Delhi: Before the commencement of the current India -England series, there was a discussion in many places that after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, the popularity of the series will be affected. It was even said that TRP and gate money will fall. Nothing like this happened and like the first three Tests, the Old Trafford Stadium is also packed. The England and Wales Cricket Board themselves also suspected, only then, believe that not in the team, not in the team, a few days before the Test, the posters who were installed to promote the series outside the Old Trafford Stadium were Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana and Kagiso Rabada’s pictures, to promote the three series of England.

Manchester is very famous for its Indian connection anyway. It is said that most of the overseas Indians live here in the UK. The Indian city of Kanpur was called ‘Manchester of India’ for its amazing industrial development during the British Raj. Ranjitsinghji, even though he never played Tests for India, he was Indian and made his Test debut in Old Trafford in 1896. When Syed Mushtaq Ali made 100 in the Test played here in 1936, the first Indian was made to make Tests 100 abroad.

Evidence of the connection was also found during this test. In 1968, when English cricket opened the doors for foreign players, Farooq Engineer played for the club of Lakshire County whose headquarters are in this Old Trafford Stadium. He played for 9 seasons, the County Club gave him the benefit of 10 years on the 9th year.

It was the effect of Farooq’s popularity there that he had received a record amount at that time. Clive Lloyd was then the second foreign player of the county and the team became very strong in limited over cricket with both of them and won many titles. That is why a stand in the name of these two was inaugurated before the current Test started here. Farooq Engineer remained there, married and later became the vice president of the club.

In March this year, a new Indian commercial center was inaugurated at Old Trafford. In particular, Manchester was chosen for this. Given the popularity of the India-Pakistan match played here during the 2019 World Cup, this city looked like another city in India. Believe that the then County Club Chief David Hodgets, seeing the enthusiasm in the ground, said that he would like that one day, everyone in India should feel that Lakshire is also his favorite team.

You will be surprised to know that Lenksire Club cricket is getting streaming in India on Jio TV on his own channel. There was a networking program in Bangalore to increase tourism in Manchester, when Selling Old Trafford’s The Hundred team, the County Club said that an IPL franchise became the league partner. The wish was fulfilled and RPSG won a 70% stake in Manchester Originals.

Last year, ticket sales in Sri Lanka’s Test were very bad, but this time the test is completing that stone unturned. On the first day of the Test, when there was a long line outside the stadium, the club was accused that his focus was so much that he had forgotten the local audience.

In 1990, Sachin Tendulkar made his first Test 100 here at the age of 17. In the same stadium, when he chose Man of the Match after that 100, he got a champagne bottle at the award. Also warning that age is low and they cannot open it right now. Sunil Gavaskar, after scoring 4 centuries in the debut series, waited for 4 years for the next century and scored his 5th century here. The current test will also prove to be a link to such memories.