T Natarajan's return to his village
India's pace bowler Thangarasu Natarajan was taken on a chariot on arrival in his village in Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
Natarajan, who made his India debut in all three formats during the Australia tour and played the Gabba Test which India won, arrived in Chinnappampatti village in Salem district to a rousing reception. He was taken on a chariot to his home in the village with people playing percussion instrument chenda.
Sharing the video of Natarajan's grand welcome, former India opener Virender Sehwag wrote, "Swagat nahi karoge?This is India. Here cricket is not just a game. It is so much more. Natarajan getting a grand welcome upon his arrival at his Chinnappampatti village in Salem district. What an incredible story"
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane also received a grand welcome upon returning to the country. Rahane held his little daughter Aarya and walked slowly on the long carpet laid out by the members of the society where he lives while a life-size poster of the batsman was pasted on one of the pillars, along with words "Congrats to Our Persistent Pillar" written on top of it.
A large number of his society members gathered near Rahane's home as people showered rose petals on him while dhol and trumpets played constantly. Chants of 'aala re aala Ajinkya aala' (here comes our Ajinkya) could be heard.
Rahane's wife Radhika Dhopavkar also walked on the red carpet.
Besides Rahane, head coach Ravi Shastri, batsman Rohit Sharma, pacer Shardul Thakur, and opener Prithvi Shaw reached Mumbai while fourth Test hero Rishabh Pant landed in New Delhi early on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, speedster Mohammed Siraj, who bagged a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the fourth Test that India won by three wickets, reached his home town Hyderabad and visited the graveyard where his father is buried. His father passed away while Siraj was in Australia, and declined the team offer to visit Hyderabad to be with his family after his father's death.
India won the four-Test series 2-1. Their next assignment is a full-fledged home series against England.
(With IANS inputs)
