michael is very keen on cricket. Being a supportive husband, I have escorted him to a few test matches before (where I was laughed at by him for reading a garden magazine rather than watch the match with more interest). I thought that seeing a cricket match in India was something he’d really enjoy, so we decided we’d try and buy some tickets. It didn’t start until 7pm so we would have time to watch it before we caught a taxi to catch our 11.10pm overnight train.

As with everything else in India, you had to buy the tickets online. I got the site up and showed Mike the plan of the stadium with the available tickets as I wouldn’t know where the best seats to watch the game would be. He indicated which block he preferred, then I looked at the tickets. That’ll be £400 each!!! Yes £ not Rupees! I suggested a cheaper alternative, which we agreed on. Tickets were purchased and they were to be couriered to the hotel later that day. Strange that having been forced to buy them online, they weren’t sent as e-tickets, but there you go.

When we returned to the hotel later that day it was clear something (or someone) was a foot. They had cordoned off part of the lobby and crowds were gathered behind the tape, phones clutched in hands ready to catch a photo. Sure enough, the rumour turned out to be true. The England cricket team were in our hotel. It was a bit of a wait but eventually they emerged from the lift to board their coach to the ground (which was only a 15 minute walk from the hotel). I took some picture but I really have no idea who any of them are. There were an American couple stood next to me and there conversation could have summed up me. One said ‘well I guess they must be famous’ and the other replied ‘yep, and they do look quite sporty’.

Tracking down our ticket delivery turned into a faff. Reception said they weren’t there, they sent me to the business centre on the 34th floor. The business centre didn’t have them, eventually they were tracked down to the bell desk in the lobby. Tickets in hand we set off to walk to the stadium. Getting in also turned into a faff – I’m sure Michael will write more on that, so I’ll just say I had to return to the hotel to deposit our ‘contraband’ items. I then had to return to the stadium – I was certainly getting my steps in.

Finally inside the stadium I got to experience the atmosphere of an Indian cricket match. Back in the UK my experience of cricket has generally been test matches – a much more sedate business; players in whites, polite crowds, all very English. Not here, it was raucous. The crowds were loud and euphoric. It felt like a party atmosphere – particularly for the Indians after they’d thrashed England. I messaged my brother back in the UK to see if he was watching the match on tv as he likes cricket, too – he was. He messaged back to say he’d seen us flash up on the screen! I have yet to see photographic proof of this yet – but if it’s true, how cool is that! I don’t think I’ll become a regular, but I’m glad we got to experience it – and Michael was a very happy boy (in spite of the result).