A billion prayers for men in purple.....!!!

Kolkata Knight Riders have reached the IPL finals for the first time. (TOI Photo)KOLKATA: Finally, it's celebration time in Kolkata, which has been waiting to see the home-team in the IPL finals for four years now.

Every nook and corner of the city is preparing for the Sunday finale with great zest and Team Kolkata fans are leaving no stone unturned to suitably cheer the purple brigade when they walk into the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. 

"I wish the final was in Kolkata. Our team is in the finals for the first time since IPL began in 2008. I have been waiting for this dream to come true. My friends and I will wear the team jersey and head to a sports bar in the city to cheer for Kolkata," said Nakhat Agarwal, a 24-year-old trader from Tollygunge. 

Team Kolkata, which started off very well in the first season, got a lot of flak from the cricketing fraternity for its dwindling performance in the last three seasons. It came close to a final spot in IPL 4 where the team was among the top four. 

"Team Kolkata song 'Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re' has got its lost glory back. They used to tease the team as 'Korbo Lorbo Haarbo' earlier, but this is its time to give it back to the critics. I will watch the match with my family at home," said 13-year-old school student Timothy Joseph. Timothy is certain of Kolkata's win in the Sunday finale. 

"Team Kolkata has been doing well since the last IPL. They were in the top four last time. So, reaching the final has not been sudden. They deserve it since they have got a good team. What played an important role here was the IPL mega-auction in 2010 where the teams were re-shuffled. A few hiccups, but the team has really worked hard," said Jeet Bannerjee, MD and promoter of sports marketing agency Gameplan. Bannerjee will leave for Chennai on Saturday to watch the match. 

The malls and pubs in the city are also planning live screenings across the city for the Sunday final. Team Kolkata enthusiasts can watch the match at South City Mall on the giant screen at the Mall Atrium. City Centre, Salt Lake is also planning a live screening on the giant LED at the Kund area. 

To add to the fun and celebration, City Centre New Town has organised a 3D screening of the match at the mall's Spine Plaza. Live screenings have also been planned at The Conclave's Club's 'The Stallion' on AJC Bose Road and Afraa lounge at Salt Lake. At Afraa, four cheerleaders will be putting up a performance and there will be special offers on beer. 

"We have won because of the way we have played. Kolkata has been amazing. Touted as one of the best teams when the IPL started in 2008, it was about time that the team reached the final. I am still to decide where I will be watching the match," said Annesh Bilas Thakur, a 24-year-old film studies postgraduate from Behala. Annesh is sure that the team will fulfill everybody's expectations and rise above the controversies associated with the IPL. 

While the city is gearing up for the presentation, there are others who have already reached Chennai to cheer for the team. "Just 48 hours to go. Kolkata is in the finals for the first time and if they win, it will be a big mileage to Bengal cricket. We are hopeful of Kolkata's win," said Biswarup Dey, CAB secretary who reached Chennai on Friday. Many officials and sponsors from Kolkata will fly down to watch the final.