Kohli, with a double stud on his left ear, isn’t defensive about him and his teammates being fashion-conscious. “For everybody here, it is the first experience of international live telecast. We all grew up watching cricket on television, so we know how important looks are. Hairstyles, ear studs and what not. But these are early days for us. Just watch when the camera pans on our dressing room during a game. They all look at the television and not at the camera,” he says.

Being on television is something they all have dreamt about and they can’t get over the fact that the cameras are finally focused on them. A day before India’s opening game, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja had a crisis on hand. He looked harried as he ran his fingers to his just-availed straight locks. “I had told everyone that the games will be shown live on Star Cricket. But now they say it is it’s on ESPN. I will have to call everybody and inform them about the change. But you sure it is going to be a 7.30 India time start in the morning?” he asks. He confirms with the cameramen laying cables and gets busy on his cell phone.

The teenagers from the television generation aren’t expected to get jelly-feet when in front of the camera but there happens to be a surprising nonchalance in their preparedness to be in the spotlight. It isn’t just the look, some of the players even rehearse the celebrations on the field.

... contd.