Scotland’s Brad Currie: Playing in Kolkata Felt Like a Cricket Match in a Nightclub
Associate players highlight need for increased exposure at global tournaments
MUMBAI, Feb 18 : Scotland seamer Brad Currie described the experience of playing a T20 World Cup match in front of 42,000 fans in Kolkata as “cricket in a nightclub,” while joking that returning to play in Scotland would feel “like being in a library.” Currie, reflecting on Scotland’s late entry into the tournament after Bangladesh withdrew, said the massive crowds at Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium were a dream come true for him.
“(In) the England game, we had 40-odd thousand, maybe even 50 at Eden Gardens. As a kid growing up, that was a dream come true. Here at Wankhede, again, a dream come true,” Currie told reporters after Scotland’s seven-wicket loss to Nepal on Tuesday night.
He highlighted the intensity and energy of playing in front of Indian fans, calling it “the loudest game I’ve ever played… genuinely like playing a cricket game in a nightclub.” Currie urged for more opportunities at the top level, saying, “We grow as players for that experience… we love playing these games and we’d love to entertain more.”
Scotland captain Richie Berrington added that the team’s performance showed they need more exposure against top nations. “Had we taken the game a bit deeper, we could have been on the right side of a few more results,” he said. “The associates have again shown what they can do on the world stage. More fixtures against bigger teams will only make us stronger.”
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel celebrated his team’s victory over Scotland, which ended a 12-year winless run in the competition. “This win was very important because it was the last league stage game, and we wanted to give our fans a reason to smile,” he said, noting the strong support from nearly 20,000 spectators over their matches in Mumbai.
Scotland, placed in Group C, previously faced tough opponents including England and the West Indies. Despite the late call-up, Currie stressed that the team was well-prepared through warm-up games and intensive net sessions ahead of the competition.
