cricket
Good
Luck
Jinx
T
wo days before the Johannesburg Test began, ajinkya rahane
visited Nelson Mandela’s house—now a museum—in the district of
soweto. He did not simply hop into a taxi and make his way there; be-
ing the introvert that he is, rahane requested veteran cricket journalist
sunandan Lele to accompany him. Generous by nature, Lele made all
the necessary arrangements for rahane’s day out, calling ahead and
letting the museum’s management know that an Indian Test cricketer was keen on a
tour. The management in turn ensured that rahane’s visit would receive the privileges
fit for a man of his stature—a personal guide and privacy. so far, so good.
“Then we got there, ajinkya, his wife radhika and I,” says Lele, grinning. “Just as we
were about to enter the house, ajinkya realised this was going to be a private tour, for
the three of us, and I could see he was already a little uncomfortable. and when he no-
ticed we didn’t have to buy tickets, he came up to me and very sincerely said in Marathi,
‘are you sure this is okay? I really hope they don’t think I am abusing my privileges’.”
Lele, a little taken aback by just how bashful rahane was, had to spend the next fewBy aditya iyer in Johannesburg
After being ignored for the first two Tests,
ajinkya rahane puts selection policy to
shame with a match-winning knock in the
final game against South Africa
photos getty images