Huge billboards of Indian stars are on view as one enters the central business districts in Bengaluru. The World Cup fever has already gripped the nation, and if the Eden Gardens fails to get the India-England game back, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium would be ready to lap it up.
A huge countdown board welcomes you while making way into the stadium, which is in the heart of the city.
The ground which has played host to many epic battles in the past, including a classic quarter final between India and Pakistan in the 1996 World Cup, is one of the few venues that has not undergone any structural changes ahead of the World Cup.
The last few months have seen some frantic work after Anil Kumble took over as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in November.
Amongst the several changes incorporated is the drainage system which has undergone a massive facelift.
Although March doesn't fall within the rainy season in South India, the officials have left no stone unturned in upgrading the drainage facilities, by installing several pumps underneath the playing surface to prevent puddles of water in the eventuality of a heavy downpour.
Following the ICC pitch inspection committee's displeasure over the worn-out pitch and the shabby outfield, the entire playing surface has been redeveloped.
The pavilion has been redesigned and now bears a modern look, at par with the best in the world. Player comfort has been given top priority as the interiors have been spruced up to give it a grand look.
The hospitality boxes and the member's area, which previously bore plastic chairs, have now been installed with bucket seats. The player's area has been made large enough with a separate room for dining, physio and the umpires. The number of toilets and the showers has also been increased.
Spectator comfort has been specifically looked into. Huge concrete galleries adjacent to the main pavilion block will seat spectators on plastic chairs as compared to being seated on steps before.
With two giant screens on opposite sides to give live scores and replays, the spectators will not miss any of the action unfolding in the middle.
In a stadium which is slightly congested for space, Anil Kumble has done admirably well in restructuring the media enclosure.
A new section for print and broadcast journalists is on the way up towards the old electronic scoreboard opposite the pavilion block, in addition to the existing facility for the media below the commentary box.
New media enclosure is expected to seat 200 journalists, who would have access to high-speed internet and excellent dining facilities.
The floodlights have also received an upgrade for the first time since they were installed ahead of the 1996 edition. Lights on all four towers have been replaced. The floodlights will be run off the generators with full back-up, in case of any minor hiccup.
When the fixtures were announced for the mega-event, there was heavy lobbying within the KSCA. It was stated that the games allotted to the city involved only minnows.
The association had also expressed interest to stage a high profile match, given that Bengaluru is an important centre.
The mood in the city seems to have improved after news emerged that Bengalore could emerge as a potential host to the high-voltage clash between India and England if it were to be moved from the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Fans have shown eagerness for tickets, with the official web ticketing partners receiving a significant number of enquiries on the availability of tickets for the match.
Fans in the city are rejoicing in the knowledge that the city will get to witness an important game involving the hosts and tournament favorites India.
The association has also gleefully accepted the decision to host a game, which could set the ball rolling.
The only matter of concern, however, would be the security.
The Bengaluru police and private security agencies will be wary of miscreants and anti-social elements trying to disrupt proceedings. After the IPL incident, which saw both semi-finals being shifted out of Bengaluru, we hope the lessons have been learnt.
The Chinnaswamy stadium is scheduled to host four matches, but only one involving India.
They play Ireland on March 6. The other matches in the City are England v Ireland (March 2), Australia v Kenya (March 13) and Australia v Canada (March 16).
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