Hyderabad Buzz: City celebrates Twenty20 victory

Hyderabad: The city erupted in joy and celebrated India’s win over Pakistan in the final of the first Twenty20 World Cup with fireworks, motorcycle rallies and silent prayers late on Monday night.

Sending a message that India will not be cowed down by terrorism exported from across the border, several youth took the celebrations to the sites of the August 25 twin blasts — Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat, Koti.

During the final few overs, the city roads were virtually empty, bringing back memories of the curfew. And minutes after the match-deciding catch was taken by speedster Sreesanth, the city kicked off a night-long party with major celebrations at Banjara Hills, Necklace Road, Tank Bund, Koti, Abids, Charminar and Secunderabad.

When Pak’s Misbahul-Haq tried to hit Joginder Sharma over wicketkeeper Dhoni for a six, a million hearts missed a beat, but the Kerala speedster latched on to the catch in the short fine leg, giving India victory and sweet revenge over arch rivals Pakistan.

Several hundred youth took to the streets for a double treat, Ganesh immersion and India’s victory. At least 300 motorcycle-borne youth, carrying the tricolour, did rounds of Koti, while a motley crowd descended on Nagarjuna Circle in Punjagutta shouting ‘Jeetgaya bhai jeetgaya, India jeetgaya’ in praise of Dhoni’s men in blue.

On Road No. 13 Banjara Hills, about 10 boys burst crackers, while on Necklace Road speeding youth were seen holding aloft the national flag whistling, blowing trumpets and shouting merrily.

At Chaitanyapuri in Dilsukhnagar, Nalgonda crossroads and Malakpet it was Diwali on the roads with several hundred youth, some of them even shirtless mimicking Dhoni, danced in gay abandon and bursting crackers. Police had a tough time controlling them as they were obstructing free flow of traffic, but the men in khaki too were in a celebratory mood so allowed them to indulge in the festivities for some time.

Riding on their two-wheeler with the national tri-colour aloft at Madhapur, Jagadish and his friend could not stop their anxiety. “I was supposed to attend evening shift, but I bunked office just to watch the match,” Jagadish, an employee of HP Technologies, told media.

Well, some others celebrated by distributing sweets and cutting cakes. Several residential apartments and complexes were abuzz with celebrations as the residents greeted and danced.