Indian fans back New Zealand

An interesting Twitter war has erupted between cricket fans of India and those from Pakistan or the UAE just as the World Cup final between England and New Zealand is about to begin.

Surprisingly, the tweets show that Indian fans cutting across nations are willing to back New Zealand in today's match even though they were knocked out of the tournament by the Kiwis in the semifinals when they were beaten by 18 runs.

This has been triggered by an appeal by Jimmy Neesham, member of the New Zealand team, to Indian fans that if they did not want to see the match, they should sell their tickets without taking a profit to fans who want to be there today.

It is estimated that 41 per cent tickets for today have been booked by Indians fans in advance who were hoping to see India in the finals.

Neesham's request has created a virtual storm on Twitter with Indian fans saying they will be there on the ground to support the Black Caps (New Zealand) team.

It may be an anti-colonial reaction that Indians and nearly all Asians are against hosts England who have never won the Cup since the inception of the tournament.

Here is Neesham’s appeal:

"Dear Indian cricket fans. If you don't want to come to the final anymore then please be kind and resell your tickets via the official platform. I know it's tempting to try to make a large profit but please give all genuine cricket fans a chance to go, not just the wealthy," Neesham wrote on his Twitter handle.

The International Cricket Council has also come out with a 'return policy' wherein fans can get a full refund if they return their tickets.

The bitter war of words on Twitter shows Pakistan fans taking pot shots at Indian fans.

One of them wrote that Indians deliberately indulge in blocking tickets so that they could later make profit by selling them in black. But they should be forgiven because they need money to build toilets in their country.

To this, an Indian fan replied that India had created the biggest toilet which is called Pakistan.

The other retaliated that the biggest toilet in the world was New Delhi (India) and so this goes on and on.

Back in India, however, instead of taking it on the chin, the knives are out to pick the villain responsible for the defeat of the Indian team in the semifinals.

Fickle-minded cricket fans, who had been hailing the performance of the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, till the other day (he still remains the topmost ranked batsman), have suddenly started talking of handing over the baton to Rohit Sharma in the 50-overs format.

A similar sword hangs over the future of MS Dhoni, former Indian captain.

Most fans have started assuming that he may not be able to last another four years for the next World Cup in 2023. He is 38 now. People have also started speculating that he may join politics like Gautam Gambhir.

But Dhoni has loyal fans beyond cricket and eminent personalities people like Lata Mangeshkar have publicly appealed not even to think of retirement.

Dhoni has yet another huge fan in media baron Prannoy Roy who has praised him as the best cricketer, best leader and best human being.