The city is going cricket crazy again with the T20 World Cup, which kicked off on Wednesday. Rhea Dhanbhoora & Dev Goswami bring you some great offers from around the city and tell you where to go to catch the matches
The year was 2007. The T20 World Cup was held for the first time in South Africa. Considered the underdogs, India’s young colts surprised the whole world and won the World Cup, sending the nation into a frenzy. This was back in the day when Dhoni still had long hair. Since then, the Indian cricket team has seen many highs and lows and they aren’t going into this year’s competition as the favourites. However, that is no reason for you not to combine a night out with some cricket and sample some of the offers that the city has lined up for the T20 World Cup. While people hotly debate whether test matches or T20s are better, one thing is certain —with T20 matches lasting just three hours, it is the best format for a night of fun. With cricket themed menus and great offers on food and drink, there is a lot to look forward to in Mumbai as far as the World Cup is concerned. We give you a lowdown on some great offers, where you can go for to watch the matches and the matches that you should watch out for.
What’s on offer?
The city is abuzz with restaurants, cafés and shops celebrating cricket mania. Join in some of the frenzy by indulging in some of these great offers.
Carafe Café: The 24-hour coffee shop is presenting a cricket extravaganza with their T20 World Cup package, with unlimited food and beer. Their offer costs `999 and you can avail of unlimited food and beer. They also have a buy one and get one free offer from the first ball to the last ball, on selected brands.
Where Hotel Peninsula Grand, Andheri (E) Contact 28502613
Peninsula Restaurant: The newly launched restaurant has a T20 Ball to Bat offer, where for `1,299 per person (inclusive of taxes), you can get unlimited non-vegetarian food with alcohol that includes beer, cocktails or mocktails and juices as you enjoy the match. For vegetarians the offer, which includes a soup, starter, main course, dessert and one round of a drink, costs an attractive `749.
Where Hotel Peninsula Grand, Andheri (E)
Contact 28302613
Pure Sin Chocolates: During the duration of the T20 World Cup, you can choose from an array of decadent chocolate to celebrate the matches. Pure Sin Chocolates has come out with a range of delicious chocolates in flavours such as Baby Latte, Cinn of a Peach, Karma, Rock me Hazy and Roses are Brown, exclusively for the T20 World Cup. They also have a special offer where every time India wins a match; you can spend `500 and more at Pure Sin and get two free chocolate lollipops. The chocolates are all homemade, handcrafted and eggless.
Where Mood Swings Confectionary, Pil Court, Maharshi Karve Road, Churchgate
Contact www.puresinchocolates.com
Ankur: Indulge in mouthwatering food while you celebrate the matches with Ankur’s special offers. You can tuck into authentic sea food and enjoy a variety of South Indian delicacies along with their special T20 offer. The offer enables you to buy two big beers and get a small one free from 6 to 8pm daily. Dishes that you can tuck into include Yetti Rava, Kerela Prawns, Jhinga Lasooni, Meen Kaidina, Fish Karawali, Fish Thekady, Pomfret Malgudi, Ravas Kaalimiri and Fish Peera.
Where M.P. Shetty Marg, Fort
Contact 22654194
Elbo Room: Drink up while you watch the match this month at Elbo room with their T20 cocktail special. Choose from a variety of cocktails including the Beamer Shaker, a blend of whiskey, coffee powder and ice cream, the Wicket Taker on the Beach, a blend of vodka, peach crush, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and lemon and the Leg Spin Margarita, a blend of tequila, triple sec, lemon juice and fresh mango.
Where Sant Kutir, Behind Levis Showroom, Linking Road, Khar (W)
Contact 26483316
Sahara Star: Cheer your team with the T20 specials at both Earthplate and Hi-Lounge in Sahara Star. Earthplate is setting the mood for the matches with their cricket themed décor, while Hi-Lounge has a theatre style setting, showing matches on a 42-inch screen. At Earthplate, you can opt for the `2,250 buffet with unlimited Kingfisher beer or soft drinks. At Hi-Lounge, you can enjoy unlimited Kingfisher beer with a starter for `1,800 or a bucket of three Kingfisher beers and a starter at `1,000.
Where Sahara Star, Airport Road, Vile Parle (E)
Contact 9726000708
Rainforest RestoBar: Head to Rainforest RestoBar with your friends to enjoy the matches with a host of great offers. They have a Wild Fiesta weekend buffet priced at `425, Happy Hours from 12-4pm every day and a Hunters Card Offer, where you can become a member for `695 and avail of a host of offers on different days.
Where Rainforest RestoBar, Veera Desai Road, Andheri (W)
Contact 9167788035
T.G.I. Friday's: Don’t wait for Friday to visit this restaurant because it’s celebrating the T20 tournament with a host of great deals. They have a terrific offer on tequila shots, where they’ve come out with an entire range of Cuervo Cool, Sweet and Hot shots especially for the season at discounted prices. So, go ahead and treat yourself to a shot for every great shot on field.
