Boria Majumdar in Melbourne
This is my first cricket tour after serving the ban. And where better to restart than the Boxing Day Test? In fact, Tuesday’s was the first Indian practice session that I had attended in two-and-a-half years. And may I say, I enjoyed it. Observing things closely, which has always been something I have done, making my own notes and the like. In fact, as I was making notes standing right behind the net in which Ravindra Jadeja was batting, I tried explaining to a colleague how he was intent on leaving balls outside off stump. That was when Jadeja turned, and we looked at each other. He was surprised to see me, and said “Arre bhaisaab, kaise hain aap? Milte hain [How are you? We’ll meet].” The same warmth that we had always shared.
We then went inside the G to do a live show. That was when India’s captain came to inspect the pitch. Seeing us do a live, Rohit Sharma’s response was spontaneous. “Welcome back! So good to see you back,” he said. As I waved at him and wished him well, he waved back and said, “Welcome to Australia. Now, come to all our games.” Rohit knows I will be the first to criticise him if he doesn’t score runs. If he looks passive as captain, I will call him out. He also knows that if he does well, I will more than put my hand up in praise. We are both doing our jobs, and that’s what creates the bond. It is all about respect and trust. That I wouldn’t go after him unfairly, and will not spare him either if he fails to deliver. None of it, however, will be done with any sort of agenda. And that’s where the mutual respect comes from.
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Mohammed Siraj is another player I have shared a rapport with. Even during my ban, we had bumped into each other in Melbourne ahead of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match, and he had invited me over for dinner. At that time, I had politely declined the invite and walked back to my hotel. When we met each other on Tuesday, it was a very pleasant interaction. I said to him this is the ground which has helped build the Siraj narrative, and he should remember what he did in 2020 when he is at the top of his bowling mark.
I also said to him that he should do it one more time for his father, for he would have been happy to see Siraj steaming in for India in the most important Test match of the series. Siraj, I can vouch, will give it his best on Boxing Day. There was a kind of resolve which I observed, and maybe that’s why he was the first to come to the ground and start doing his sprints. He looked completely fit, and I did not see any kind of discomfort or niggle.
For me, it was a vindication of the work done over three decades. This is where I belong and this is my comfort zone. I haven’t forgotten any of it, and none of my relationships have been impacted by the absence. I can’t wait for the Boxing Day Test, and may I say, I’m much looking forward to covering it for our RevSportz readers and viewers.
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