Our group of Gullivers tourists arrived in India full of expectation just under a week ago, and we now have an unwished for day off on what would have been the 5th day of the 3rd Test.

Arriving into Chandigarh after an overnight flight to Delhi from the UK and then an internal flight we set foot into Chandigarh in the northern province of Punjab full of hope and anticipation -  and not just with the prospect of a good curry or too! Having checked into our hotel, we had the following day to relax and enjoy the tourist sights of Chandigarh. Top of the admittedly limited list, was a visit to the Rock Garden, a popular tourist destination with locals. Imagining a verdant green space with artistically placed rocks a group of us wandered in the direction of this wonder of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh city was created by Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of modern architecture, designed in a grid system this was one of Le Corbusier’s most ambitious projects, but frankly I am not sure of its success. It is unlike most Indian cities in its orderly layout and relatively traffic free roads but also very regimented without some of the colour that makes India so satisfying to visit. The Rock Garden seems to have been a conscious decision to bring chaos and surrealism to this uniformity. Rocks and concrete, with broken toilets and old light fittings thrown in for good measure, creating valleys, ravines, and water features, it truly is an interesting experience.  Reviews that evening in the bar for Welcome Drinks varied between the glowing ‘Gaudi-esque’ to the simply baffled and we were all looking forward to the cricket to restore some relative normality!

The following day was an early start to get to the ground, however the normal Indian traffic was having a rest day and we made quick progress, this proved the case throughout the Test, a relaxed introduction to the roads of India. The Gullivers group had the Punjab Cricket Boards box booked for the Test match. Set up right behind the wicket it afforded great views of the pitch, with indoor and outdoor seats, water, tea and coffee on tap and a delicious buffet of local curries each day at lunchtime.

Optimism bloomed as England won the toss and elected to bat, something everyone agreed was important to England’s chances.  However, this assumed that England would use the opportunity to bat wisely and well, but the poor quality of the batting at the top order soon caused concern. The most effective partnership of the day was Bairstow and Buttler, adding 69 runs to the score board. By the end of play England were 268 for eight.  

The Indian sun rose on Day 2, cool for Indian standards, with the supporters knowing that England had to notch up the runs. However, England managed only another 15 runs before the 10th wicket fell.  At least in the process Anderson broke his run of golden ducks – to the celebration of all of the England fans in the ground. India, in to bat started to rack up the runs, before England managed to take 4 wickets in quick succession after the tea break. England finished the 2nd day still in the game.

Day 3 and the game started to slip away from us as India dug in to pull a lead 134 runs over England before their final wicket fell just before tea. Even the delicious curry and samosas served in our box couldn’t keep the spirits and optimism of the England fans high, and quiet talk began of how quickly India would close out the game, and would India even have to go into bat again?!

That evening we had our Gullivers Forum by the pool at the hotel, and after some canapes of smocked chicken (not my typo I should add but I am still unsure what a smocked chicken is!) we were joined by Jonathan Agnew and Phil Neale, the England Teams Operations Manager who gave us insights not just into the mood in the England dressing room and their views on the Test match but the logistical issues facing an England team playing in India, especially at a time when India has faced an unexpected and chaotic demonetarisation, in the middle of the tour.

Day 4 and some of our intrepid travellers decided that the best way to enjoy their day was to avoid the cricket entirely, with two of our party setting off to Shimla for an overnight stay, while others decided to relax at the hotel. The remaining party headed to the ground ready to stick it out for one final day, however long or short! India patiently polished off the England innings, leaving them only needing 103 runs for what had become the inevitable victory. Kohli finished off the game with a confident 4, to the jubilation of the Indian school children who filled the stadium.

I took this last opportunity to have my final chocolate samosa – a little addiction I had acquired for my lunch at the imaginatively, but accurately, named Samosa Junction. Since day one this little place’s fame had spread and the owner was doing a roaring trade with the England supporters. The humble but hitherto unknown chocolate samosa has acquired a cult following, and a request was even placed for a takeaway from Phil Neale to taste one of these little pieces of chocolate and coconut heaven.

So a rest day for the Gullivers group in Chandigarh. While most of the England team head to Dubai for some much needed R&R we now head to the Golden Triangle for six days of sightseeing before the next Test in Mumbai. Chandigarh has made us welcome but we are all now really looking forward to seeing some of the famous sights of India.