Where Outlets at Ghatkopar, Lower Parel and Andheri (W)
Contact 65612659/ 66155687/ 67032063
Mocha Mojo: Mocha Mojo will not only screen the matches, they also have a range of drinks and food combos on offer to help you cheer for the Indian team. The exclusive offers include beer, cocktails and shots at great combo prices starting at just `350.
Where Mocha Mojo, Hill Road, Bandra and Mocha, Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate
Contact 26433098/ 66336070
Torrp it Up: For the duration of the World Cup, you can buy a signature torrp or wrap and get a garlic tartine absolutely free at Torrp it Up. The offer includes wraps such as the Vegetable Melt, Chicken Herb Garlic, Vegetable Pesto, Mexican Corn, CBLT, Chicken Pesto, Mexican Chicken and Mushroom Herb Garlic.
Where Outlets in Andheri, Bandra, Ghatkopar and Vile Parle
Contact 65250346/40029797
Le Bar Diamantaire: Unwind and watch the teams battle it out with a bucket of beer (four Kingfishers) and your choice of either a vegetarian or non-vegetarian platter, for a mere `1,000, exclusive of taxes. You can also select cuisines from particular countries to make your experience more interesting.
Where Lobby Lounge, Sofitel Mumbai, Bandra Kurla Complex
Contact 61175115
3 Wise Monkeys: Helping you celebrate the World Cup, 3 Wise Monkeys has introduced a range of new dishes. Try their Chicken Malinga, the Yuvi Twister, Gayle Storming Prawns or Kohli’s Tandoori Lollies, all for a mere `220. You can also have their signature shots, which include the Bleeding Blue, Aussie and Caribbean Passion, also for just `220. They also have power hours, where you can enjoy buy one get one free offers on the purchase of 60ml IMFL and domestic beers.
Where The Unicontinental, 3rd Road, Khar (W)
Contact 30932030 (ext 326)
Matches to watch out for
The T20 World Cup is divided into four stages — groups, super eights, semi-finals and the final. If you are a fan who is going to be watching just the Indian matches then there are just two matches in the group stages for you. India already played their first match against Afghanistan last Wednesday. However, you can still look out for the following matches. India has just one more match remaining in the group stage, but there are a few other matches which feature strong teams and are sure to provide some fireworks.
- September 23 — India vs England (7.30pm)
- September 22 — Sri Lanka vs South Africa (3.30pm)
- September 22 — Australia vs West Indies (7.30pm)
- September 23 — Pakistan vs New Zealand (3.30pm)
The super eights stage will start on September 27, while the semi-finals will be held on October 4 and October 5. The final meanwhile, will be held on October 7 at 7pm.
Enjoy the World Cup in Sri Lanka
TUI Travel India, the official travel agent of the ICC World Twenty 20 Sri Lanka, has come out with packages that give you the opportunity to experience the rich culture of Sri Lanka while you enjoy the cricket fervour. The price for the packages, which start at `13,985 per person, will depend on the package you opt for. They have a number of packages that cover the different stages of the T20 World Cup — group, super eight, semi final and final. Apart from the matches, you will also get to enjoy city tours and get free team merchandise. Managing director of TUI India, Arjun Sharma says, “Cricket, beaches, and partying is what will be seen during this tournament and fans can be assured of wholesome entertainment packages.“
Contact 180030008000 or email at [email protected]
Where to get tickets
Unfortunately, tickets for both the semi-finals and the final are sold out. There are still a few tickets available for the group and super eights stages though. You can log on to www.eticketing.co.uk/iccwt20srilanka2012/default.aspx to find tickets for these matches. You could also opt for a travel package. TUI Travel India (see box) is the official Indian travel agent for the T20 World Cup and they have different offers and packages according to the different stages of the World Cup.
Where to watch the world cup
Unlike this year’s Euro, you don’t have to be worried about missing out on half the match at a restaurant or a pub. Since the last match of the day starts at 7.30pm, you can go to your favourite joint to catch the action on a big screen. We give you a list of places that will be screening the matches:
- Pop Tate’s outlets across the city (Beer pint at `150)
- Masalazone in Bandra (W) and Dadar (W) (Beer pint at `140)
- Manchester United Café Bar in Mulund, Malad (W) and Lower Parel (Beer pint at `200)
- 36 Oak and Barley, Tardeo (Beer pint at `175)
- Sports Bar Express, Colaba (Beer pint at `150)
- Wah! Bollywood, Khar (W) (No alcohol)
- Lagerbay, Bandra (W) (Beer pint at `250)
- At Fat Cat, Andheri (W) (Beer pint at `195)
Get in the spirit!
Dress the part when you’re watching your favourite team play with some of these great picks:
Cheer your team on with this cheery yellow slim fit, India Polo tee.
Price: `1,399
Where: www.shersingh.com
Prefer wearing the team colours? Try this blue polo tee on for size.
Price: `1,695
Where: Woodland outlets across the city
Get in the mood with a pair of cricketers sunglasses.
Price: `1,750
Where: www.lenskart.com