Subhayan Chakraborty in Perth
After scripting a historic 295-run victory at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a magnificent century to give India a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series against Australia, was spotted on Monday evening, taking a leisurely stroll on St Georges Terrace. He paused briefly in front of ‘Balti’ restaurant, waving to the staff working inside. Over the years, ‘Balti’, an Indian restaurant located at the heart of Perth, has become a cherished spot for the Indian cricket team, offering a taste of home amid their travels. It has become a home away from home.
The restaurant has been particularly busy this time, with owner Ashwani Notani hosting around 40 Indian players, including members of both the main squad and the India A team, who were in Perth preparing for the opening Test. Even after the India A players returned home, the tradition of visiting ‘Balti’ for authentic Indian meals continued through the Test match and into the supposed fifth day of the game on Tuesday.
Players like Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Dhruv Jurel have been frequent visitors, enjoying the flavours of home. ‘Balti’ is not just about the food, it’s also about the privacy it affords its guests. Even when fans recognise the cricketers, the restaurant staff ensure they can dine undisturbed.
It has been different this time. The India A players were also here. They started coming in from the very first day, November 11, and it continued till the very last day that was November 26.
“The players, who had toured here before already knew about us, so the word was already within the team,” Notani, the owner of the restaurant, told RevSportz. “Ravichandran Ashwin was the first one who came here this time and from there the likes of Siraj, Pant and others.”
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
Notani added: “I know Gautam Gambhir from his playing days, along with Sachin Tendulkar. It all started in 2012. And it’s always special to host Gambhir here. We cook authentic food here. We cook it in Delhi style with desi tadka and masalas so they feel less homesick.”
With modern cricketers focusing more on fitness, dietary preferences have evolved. Notani noted: “It has happened for the first time that the demand for jeera rice is very high with desi ghee among the players. Earlier, the players didn’t use to emphasise a lot on their diet but now, with the young blood, they are very precise in what and how much they eat. The bowlers want more protein, chicken. We don’t pre-cook and have as many as six chefs on busy days. The best thing about Indians is hospitality, and we serve people here as we would host them at our home.”
The walls of ‘Balti’ are adorned with photos of cricket legends like Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Michael Vaughan and Ravi Shastri, enhancing the cricketing ambiance. Privacy remains a priority, Notani emphasised. “We ensure players have their space, especially when they’re eating. It’s something they’ve requested, and we respect that.”
Notani, a foodie, prides himself on using local Australian products to craft authentic Indian dishes. “I was really wanting Jasprit Bumrah to come. Virat Kohli has become really strict with his diet but earlier, in 2012, he used to love our tandoori chickens and aloo parathas. He is the fittest cricketer now. Jasprit is so popular, along with Kohli, they might get troubled by fans on the street,” the Delhi-born restaurateur said.
As the Indian team moves on to Canberra and beyond, they will carry with them the comforting taste of India from ‘Balti’.
Also Read: Fans’ focus should be on an Indian victory in Adelaide, not the captaincy