In the grip of IPL fever!

The old man near Bandra's Ranwar sported an embarrassed smile, hastily retrieved the keys from his pocket and re-opened the shutter of his shop that he had just closed before lunch. It was barely even 12 PM. Shops here usually never shut down until 3 PM.

"Have shut my shop early to watch the IPL, Beti (daughter)," he said with a glint in his eye. "But the match doesn't start until 4," I inquired. "No dear, I want to see the pre-match talk by these experts," he added, gesturing towards his modest-sized TV screen. There is no reason to be taken aback by the level of commitment he shows towards the IPL.

Even the most rigid cricket atheists would admit that a few events ignite passion and excitement as the IPL does.

"We are fed plenty of thrillers, something on and off the field keeps happening…they help us remain engaged. As fans, all we want is to watch good cricket, that's all. It's good to see families coming out together to watch IPL matches. Kabhi khel, toh kabhi hassi mazak (Cricket and fun)," said a local fan when asked what might have led to a remarkable buzz around the IPL.

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"Mumbai has such a high fanbase. Hopping onto a crowded train is never easy if there is a match, especially at this age. Lots of supporters, hopefully they win tonight," points out another while perusing the sports section of a popular daily over tea, just outside the Wankhede stadium.

He nonchalantly points to the picture of Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya and continues: "Luck has not been kind to him. Bechara! Kya pata aaj yeh hero bann jaye, khiladi toh acha hai, magar captaincy mein mushkile aarahi hai (Poor guy! He could score big tonight, he is a good player, but he's having trouble leading the team)." The tea stall owner offers him a faint smile and assures, "Khelega aaj acha khelega woh, jeet humari pakki" (he will play well tonight, we are going to win this match).

Back at the stadium, the air hummed with anticipation as fans settled into their seats, the energy palpable amid the gathering throng. Young fans, adorned in their favourite team and player's jerseys, flocked excitedly, accompanied by their families, while some went a little too far by having Mumbai's acronym (MI) painted on their cheeks.

Now what was it that drew all these people, not the stereotypical male-dominated cricket audience, but grandparents, housewives, toddlers, retired folk, and college goers? From convenience to the freshness of the IPL experience, and better facilities in the stadiums, many elements have played a part.

The Wankhede was still a long train ride from her hotel in the Mumbai suburbs of Lata Agrawal, but other aspects of the fan experience are improving. "It's pretty convenient now. A lot better than how it was in the past. Clean toilets, easy drinking water, no seat shortage, absolutely pleasurable. I'm looking forward to attending matches in my hometown Delhi, and as I had no meeting today, I thought I'll join. It's better to enjoy the match on the ground rather than sitting idle at the hotel," she said, while continuously maintaining a vigilant eye on her watch. "Hope I reach on time," smiled the 29-year-old.

"As much as I would love to take my kids out for an ODI, I don't have the time to sit for an entire day. As a single mother, it becomes tough to manage all at once. But as a mother of two young sons, I must ensure they take an interest in sports from an early age. Hence, I'm here. Plus, Mumbai is my home. Nothing's better than this. I'm sure we are winning tonight," said Amita Parekar, a banker from Chembur.

Divine intervention manifested as the prayers found fruition. After three straight defeats, Mumbai triumphantly upheld their reputation and exceeded all expectations against Delhi Capitals in front of a packed home crowd last Sunday.

Should fans' earnest prayers find fulfilment once more on Thursday, Mumbai is likely to pip last year's runner-up Gujarat Titans in the points table and, most importantly for Hardik, it could be a catalyst for the restoration of his waning self-assurance and belief as a newly-appointed skipper.