Cricket World Cup: India fans set to transform SCG into home away from home for semi-final

AUSTRALIA’S pleas for a gold rush of hometown support at Thursday’s World Cup semi-final are set to be washed away by a tsunami of patriotic Indians.

India v Bangladesh: Quarter Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

AUSTRALIA’S pleas for a gold rush of hometown support at Thursday’s World Cup semi-final are set to be washed away by a tsunami of patriotic Indians, who are out to turn the SCG into a hostile coliseum.

Organisers are privately expecting a staggering 70 per cent of a sold out Sydney crowd to be made up of fanatical Indian supporters.

The tournament hosts face the chilling prospect of feeling like they have been kicked out of their own party, a mood that’s only going to be exacerbated if the mystery SCG wicket suits spin more than pace.

Loyal Indian fans have followed their heroes in big numbers.

Around this time last year the SCG was turned into a Major League Baseball venue.

But that transformation’s nothing compared to the looming prospect of cricket’s spiritual home turning into a replica of Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Australian players like Michael Clarke and David Warner sensed the prospect of an ambush early and have issued an impassioned call to arms for fans to create a “gold out” on Thursday.

Even SCG-locals, the Sydney Swans, are set to be brought on board to help spread the “gold out” message.

But co-founder of the Swami Army, Kartik Ayyalasomayajula says the Australians are clutching at straws - this is the biggest down under Indian sporting event of all time.

“I think that (the tweets) definitely says they’re going to be outnumbered,” said Kartik.

Indian fans have had plenty to celebrate so far in the tournament.

Taking your support to fervent levels.

“I would have thought that would be a standard expectation for the Aussie fans without their heroes going on Twitter to plead with them.

“They’re really scraping the barrel there, I think it’s a message in itself.

“India versus Australia in a World Cup semi-final, it doesn’t get much bigger than that.

“This country won’t have seen this level of support or atmosphere for cricket games.

“You have to go to the sub-continent countries to get that kind of feel, so we are effectively bringing that atmosphere to Sydney.

“It’s going to be a spectacle.”

Organisers say there are no tickets available and the SCG will be packed to its 42,000-cricket capacity.

The only way to get in is through the ICC’s official resale website, and through the last remaining hospitality and travel packages available through ICC travel.

Among the local Indian community, re-sale tickets for the semi-final are selling for as much as $400 a pop.

“It’s pretty much name your price kind of thing,” said Kartik.

“It’s the hottest ticket in town at the moment.”

There are thousands of Indian supporters flying in from as far abroad as the USA, UK, Singapore and the sub-continent itself.

Ticket sales started going through the roof when the quarter-final picture became clear, an indication that the Indians will dominate the stands.

Even at the rained out one-dayer between the two nations back in January at the SCG, two thirds of the crowd were Indian, and their supporters packed out the Bill O’Reilly Stand.

Hundreds of millions more will be watching around the world.

Captain Clarke started the push for Australian fans to create a presence at the SCG less than two hours after his team stepped off the field from beating Pakistan.

I call on all Australian cricket lovers to paint the SCG gold on Thursday. We need your support. #goldout

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 20, 2015

Great win by the boys last night. Back to Sydney now. Can't wait for the semi final vs India. Let's fill the place with Gold!#CWC15 #gogold

— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) March 20, 2015

Kartik says Australia won’t know what’s hit them.

“It will be very loud, very intimidating. This could be the first time in a long time it feels like an away game for them,” he said.

“The drummers will be going around throughout the ground and people will be dancing, singing and cheering every run India score, every wicket they take.

“People will be going nuts.”