So India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and all I can think about is visiting Mumbai and Chennai for a couple of weeks on a "cricket tour" to watch a few live matches during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). I'm especially interested in catching the Chennai Super Kings team in action (for which I believe the India captain, MS Dhoni, plays). I'd also like to see some important cricket-related sites in both cities. Do travel agencies offer such tours? What if I want to do it solo?
A bit about the IPL: it started yesterday and ends on May 28, with 10 teams battling it out in 74 matches across 13 cities all over India, from Mumbai to Jaipur, Hyderabad to Kochi.
The New Delhi-based India Cricket Tours (http://indiacrickettour.com; 00 91 11 2875 3064) puts together tailor-made packages, including tickets to matches of your choice, accommodation (choose between budget, standard and luxury), meals, local transport between cities and taxes.
Taj India Tours (www.tajindiatours.com; 00 91 11 4653 8370), another New Delhi-based travel agency, also offers tailor-made tours with match tickets, accommodation, meals, local transport and international flights (optional). Prices for both tours depend on the length of your trip, the hotels you book, the number of cities you want to visit and the number of matches on your itinerary.
If you'd rather not get bogged down by a hectic schedule and cricket-mad fellow travellers, avoid tour companies, take a quick look at the match fixtures (www.ipl-schedule.com), book your tickets on www.ipltickets.net and check into a hotel near the match venues.
In Mumbai, make the time to visit Wankhede Stadium, near Churchgate Railway Station. Recently refurbished, it now sports a 25-metre cantilevered roof and its seating capacity has increased to 45,000 from 33,000. The World Cup final was played there, and it's also the venue for some of the IPL games. Also, don't forget to wander around Shivaji Park in Dadar, hallowed as the grounds where the great batsman Sachin Tendulkar honed his skills as a teenager.
Chennai has its own famous stadium, the MA Chidambaram, which was constructed in 1916. Being the home ground of the Chennai Super Kings, you'll probably end up watching them play there. Beside it lie the sprawling buildings of the Madras Cricket Club (www.madrascricketclub.in; 00 91 44 2852 3976). Built in 1846, the old and grand "gentleman's place" features impressive grounds and facilities, and old-fashioned restaurants and pub with names such as "Bouncer" and "Yorker".
Return flights on Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways.com) from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai cost from Dh1,455, including taxes. A return flight on Jet Airways (www.jetairways.com) from Mumbai to Chennai costs from 9,267 rupees (Dh766), with taxes.
Because India's entire population is cricket-crazy, there are a few things to remember before embarking on your trip: make sure your match tickets and hotels are booked well in advance to avoid disappointment; arrive at the stadium at least two hours before the match starts so you can get through the numerous security checks well in time for the cricket to begin; and (most importantly) if you have nothing nice to say about Sachin Tendulkar, don't say anything at all.
