The fear was that productivity would take a hit. Yes, there was absenteeism galore, and offices across the country wore a deserted look as India took on Pakistan at Mohali.

But on the other hand, those working got the job done faster than Wahab Riaz's deadly delivery to Yuvraj Singh.

At the Oberoi in New Delhi where the CII Northern Region was holding its annual session, the hall emptied out at 3-30 pm as CEOs scrambled to get out of the long meeting. Did cricket add speed in finishing the agenda?

“We did what we needed, and got through the agenda very efficiently,” said Mr Malvinder Singh, Chairman, Fortis Healthcare, ducking the bouncer as neatly as Suresh Raina did against the Pakistani left-arm pacer.

Didn't the loud cheers outside the hall, when Virendra Sehwag hit those punishing fours off Umar Gul, prove distracting? “The work had to be done,” said Mr Harpal Singh, Chairman-Emeritus, Fortis, firmly.

Mr Vijay Thadani, CEO of NIIT Ltd and incoming chairman of CII Northern region, with a twinkle in his eyes, said he was ensuring good attendance for the dinner in the evening by sending out a mail worded thus: “An astrologer has told me that if you come, India has a better chance of a win.”

He said the agenda at the meet, which was on engaging the youth and inclusive growth, went very well with cricket — “It may be a game of eleven players, but 44,000 people, if not one billion, are batting too,” he said.

An ear to the pitch

Only a few business barons like Mr Vijay Mallya had the luxury of cheering Team India from the ground at Mohali.

Many others had to follow the action either on television or through “other channels” which included secretaries calling in with score updates. Work took precedence over play for Future Group's Mr Kishore Biyani, who was supposed to head to Mohali, but had to travel to Singapore instead, according to his colleague.

The top leadership at Accenture India, including COO, Ms Rekha Menon, and the HR Lead, Mr Prithvi Shergill, who were at a workshop at a five-star hotel in Bangalore, were seen cheering for India during their lunch break.

End game planning

Many missed out on the first session, but had made arrangements for an uninterrupted second-half of viewing. Mr Harish Bhat, Chief Operating Officer, Titan Industries, worked in the afternoon as usual. But he caught the second-half of the India-Pakistan match at the Bangalore Club with his wife and daughter. “I relished every over of the match, with special prayers for two of our brand ambassadors — M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli,” he said.

Mr J. Suresh, Managing Director of Arvind Brands and Lifestyle, watched the first session with colleagues at office, where big screens had been put up on all floors, amid a carnival atmosphere. But all his expert comments during the second session were reserved for his family, with whom he saw the match.

Mr Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Mahindra Holidays, Chennai, who missed much of the early World Cup action, got his act together for the semi-finals. He got home early to watch it. “While we didn't encourage viewing in office, we allowed people the flexibility to take leave and watch the match. It has been an interesting tournament because it has exposed every team's vulnerability, whether India or Australia or Sri Lanka, who lost matches along the way,” he said.

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