GUWAHATI:Amidst the excitement surrounding Team India’s anticipated face-off with Australia in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 on Sunday, an additional highlight had captured the attention of music enthusiasts throughout the country.
The prospect of a performance by Grammy-winning artist Dua Lipa at the event’s closing ceremony, hosted at the colossal Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, had generated significant buzz among audiophiles.
However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) quashed these expectations on Saturday with the release of the event itinerary. To the disappointment of fans, the list did not feature Dua Lipa.
The buzz began to build after a video of the AskDua session circulated widely on a micro-blogging website, courtesy of the broadcaster, on Friday.
In the session, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, batters KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Daryl Mitchell took turns to throw some questions at Lipa.
In a question, Rahul asked Lipa which jersey number would she choose if given a chance. “I would choose 22, it’s my lucky number. I feel like I see it a lot when I I am in the right path,” she answered.
Known for hits such as New Rules, Levitating and Homesick, among others, Lipa has consistently dominated the music charts for quite some time. Her live performances, staged across the globe, have drawn crowds numbering in the tens of thousands, attesting to her widespread popularity among fans.
The itinerary, nevertheless, unveiled a roster of notable artists poised to infuse a musical vibrancy into the eagerly awaited event. Alongside music composer Pritam, performers like Jonita Gandhi, Akasa Singh, and Amit Mishra are scheduled to ignite the stage, promising an electrifying atmosphere during the innings break.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the final which promises to be a cracker of a contest between five-time winners Aussies and two-time champions India.
The two teams last met in an ODI World Cup final back in 2003, when Ricky Ponting’s men beat Sourav Ganguly-led India by 125 runs in a one-sided contest.
The two teams have locked horns 13 times in the ODI World Cup, with the Aussies leading the head-to-head battle 8-5. In the ongoing marquee ICC tournament, India and Australia last faced off in the league game, where the hosts won by six wickets.
