"Declare Wednesday as a national holiday". Post after post on Facebook reads the same. "Why can't they reschedule the match to a weekend? Or any day after the 31st?" asks Somrita Paul, a disgruntled Gurgaon banker. She cannot take leave until after the closing of the financial year, and is disappointed at having to work through the India-Pakistan semifinal on Wednesday.

Like her, those not lucky enough to get the day off will try to rush home before the match begins. In Bengaluru, company heads know most of their employees will either be absent or take half the day off. Most have organised television sets to help employees watch the match while getting on with their work.