Subhayan Chakraborty in Adelaide
Team India received a Diwali-themed welcome by fans at the Adelaide airport as they landed in the ‘City of Churches’ on Monday. The second ODI against Australia is scheduled for Thursday at Adelaide Oval. Hundreds of fans gathered at the airport to catch a glimpse of the stars. A few of them managed autographs and photographs from some of the players and coaching staff, making their Diwali even more special.
Members of the Australia-based group ‘Fans India’ turned up in numbers, dressed in traditional attire, with trumpets and banners, while many came with posters and mini bats to get them autographed. One banner saying ‘Happy Diwali Team India, Welcome to Adelaide’ stood out.
A Melbourne-based Rohit Sharma fan, named Tushal, has a special story. Knowing that it would be his hero’s last trip to Australia as an India player, he worked extra hours in the nursing field to save adequately so that he could book a room in the hotel the Indian team is staying in Adelaide. That would give him a better chance to get his grand poster written ‘The Hitman has arrived at Adelaide Oval. My forever captain’ on it signed by the batter. However, after spotting that poster, Rohit stopped and personalised it for him. For Tushal, the will now begin to get a photograph with his favourite player. “I am emotional right now. Rohit Sharma saw the poster, came towards me and signed it. My wait is complete now. He is the best. I hope he’ll get runs here. I want to be his lucky charm,” said Tushal.
Another heartfelt moment came just outside the team bus. Virat Kohli, after getting out of the arrivals gate at the airport, was mobbed for selfies and autographs. After obliging a few, he walked towards the coach. A little girl, after seeing Kohli, gently asked him multiple times, “Virat, can I have a photograph please?” Kohli came towards her and smiled for a photograph before patting her back and boarding the bus. Other fans, who didn’t get a photo with Kohli, were heard saying in a jealous tone, “We should have been kids. They always have an advantage.”
As fans gathered around the team bus, particularly in front of it with Rohit, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer occupying the front seats, Kohli and Rohit on occasions smiled and gave the thumbs-up before leaving for the hotel. A few others like head coach Gautam Gambhir, Sitanshu Kotak, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal were seen greeting back the fans who wished them Happy Diwali. A few fans were lucky to get photos and selfies after the players arrived at the team hotel, beaming with happiness.
With players and support staff spending this Diwali away from families and loved ones, fans in Adelaide ensured they didn’t miss the festive vibe thousands of miles away from home. Interestingly, a few players including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jaiswal and others hit the gym straightaway after checking into the hotel despite it being late on Monday.
India are scheduled to train at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday afternoon as they look to equalise the three-ODI series after suffering a seven-wicket defeat in Perth.
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