The cheerleaders have been some of the stars of the Champions League – tireless, enthusiastic, energetic – and American. Well, most of them. There are a few South Africans who are annoyed that the Americans are getting all the attention. Cheerleading is cut-throat competitive.

So what do the American dancers make of cricket – and India? “It is my first time here,” says Katrina Alston (on the right in the above picture), 26, from Seattle, Washington. “And I love it.”

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Here’s another way that I was persuaded to part with more cash than was strictly necessary:

“I hate cricket,” he says – which is a surprise as he has a well-groomed Shahid Afridi beard, the same floppy hair and looks like he spends most of his days bowling over-quick legspin. I am sure it is Afridi.

“I hate cricket. There is too much money.” Mr Non-Afridi is a tour salesman. He organises trips for visitors to the likely sites around Delhi – the Taj Mahal being a popular destination and that’s where I am trying to go.

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