Face-off with the Team

The aggressive batting and bowling isn’t all that’s new about this Indian team. Off the field, too, there’s something new &#1...

The aggressive batting and bowling isn’t all that’s new about this Indian team. Off the field, too, there’s something new — and, for journalists, refreshingly so. The media access session on Friday was exactly that: no holds barred, no questions glossed over and, that rarest of opportunities, one-on-ones with the players.

All the players except captain Saurav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh were available at the team hotel, two players at each table (exceptions were Dravid, Wright and Tendulkar, who had tables to themselves). Some were thematically arranged: Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra shared one table, as did Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and Balaji and Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik. Each media man took about 10 to 15 minutes a player and then moved on to the next table.

SACHIN IN DEMAND

The biggest fish — by sheer dint of his usual inaccessability — was Sachin Tendulkar, who was cheerful and articulate in his views on India and its record in ODI finals. So popular was he with the journalists that he had trainer Greg King acting as his personal media manager/ bouncer. Each journo was given a strictly followed 10 minutes before King asked them to leave. Some, though, would hang on just in case Sachin gave out some more

BUT LAXMAN OUTSCORED HIM

Story continues below this ad

By contrast, Parthiv Patel and Ramesh Powar had precious little to do as, despite beseeching glances, few went up to talk to them. But the journalists were happy as, for once, they got some meat out of the Indian players.

Dravid was his usual articulate self and spoke without looking at the watch. Then, worried that he had overshot the time limit, he’d look around to see which of his mates were still in the room. Thankfully he found Laxman — fast rising in popularity — also besieged by journos, and the last man to finish the interaction.

REPEAT SHOWS PROMISED

It was then time for a dinner hosted by the Indian cricket team for the mediamen who had just finished grilling them.

Most Indian journalists were happy with this first and could not stop gushing about ‘how this was better than the one during the World Cup’. Some even believed it was better organised than the one the Australians had before their one-day series in India last year.

Story continues below this ad

So was this the start of a new trend or just a one-off event? ‘‘No this is just the start. We will have one more social gatherings for the players and the media,’’ said team media manager Amrit Mathur. But with one difference: next time, there’ll be no questions permitted.

us india trade talks, us india trade negotiations, us india tariffs, us india trade relations, trump modi trade talks, india us commerce ministry, us tariffs on india, india exporters relief package, us india economic relations, india us trade barriers, us india trade deal, india us trade meeting, rajesh agarwal commerce ministry, india us trade dispute, india us bilateral trade

Trade talks ‘positive’, govt says will intensify efforts to close US deal early

Business8 hr ago

India and the US have resumed trade negotiations after the US imposed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. The sixth round of talks will focus on recognising India's red lines and possibly increasing energy purchases from the US. Other topics include easing patent rules, data flows, and giving US firms procurement access.

View all shorts

Live Blog