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World Cup Fan zone: Welcome to the biggest party at MCG!

March 19, 2015 10:24 IST

Indian fans

 

Team India is the most watched and heavily scrutinised team in world cricket and the thousands of fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground proved that pressure to perform would surely be on the defending champions in Thursday's World Cup quarter-final against Bangladesh.

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Indian fans

 

For India, the weight of expectation can sometimes be overbearing. They have been feted like rockstars at every match they have played during the tournament and a crowd of 80,000 flocked to the MCG for Thursday's sudden-death encounter.

Indian fans

 

With the weight of expectation of the world's second most populated country on their shoulders, India's players could hardly be any more relaxed.

Artists perform

 

Melbourne Cricket Ground was covered in sea of Indian flags. Every single game that India have played in the World Cup has been like a home game for them.

India fans

 

The Indian support came from all corners of the world.

The World Cup grounds were covered in sea of Indian flags and shirts. As usual the drums and the conches were out in full force which made the dancing inevitable.

Bangladesh fans

 

The team is riding the wave and the energy the fans are bringing to each game and are using it to great advantage.

India fans

 

The performance of the bowling unit has been a revelation so far in the tournament, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the key to this aspect has been bowling to the right areas.

Bangladesh fans

 

Bangladesh famously beat India at the 2007 World Cup but have beaten their great rivals just once since then and their fans believe history will not repeat itself on Thursday.

Rediff Sports Desk