Chetan Sharma and Ajay Mehra start commentating in Hindi. The diction is clearer than the commentators we saw during the India-Australia Test at Bengaluru. Then comes former India Women’s team captain Anjum Chopra. She starts describing colossal, into-the-orbit sixes in English. An over finishes. The wicketkeeper changes ends. But commentators still keep analysing the match, for there are no advertisements. The match is being aired on Doordarshan Sports. The memories of watching matches on black-and-white TV sets in 80s and 90s are revived. If anything, the contest makes us nostalgic. But if only we see Nirma or Lux advertisements between overs…
The match is being played at Greater Noida Sports Complex. It does not even have a roof. There is not even a screen to display the TV umpire’s decision. Instead, there are the parallelly-placed, age-old green and red lights. The batsman falls short of the crease, the red light blazes, and the crowd bursts into cheer. Yo Afghanistan cricket so cool - Cricket Country