Absence of key players in Guwahati ODI disappoints cricket fans

GUWAHATI - Cricket fans expressed disappointment over key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni being rested for the first One Day International (ODI) against the touring New Zealand team here on Sunday.

“There is no public. The public was more when the India-Australia match was held. The proper team has not come. Sachin, Sehwag, Dhoni are not there. So, that’s why the public is not here,” said Tuffan Baspor, a cricket fan.

A vendor outside the stadium too shared similar thoughts and mentioned his sales have gone down due to the lack of spectators at the stadium.

“There is no crowd and many players are missing. Dhoni, Sehwag and Sachin have not come and the anxiousness about cricket is not there too. People are not even keen on cricket as it was before. The crowd is really less due to the absence of Dhoni, Sehwag and Sachin,” said Sunny Baspor, a vendor outside the stadium.

Opener Gautam Gambhir is leading the Indian team in the first two ODIs against New Zealand in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The second one-day international will take place in Jaipur on December 1. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)