Sachin Tendulkar is evidently unhappy with the over-the-top celebrations planned by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) ahead of his penultimate Test.
When Tendulkar landed on Sunday evening, CAB officials wanted to shower him with flowers and temple food. Tendulkar smiled for the cameras initially but not for long.
He realised that logistics manager Satish was already outside the airport, waiting for him so that they could escape from the frenzied crowd.
Angst
After looking around, Tendulkar called Satish to come and fetch him -rather power him past 200-odd people - at least half of them from the media. One could sense the angst on the batsman's face.
On Monday, Tendulkar stormed into the dressing room even as 199 roses were showered on him. There was no waving of the hand or smiling for the cameras as hundreds flocked outside Eden Gardens.
"He just wants to play his cricket and enjoy his last series with his teammates. He's not too happy with the spotlight. This is a team sport after all," says a member of the support staff.
{{/usCountry}}"He just wants to play his cricket and enjoy his last series with his teammates. He's not too happy with the spotlight. This is a team sport after all," says a member of the support staff.
{{/usCountry}}Going overboard?
Are the associations going overboard to please Tendulkar or simply outdoing each other? On Sunday, CAB treasurer, Biswarup Dey, while discussing his association's grand plans, told HT, "We are worried that Mumbai will copy whatever we do.
"That's why we don't want to reveal details of what's happening inside the dressing room (CAB was initially planning to rework the interiors with a Tendulkar theme) or behind the scenes."