Cheerful reception for Ajinkya Rahane and others

Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane was accorded an immemorable reception at his Matunga residence here on Thursday, as the grateful society members lauded his captaincy to lead Team India for a Test series win in Australia.

Rahane held his little daughter Aarya and walked slowly on the long carpet laid out by the members of the society where he lives while a life-size poster of the batsman was pasted on one of the pillars, along with words "Congrats to Our Persistent Pillar" written on top of it.

A large number of his society members gathered near Rahane's home as people showered rose petals on him while dhol and trumpets played constantly. Chants of 'aala re aala Ajinkya aala' (here comes our Ajinkya) could be heard.

Rahane's wife Radhika Dhopavkar also walked on the red carpet.

Journalist Ayaz Memon tweeted a video of reception for Rahane.

Test series win hero and captain ⁦@ajinkyarahane88⁩ returns home to a warm welcome. How lovely! pic.twitter.com/iiWCOcAWEX

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 21, 2021

Besides Rahane, head coach Ravi Shastri, batsman Rohit Sharma, pacer Shardul Thakur, and opener Prithvi Shaw reached Mumbai while fourth Test hero Rishabh Pant landed in New Delhi early on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, speedster Mohammed Siraj, who bagged a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the fourth Test that India won by three wickets, reached his home town Hyderabad, and visited the graveyard where his father is buried. His father passed away while Siraj was in Australia, and declined the team offer to visit Hyderabad to be with his family after his father's death.

Pace bowler T Natarajan who made his India debut in all three formats during the Australia tour and played the Gabba Test which India won, arrived in Chinnappampatti village in Salem district to a rousing reception. He was taken on a chariot to his home in the village with people playing percussion instrument chenda.

Rahane had taken over the captaincy from Virat Kohli after the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy when he latter returned home to be with his wife who was expecting their first child. The baby was born last week.

India won the four-Test series 2-1. Their next assignment is a full fledged home series against England.