Trinidad, March 28: Their World Cup dreams shattered and personal reputations in tatters, Team India hit the home-bound route with heavy hearts and full of apprehensions about a possible backlash from millions of dejected fans.
It was a gloomy Tuesday noon when the team lined up outside the hotel for departure to airport on way back to home when a fan approached them for autographs and the grim reality hit them in the guts.
"Don`t tell me you still need our autographs," said Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a sigh, reflecting on the disastrous campaign which the team had in the World Cup.
Dhoni, whose under-construction house in Ranchi has come under attack, could well imagine the kind of reception awaiting the team and it was of little consolation when the fan said, "You cricketers are heroes and would remain heroes."
It only deflated Dhoni further and the stumper said, "We are down, don`t break us even more."
Near him stood his friend Irfan Pathan, who sported a different profile from the one with which he had come to the West Indies last month.
Pathan now has his head completely shaved and such a barren profile was an indication that the left-arm pacer was willing to resume his career from the scratch.
Somewhere down the corridor was Ajit Agarkar who made a telling, poignant remark "It`s the first time when we really are in no hurry to go back home. Usually, we look forward to a tour finishing quickly so that we can return home. But this is different."
Virender Sehwag, phlegmatic at best of times, was at hand encouraging his team-mates to take the matter in their stride. He was encouraging everyone to hold their ground and face any situation which might confront them in India.
Elsewhere, skipper Rahul Dravid was looking surprisingly relaxed, a person who perhaps has come to terms with India`s debacle. A pragmatic, positive man at the best of times, Dravid, it seems, has lost little time in regaining his poise.
Coach Greg Chappell appeared with his wife Judy, the Indian board`s blazer, flung carelessly across his forearm. A kind of symbiotic relation which many believe wouldn`t work for very long.
Harbhajan Singh was his pesky self but clearly disappointed at how things have shaped up. He looked up at the heavens and wondered what the Gods have in store for them.
As the bus began to move, one could spot Sourav Ganguly, plugged on to songs on his i-pod. It was as if he was preparing himself for the music his fellow cricketers, or he, could face from the selectors back home.
The team would reach London together and then break up in flights which would take them to their respective destinations.
Bureau Report
