In-form Team India reaches Chandigarh

On a day full of twists and turns,more than the arrival of the Indian team,it was Australian cricket that grabbed all the spotlight.

On a day full of twists and turns,more than the arrival of the Indian team,it was Australian cricket that grabbed all the spotlight. The news of expulsion of four players-vice-captain Shane Watson,pacers James Pattinson,Mitchell Johnson and batsman Usman Khwaja- from the squad for the third Test match for failing to obey orders from the team management,made the rounds throughout the day.

This would have come as welcome news to Mahendra Singh Dhoni,the Indian skipper,who landed in Chandigarh on Monday evening looking to seal the four -match series with another victory at the PCA Stadium in the match starting from March 14. The smile on his face said it all. The absence of Pattinson and Watson,two of Australia’s most influential players,was certainly good news for him and the Indian team.

The smile grew wider as he stepped down from the team bus,laughing and cracking jokes with Virat Kohli,on reaching a city hotel at quarter to six. Looking dapper in black body-hugging tee,Kohli was the first to deboard off the bus while Dhoni,wearing a striped shirt,let the Delhi batsman take all the limelight.

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They were followed by two other Delhi players- Shikhar Dhawan,who might make his Test debut in place of Virender Sehwag,and pacer Ishant Sharma. Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda made a quiet entry into the hotel.

Looking refreshed following two comprehensive victories and also a much-needed break,the Indian players arrived in Chandigarh from their respective places of stay. An hour after Dhoni and Co arrived in Chandigarh,it was the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar who also reached the city hotel where the security was beefed up,giving it a look of a fortress.

Earlier,in the morning,it was middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who was the first to arrive in Chandigarh along with wife Puja Pabari.

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