Besides the dominant green across the lush grass coating of the Narendra Modi Stadium’s outfield, gearing up for Saturday’s blockbuster India v Pakistan clash, if there was one other colour that was most visible on Thursday, it was khakhi—the colour worn by India’s police force. There are cops swarming every nook and corner of this massive venue given the sensitivity of the high profile encounter between cricket’s biggest rivals. “The police strength at the venue is well over 5,000 and these include numerous DSPs [deputy superintendents], ACPs [assistant commissioners], SIs [senior inspectors], PSIs [sub-inspectors] and officials of other ranks. There will also be a very visible army presence on match day besides a van with commandos and even snipers at hand,” revealed one high ranking official, who did not wish to be quoted officially. 

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