Master troubles bhajji

Over the last few days in New Zealand, one man has been talked about all over – the Master. One has heard stories of how people take a step back for Sachin Tendulkar when he passes. This would be next to impossible in India, what with the overbearing security never letting that theory be put to test. In New Zealand, though, Tendulkar has moved around freely during training, nets and what not, with only two security guards looking after the whole team.

The Indian team has attracted not only Indian expats, but New Zealanders too. Lots of students from the Lincoln University, whose cricket facility has been India's base camp so far, have been around to watch them train. The other day two youngsters walked across to see why there was a crowd around the nets. Just as they were about to turn, one of them said, "Hey wait the Master is batting." And they waited. Good old-fashioned Tendulkar.

On the field Tendulkar entertains the crowds with his masterful batting, but off it, he chooses to entertain himself, sometimes at the expense of his ‘less skillful’ team-mates. During India’s net session at the indoor facility of the New Zealand High Performance Academy on Monday, he managed to coax Harbhajan Singh into batting against the bowling machine, which he decided to operate himself. While regular batsmen tackle the machine with ease, the others aren’t as comfortable. The feet shuffle and often, while waiting for the ball to pop out, they lose their balance and then run for cover.

Harbhajan stood there, looking like a child resisting his parent's push to get into the swimming pool. "Paaji nahi ho raha… [I can't do this]," he said after a few unsuccessful attempts. "You just look at the light, the ball will come out five seconds after it goes on," said Tendulkar.

So Harbhajan tried again. The feet trembled and the ball still didn't hit the sweet spot. Fearing injury, Harbhajan was reluctant to face the inswinger. "Paaji don't bowl inswingers," he pleaded. And paaji bowled an inswinger. "Paaji aap to maje le rahe ho [You are having fun at my expense.]" And then Harbhajan mistimed and got bowled. He went to pick up the plastic stumps again, his back covered, and sure enough another delivery came while he adjusted the stumps – safely swinging away from the stumps. And paaji laughed loudly. He was entertained. So were those around. And when Tendulkar is happy, usually so is the rest of India.