As the India-Pakistan World Twenty20 match got off to a roaring start at the Eden Gardens here, in the virtual world the buzz hovered on the "joy of watching" Indian cine icon Amitabh Bachchan and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar together at the arena.
Big B's rousing rendition of "Jana Gana Mana" in his baritone following a speech hoping for peace between time-honoured cricketing rivals and neighbours Indian and Pakistan "gave goosebumps" to many off-the-pitch while others couldn't stop raving about 'Bade Miyan and Chote Miyan' (Big B and Tendulkar) on the ground together.
Suffused with patriotism, spectators took to microblogging platform Twitter.
"Listening to Amitabh Bachchan singing the Indian National Anthem gave me goosebumps! His baritone never fails to make an impact," chirped one.
A section of spectators at the Eden sported white flashlights during Big B's turn at the national anthem after Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali sang his country's anthem to the delight of the mixed crowd.
"That moment when Amitabh Bachchan sang National Anthem & crowd at Gardens started showing White Flash lights as the symbol of Peace IndvPak," tweeted a fan.
"Sachin Sachin and Anthem by Amitabh Bachchan. God of Cricket and God of Bollywood together, Both legends gave me best goosebumps," said one.
What a photo! @SrBachchan, @sachin_rt and @juniorbachchan enjoy the #INDvPAK action at Eden Gardens! #WT20 pic.twitter.com/pFw673sNSU
— ICC (@ICC) March 19, 2016
There were also boos based on reports that Big B charged Rs.4 crore for the gig while his "perfect diction" was lauded by some.
"Amitabh bachchan got paid 4 cr for singing the National anthem, i would have done at 10% of the cost;)," Tweeted a netizen.
MAY PEACE PREVAIL BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN: BIG B
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday hoped for sustained peace between India and Pakistan ahead of the clash of the traditional rivals in a World Twenty20 cricket match at the Eden Gardens here.
Big B described the match as a "historic game" between the two countries.
"I want to thank West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for very thoughtfully giving us the symbol of peace and may the peace prevail between India and Pakistan," Bachchan said after he was felicitated before the match.
