Ahead Of India vs Pakistan Clash: Narendra Modi Stadium Turns Into a Fortress

Narendra Modi Stadium was packed full with people the night before the 2023 World Cup match between India and Pakistan. Last-minute fixes were being made to the building before the marquee clash, and there were a lot, I repeat, a lot, of security staff.

Their outfits were different, but they all had the same goal: to keep the venue safe before, during, and after the game. They were from the Gujarat Police, the Rapid Action Force, and bomb squad teams.

A lot of police officers from Gujarat will be at the site today and tomorrow. Early Saturday morning, the road that leads to the stadium will be closed off. Only fans and officials with valid parking stickers or passes will be able to go past the barricaded area.

"You will need to be very careful." We'll have more than 20,000 to 25,000 employees by tomorrow, and it could be even more. "There will be plenty of staff here," says a senior inspector stationed near the stadium's main door.

There will be four groups of Chetak Commandos inside the stadium, watching over the event. Each group will have an armoured truck for use. When the soldiers are dressed in all black, they are hard to miss from a distance. The black sunglasses make their all-black outfit look even better.

The group was seen looking over their automated guns during their last round of briefings and talks to coordinate their actions. They looked ready for anything!

"We are usually called to handle tough or dangerous situations." That's what we do. As they point to the van behind them, a Chetak Commandos member says, "Yes, that is a fully bulletproof vehicle. We will have these in four zones around the stadium."

A number of teams from the cybercrime, crime branch, economic offences wing, and special operations group will also be at the spot.

The BCCI president, Jay Shah, checked on things and made plans while the Pakistan cricket team practised last night at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where security was tight.

It is safe to say that for every Pakistani player practising, there were at least four police officers making sure that the players could easily get from the main pitch to the practise area and back again.

The team bus also had a strong security cover when it entered and left the stadium, and that number will only go up on the day of the game.