“Bigger than the Super Bowl”

How big was the India-Pakistan T20 Cricket World Cup match on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium?

Let’s hear from Basit Qadri, a 29-year-old Pakistani fan who came from Baltimore just to stand outside the gates with a bunch of friends and watch the action from afar.

“Think of it like a Super Bowl – bigger than that,” he insisted. “It is what it is.”

All around Eisenhower Park, fans were excited just to be there, to see perhaps the world’s greatest sports rivalry play out in New York.

In the end, the Indian fans – who outnumbered the Pakistani fans at the stadium, perhaps 10 to 1 – were absolutely gaga after their team pulled off a shock 119-113 to win.

At one point, India had less than a 2% statistical chance of winning and fans were leaving the stadium earlier than expected.

“Pakistan is heading towards victory. It will be a comfortable win for them,” said Jashan Kalra, 24, a product analyst from Long Island City, Queens, who wore a blue Indian cricket jersey.

“And I also didn’t want to see – there’s no animosity or anything – but I didn’t want to see the Pakistani fans cheering and saying it to our faces. So I just try to avoid that and walk with my head held high as much as possible.

With his head held high, he also missed the thrilling conclusion to the match for India.

“At first we thought it was impossible, but they really did it towards the end. … The fans were very excited, especially towards the end,” said Arsh Singh, an Indian fan who left his home in Woodbridge, New Jersey, at 6 a.m. to ensure he reached the stadium on time.

“The trampling continues. I was a little worried that the scaffolding wouldn’t hold up, but it worked well.

Hem Nerkar, 51, from Cary, North Carolina, said, “I have never seen such incredible energy. Still expected with India-Pakistan matches. Fantastic energy.

But, he added, no one expected India to win like this.

Recent Harvard graduates Kartikeya Bhatotia, 27, and Aashish Khullar, 37, both Indian nationals living in Boston, said they were excited to see the long-standing rivalry come to the United States.

“(I’m) pretty excited,” Aashish told the Post. “Yeah, actually, it’s pretty cool to come see the stadium. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an international cricket match in a stadium.

Both men purchased opposing jerseys as they walked through the stadium’s nearly full parking lot, with Kartikeya purchasing a green Pakistan jersey and Aashish purchasing an orange and blue India jersey.

“Even though it’s not cricket, the India vs Pakistan match has always been a cultural affair, so it’s nice to see it in person,” Kartikeya said.

There seemed to be a 90-10 split between fans, with Indian fans far outnumbering Pakistan fans.

Kashif Sheriz, 49, flew from the UK to the Big Apple just to watch the coveted match.

“We are here to support Pakistan from London,” said Sheriz, wearing a green Pakistan jersey that he bought outside the stadium. “It’s going to be a tough game, it’s going to be a good game, it’s going to be an exciting game. But it’s the team that will win. Green all the way.

Sheriz praised Long Island – and the United States – for welcoming cricket to the country with open arms.

(“It’s) incredible here. Good atmosphere. You are so hospitable and I hope the Americans will take on the cricket people and I hope they enjoy it as much as we do and benefit from it,” he said, adding: “And America will wears well. America beat Pakistan, so, you know. Between the supporters, we have no rivalry, it’s only on the pitch. When the match starts, that’s when it’s all going to start.

Enthusiastic fans donned wigs, signs, flags and other items to support their teams, and many fans showed up bright and early to claim a spot in the parking lot — which an attendant said had reaches half capacity at 8 a.m.

“It’s crazy, but it’s good stuff, good atmosphere,” a parking lot employee told the Post.

Joe La Porta, 32, and his girlfriend Yesha Vayda came from Albany to watch the game wearing Indians jerseys.

“It’s my first match… and (my girlfriend) she loves cricket,” La Porta said.

“I got into it since last year with the World Cup so I will play my first match here for the T20. I’m really excited. We were lucky to be only a three hour drive from here and able to see something like this.

“I haven’t attended a cricket match in 10 years,” Yesha said, adding that she was excited to see Indian team legend Rohit Sharma, who she said was her classmate in India.

“It’s going to be a great match. I think India will definitely win. Let’s go to India.

Groups of cricket enthusiasts with roots in both India and Pakistan clung to the gates outside the stadium as the tight match unfolded inside, occasionally erupting into cheers as the music pulsated from the arena.

Bobby Mehra, 49, and Arjun Singh, 45, both banking technology specialists cheering for India, left the game early in hopes of reducing traffic to Summit, New Jersey.

“We’re going home,” Bobby said. “We are going back to Jersey. It’s going to be a madhouse with traffic. It was a difficult match.

Despite what will surely be a long drive home, the two were delighted to have attended a cricket match so close to home.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said India-born Bobby. “It’s the energy itself.”

“In the United States, people don’t know the game of cricket. Suddenly I see all the people from all over the United States in the stadium. It’s important to have people.

The India vs Pakistan match, part of the ICC Men’s T20 2024 tournament, follows a superb victory for the United States against Pakistan on Thursday.