India vs Australia Mohali Test: On the back of a hectic day in the Australian camp,the M S Dhoni-led team arrived at the PCA in Mohali for their first training session on Tuesday,following a much-needed week-long break. While there were no controversies to write home about like with the Aussies on Monday,the men on the verge of a series win had an interesting day out. Thanks,but no thanks Sudhir Gautam,the manic India fan,often cycles across states to get to the next match. When he reaches the city in concern,he sleeps at parks,borrows money,eats little and worships the cricketers. On practice days,before the team bus pulls in,Gautam is already present at the stadium gates,waiting to welcome them in with the furling and unfurling of that gigantic India flag of his. All through the session,he waves it non-stop. Sometimes,when the occasion calls for it,he trades the tri-colour for the conch. On Tuesday,as the Indian team got into a huddle,Gautam decided that this was the lung-bursting moment only to be shushed by the entire Indian team. Coach Duncan Fletcher,who had initiated the huddle,couldn't be heard apparently. It's hard to imagine what he must have thought through the variations of Abey,chup kar,but it couldn't have been far from So much for a thank you note. Hindi 1,Tamil 1 Murali Vijay cannot speak Hindi. Ishant Sharma doesn't understand Tamil. Witnessing the two of them get along as goalkeeper and the only defender respectively for the yellow-vests side during India's customary football warm-up was one for the ages. 'Keeper Vijay wanted Ishant to cover the flanks. Defender Ishant wanted Vijay to focus on his keeping. From the blue side,forward Shikhar Dhawan collected Virat Kohli's through-ball to perfection,slotting one past Ishant's still legs and through Vijay's open ones. Vijay jokingly yelled at Ishant,who didn't seem to find it funny. "What do you want,kya chahiye boss?" yelled Ishant,much to everyone's delight. "Seriya valayada da,avaladhan (Play properly,that's all)," came the reply. Blues may have been leading yellows 1-0,but it was all square in the Hindi-Tamil match-up. Pitch blessings MS Dhoni may not be every Indian curator's favourite captain (just ask the Edens Prabir Mukherjee) but there seems to be a flourishing relationship between him and Daljit Singh,the PCA pitch-in charge. Shortly after the team's arrival,Dhoni headed out to the pitch,perhaps liked what he saw,and gave the curator a hug. Then came the ultimate sign of respect,Dhoni reached out and touched the curator's feet. Now,there are two ways to look at their meeting. One,there's plenty of mutual admiration between the two. Or maybe the captain just feels that he literally needs the blessing of the curator to get the ball to turn on this wicket.
