For once, Team India found all the cameras running the other way. They had just piled up a hill of runs against Bangladesh, one century and two almost there, but when they walked into their hotel after the first day of the second Test, they found they were up against bigger 'opposition'.

Dinesh Kaarthick, who had powered the Indian innings before cramping out just 18 runs short of a hundred, was almost shoved aside by cameramen chasing after the charismatic Begum Khaleda Zia, who had just stepped out after a high-profile meeting with US Ambassador Patricia Butenis.

And Mahendra Dhoni, already eyeing his slice of the run feast on a paata wicket, was left wondering whether something had gone wrong home back home.

Sachin Tendulkar, settling down for the long haul tomorrow, was amused; and skipper Rahul Dravid, a late flurry taking him to 88, a bit bemused. But then, they all got squeezed into the lift, laughing and joking.

“I am delighted that the team management was behind me. They backed me after the first Test and if their backing was not there, I would not have been playing this game,” Wasim Jaffer chipped in, after his 17-four, 229-ball 137, limping out of the field 24 overs after Kaarthick.

To wrap it up, quite a happy, eventful day for Team India, with the bright sun allowing a full day's play for the first time in this series, and the game firmly in their grasp. Eventful? What else, after 326 for no loss, and four batsmen having a go in the middle.

... contd.