CRICKET | Ro-Ko fever grips Vadodara as fans turn out in large numbers to witness the two greats

The last time Vadodara — one of India’s oldest cricket hubs and an erstwhile princely state — witnessed thousands of fans patiently waiting outside a hotel for a glimpse of an Indian men’s cricket star was nearly 15 years ago.

Little wonder, then, that the street outside the hotel housing the Indian team has been witnessing frequent traffic snarls, with bystanders hoping to catch a wave from either of the two modern-day greats.

It is not just Barodians who have been bitten by the Ro-Ko bug. Over the next week, the Rohit Sharma–Virat Kohli fever is set to sweep across the country — and perhaps the cricketing world — as India prepares for a three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Few seem bothered by the fact that the series is a repeat of the Champions Trophy final played 10 months ago. The overwhelming desire is simply to watch the two ageing superstars, now single-format specialists at the international level, coming good at the ultra-modern Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi.

Their scintillating performances against South Africa at home a little over a month ago have effectively silenced critics who questioned their ability to cope with the demands of international cricket in a format increasingly overshadowed in the modern game.

With attention shifting swiftly to the T20 World Cup and its build-up, the New Zealand series could be the last opportunity for Rohit and Kohli to let their bats do the talking in the 50-over format for a while.

Unsurprisingly, the duo trained intensely at the venue on Friday ahead of Sunday’s opening ODI. Kohli arrived early and had an extended session in the nets, while Rohit appeared in fine touch during his stint against the bowlers.

Having trained for two consecutive days, it would not be surprising if both choose to take it relatively easy on Saturday, the eve of the match.

Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer — who led Delhi and Mumbai respectively in the final league round of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday — arrived in Vadodara on Friday evening and are expected to train on Saturday.

Irrespective of whether Rohit and Kohli take part in Saturday’s session, the traffic jams outside the team hotel are likely to persist until at least Monday afternoon.