Lorgat won’t comment on the Sourav Ganguly drama, but says some Indian stars have begun to shine, and that’s dangerous for South Africa. “In the one-day series, Dhoni was shining really. We felt the threat when he came into bat. On most occasions when the top-order was struggling, only Dhoni got going. On the bowling front, Zaheer Khan bowled very well. And Anil Kumble is always a handful,” says Lorgat.

The former first class cricketer, a left-handed opening bat, has been to India a “couple of times” but never to Surat. “I desperately hope I can go there one day, see where I come from,” he says.

So what has struck him most about India? “The passion for cricket,” he says, pointing to the Parliament furore during the one-day series. “That shows how important cricket is in India. It’s amazing. Everybody talks about it, and you just feel it.”