AADAM PATEL: When India play, Mumbai stops to watch… and after their most emphatic win yet against Sri Lanka, Cricket World Cup victory is EXPECTED

• India pulled off a 302-run demolition against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium 
• The ground has been described as a place for ‘true fans’ by captain Sharma 
• Host nation are seen as champions-in-waiting as anticipation builds and builds  

To walk along the streets of South Mumbai is to feel the pulse of Indian cricket.

In these parts, they call Mumbai the heartbeat of the game.

Forget Lord’s they say. This is the real home of cricket.

Here, the Oval, Cross and Azad Maidans all lie within touching distance of each other.

They are Mumbai’s fields of dreams where those of all ages and abilities play the game.

India thrashed Sri Lanka in an emphatic 302-run win at the atmospheric Wankhede Stadium

The venerable stadium in Mumbai could arguably be the home of the game – and is the heartbeat of Indian cricket

Fans have turned out in their number to spur on a sensational side that could yet clinch the title

In the distance, you can see the floodlights of the Wankhede Stadium. Close enough for those youngsters to dream of what could be. Close enough to hear the roar from inside when India come to town.

As if they are the Harlem Globetrotters, India are travelling around this cricket-mad nation with games at every venue to give as many of the 1.4 billion population the chance to see their heroes in action. Thus far, they haven’t disappointed.

On Thursday, their World Cup juggernaut landed in Mumbai in the most destructive fashion as they bowled Sri Lanka out for 55 to record their largest ever World Cup victory. It made England’s feeble score of 129 in Lucknow on Sunday look slightly more respectable.

With seven wins out of seven, India are yet to show even a sign of weakness and this 302-run victory was the most emphatic yet.

The tournament slogan says ‘It Takes One Day’ but it took India the best part of just under two hours to clean up Chris Silverwood’s side as the trio of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah caused carnage with the new ball. At one stage, the scoreboard read four wickets for three runs and between them, Sri Lanka’s top five scored just two runs.

Relentlessly, the crowd roared the Indian seamers in for every single delivery, baying for blood and celebrating each wicket like it was their last. The Sri Lankans were helpless in the face of bowling of the highest class.

The crowd on Thursday were treated to bowling of the highest order against hapless Sri Lanka

There is a growing anticipation that India are champions-in-waiting ahead of the knockout ties

Mumbai paused to take in the atmosphere inside the ground and the result has reverberated around the country

Not that it was required but Virat Kohli hyped up the crowd even further only to be met with chants of ‘Kohli ko bowling do’, calling for him to bowl.

Day by day, the anticipation is growing here. They don’t just believe they are going to win the World Cup. They expect to win it. The 30,000 fortunate to be inside this famous old ground filtered out and on to Marine Drive knowing they had witnessed something special. But the manner of this win would have reverberated across the country.

Already there is a sense of inevitability about the destiny of this World Cup from the way the hosts are going about their business. Wherever you go in India, the game is ever present. From rickshaw drivers watching the tournament while on the road to players of today and yesteryear emblazoned high on advertising billboards. Even at the games without India, the stands are filled with Indian shirts. And when India play, it is a nation that comes to a standstill.

As this reporter filmed a dozen or so police officers outside the Wankhede sat watching India bat on their phones, one of the senior officers got up and kindly asked if the footage could be deleted — almost out of embarrassment.

India’s next stop is Kolkata for a blockbuster clash against South Africa but they will expect to top the standings and return to Mumbai in a fortnight, for a World Cup semi-final as their festival goes on. The locals here say how it is a great shame that the final of this tournament will take place in Ahmedabad in the soulless Narendra Modi Stadium. No surprise given that it is the hometown of India’s prime minister.

But this was a night for the soul and to remind this nation of the epicentre of Indian cricket.

The Wankhede is a cricketing sanctuary with stands named after Mumbai legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Merchant and Sachin Tendulkar. Many of those greats started on the Maidans.

It is considered a slight shame the final will take place at the soulless Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad

The fans at the Wankhede have been described as ‘true cricket fans’ by captain Rohit Sharma

India’s captain Rohit Sharma began his journey on the Azad Maidan and surely, he would have had a moment to himself inside the Wankhede on Thursday evening to wonder at the beautiful potential of what lies ahead.

‘Wankhede! Such a special venue, My best venue! What I am today as a cricketer is because of the learnings that I have had, and that has all happened at Wankhede,’ said Sharma.

‘So nothing can beat that. Mumbaikars love their cricket, and you can see the buzz at Wankhede. It is crazy. It has got those little zones in the stadium, especially the North stand, which is the most famous stand. The crowd there, the people who come, they are true cricket fans.’

He is now two games away from following in the footsteps of Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni and leading India to a third World Cup success. Right now, only a fool would bet against it.

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