1000 kids witness the KPL 2017 season opener

The opening night of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) saw 1000 kids cheer the teams from the venue during the first match of the 6th season between Belagavi Panthers and Hubli Tigers played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The kids who belong to a children’s home near Bangalore University were issued passes to watch the game live from the venue.

Hubli Tigers won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening game of the 2017 season of the KPL. They restricted the Belagavi to 127/8 and later chased down the target in 17.5 overs for the loss of four wickets. The kids of Balya Vidya Mandir, which is run by Annapoorna Charitable Trust were supporting the Belagavi Panthers wearing white T-shirts with the team name printed on it. However, they cherished each and every moment they spent in such an atmosphere despite the fact that their team lost.

“This is my second time I’m going to watch a match at Chinnaswamy Stadium. I love the atmosphere here. I enjoy watching cricket match in stadium more than in front of the TV,” said a young kid named David among those children as reported by Cricwizz.com.

Arun Kumar, a volunteer from the Bangalore’s Volunteer For a Cause (VFC), had painted Karnataka flag colours – yellow and red – on the faces of children. “I finished off my work quickly and rushed to the stadium to cheer with the kids. We engage these kids in LibReady, a cause where we inculcate reading habits in children. The energy, fun and cheering with the kids and other co-volunteers at the stadium made it a memorable event,” he said.

The KPL organizers had issued the complimentary passes to the Balya Vidya Mandir to allow the kids to watch the game from the stadium on Friday night. This is the first time Bangalore has hosted a KPL game since the tournament’s return in 2014. The Chinnaswamy Stadium will be hosting one more game in this season on Saturday between the Bengaluru Blasters and Mysuru Warriors.