Emotional return for Gabba giants

MUMBAI/DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane knew there would be no open bus parade with confetti and thousands lining up the roads to cheer but had dressed well even though he was going straight home. Mohammed Siraj would go home too but after tending to more urgent business en route: grieve at his father’s grave in Hyderabad.

The housing complex where Rahane lives received India’s stand-in skipper with percussion, flowers and all the trappings of a traditional Maharashtrian welcome. Siraj, India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, spent a few quiet moments with his departed father Mohammed Ghouse, who drove an autorickshaw for a living.

Chinnappampatti village near Salem in Tamil Nadu arranged a horse-drawn carriage for local boy T Natarajan; the fast bowler made his debut in every format in the series after being originally picked only as a net bowler.

These were how Rahane, Siraj, Natarajan and the other bravehearts were received in different parts of the country on Thursday after a remarkable and historic series in Australia, one that included a victory in the fourth and final Test that is being hailed as India’s greatest Test win ever.

Continuing to live in a biobubble for two months because he put team before self, Siraj said: “I missed my dad a lot. After all my performances I missed him; the first thought would often be to call him but then it would hit me that he is no longer there. I was dedicating every wicket that I took to my dad.”

Just a week into the tour, Siraj’s first ever international series, his 53-year-old father, died on November 20 due to a lung ailment. It was a tough tour for Siraj on the field too. He was subjected to racial abuse by the crowd in Sydney, but instead of allowing it to act as a distraction, the pacer used it as a motivational tool. “The abuses which I faced in Australia made me mentally stronger. I didn’t let them affect my game,” Siraj told the media.

He revealed that the on-field umpires had offered his team the option of leaving the third Test against Australia midway. “But Rahane (bhai) said we won’t leave the game,” Siraj recalled about the fourth day of the match, where he reported the incident immediately to the umpires.

Natarajan, who became the first Indian cricketer to make his international debut across all three formats during the same tour, had a different kind of wait to endure. His wife gave birth while he was on tour, and this was the first time he got to hold his baby.

Rahane may have been impassive as India won the Test in Brisbane to clinch the series 2-1 and keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but he wasn’t expecting the warm reception. “Radhika (his wife) told me to be dressed well on return,” Rahane told his neighbours. “Now, I know why. Thanks for the surprise. This win is for the entire country.”

Pacer Navdeep Saini, another debutant in the series, said: “There was so much happening throughout the series. The pressure was always there. In the midst of the all when I got the news that I would be making my debut in Sydney, it was like a dream come true.

“Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane gave me a lot of confidence,” Saini said over the phone. “Getting Will Pucovski, my debut wicket, will be a memory I will always cherish. Also, the fact that I was on the other end when Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs in Brisbane will remain in my heart for long.”

(From left) Mohammed Siraj paid his last respects to his departed father in Hyderabad. Ajinkya Rahane was given a grand welcome at his complex. Shardul Thakur was greeted by his parents.