Bhubaneswar: The city broke into expansive celebrations on Sunday night after India thumped arch-rivals Pakistan by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup group stage match in Colombo, sealing a Super-8 spot.Cafés, malls and community screening spaces across the city witnessed euphoric scenes as ‘men in blue’ defended their score of 175 quite comfortably. The evening began with anxious anticipation when Pakistan chose to bowl first, but India’s steady batting performance lifted spirits in packed eateries in Patia, Saheed Nagar and Chandrasekharpur areas.By the time the bowling unit began tightening the screws in the second innings, the atmosphere turned electric. “The batting was awesome and the bowling was superb. The final overs had everyone on their feet,” said Subhajit Das, a fan at a Patia café.The winning moment sparked celebrations at Ram Mandir Square, Master Canteen and KIIT Road, where people poured onto the streets waving flags and bursting crackers. Traffic cops were briefly deployed at key junctions to regulate crowds.Café owners said they were prepared for a packed night but did not expect this level of energy. “People booked tables by 6 pm. Once India started defending the score well, the cheers kept getting louder,” said Sarthak Das, manager of a Jaydev Vihar restaurant.Not only restaurants and cafés, but also important market areas such as Unit I, Unit IV and other local markets saw people gathering in places and being glued to screens wherever they found one.Many fans said beating Pakistan after being put in to bat made the victory sweeter. “It shows character. We were under pressure from the first ball, but India handled it brilliantly,” said Rutuja Mishra, an IT professional from Infocity.The cricket fever is expected to soar as fans gear up for the next matches. “The men in blue proved their mettle. It is a win to remember,” said Bikash Jena, another fan.
