Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium is also known as Kaloor Stadium. Kochi cricket stadium is an international stadium in Kochi, Kerala. It has a capacity of 70,000 spectators and it is the third largest stadium in India after the Eden Gardens and Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The stadium was built by the Government of Kerala with Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) in 1996.
The stadium is basically a multipurpose stadium hosting football games,exhibitions and award functions apart from cricket. Two years back the whole stadium was reconstructed with new seats,flood lights,grass and new pitches. The floodlight system which was done by Philips which cost around 4 crores can illuminate the ground for high definition TV broadcasting.
The photos in the gallery was taken way back in 2005 when India played Pakistan. Actually I went to Kochi to write my entrance exams which was scheduled on the day after the match day. When the results came, I scored a numerically huge rank, damn. But the match worth watching because India won. Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag scored centuries and Sachin took 5 wickets. And one big six hit by Sehwag was almost caught by me.
Apart from the cricket, nothing was enjoyable on the ground. It was a full capacity crowd and there was no food and water supply and the summer sun was beating down on us. When the match was at halfway, me and my two other friends ventured out in search of food. The only thing available was Biriyani and Vellappam (a kerala delicacy). Since the biriyani was over priced at Rs.100 ( normal biriyani costs around Rs.50),we decided to have Vellappam and Green Peas. The meal wasn't great but we were left with no choice.
The game ended and then was the drama. When we all went out of the stadium there was a stack of food packets in front of the stadium and it was about my height. Yes, it was the Hyderabad Biriyani. The officials failed to supply them to the VIP box and other audience and the result was, everything was left for us to take for free. I grabbed a few packs, my friends also did their best (even though our shirts were spoiled) and by the way there were ice creams too. I never ate that much ice cream ever since, it's a record and i couldn't feel my tongue after that. Amidst the commotion i also managed to see Harbhajan, Sachin and a few other Pakistan cricketers in close. I waved my hands to Sachin, he smiled and waved back to me (I never saw the thousands waving behind me). We got to the hotel room, unpacked the biriyani bags and let me tell you, that was the worst biriyani I have ever had in my life. It smelled weird and looked expired.No wonder it was not needed in the VIP box. In the end I was made to be satisfied with the few Gulab Jamuns in it and flushed the rest in the toilet ( there was no other way for waste disposal, I tried throwing it through the window, unfortunately a chicken piece fell close to a pedestrian, so I aborted the plan).
Apart from the cricket, nothing was enjoyable on the ground. It was a full capacity crowd and there was no food and water supply and the summer sun was beating down on us. When the match was at halfway, me and my two other friends ventured out in search of food. The only thing available was Biriyani and Vellappam (a kerala delicacy). Since the biriyani was over priced at Rs.100 ( normal biriyani costs around Rs.50),we decided to have Vellappam and Green Peas. The meal wasn't great but we were left with no choice.
The game ended and then was the drama. When we all went out of the stadium there was a stack of food packets in front of the stadium and it was about my height. Yes, it was the Hyderabad Biriyani. The officials failed to supply them to the VIP box and other audience and the result was, everything was left for us to take for free. I grabbed a few packs, my friends also did their best (even though our shirts were spoiled) and by the way there were ice creams too. I never ate that much ice cream ever since, it's a record and i couldn't feel my tongue after that. Amidst the commotion i also managed to see Harbhajan, Sachin and a few other Pakistan cricketers in close. I waved my hands to Sachin, he smiled and waved back to me (I never saw the thousands waving behind me). We got to the hotel room, unpacked the biriyani bags and let me tell you, that was the worst biriyani I have ever had in my life. It smelled weird and looked expired.No wonder it was not needed in the VIP box. In the end I was made to be satisfied with the few Gulab Jamuns in it and flushed the rest in the toilet ( there was no other way for waste disposal, I tried throwing it through the window, unfortunately a chicken piece fell close to a pedestrian, so I aborted the plan).
