Dalai Lama gives stress-busting pills to Steve Smith’s Australians in Dharamsala

The Dalai Lama and Steve Smith rubbed noses, and the Tibetan leader playfully pinched the Australian cricket captain on his chin. The series-deciding fourth India vs Australia Test starts in Dharamsala on Saturday.

Australia cricket captain Steve Smith said he hopes to sleep better after meeting with the Dalai Lama in the Himalayan mountain town of Dharamsala in northern India on Friday.

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama interacts with Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith who along with his teammates met him, in Dharamshala on Friday. PTI Photo (PTI3_24_2017_000137A) (PTI)

Steve Smith and his team met with the Tibetan spiritual leader for an hour.

They chatted freely, and Smith sought the Dalai Lama’s advice on how to deal with the stress of a bruising six-week tour of India.

The Dalai Lama and Smith rubbed noses, and the Tibetan leader playfully pinched Smith on his chin.

“I asked him a question about sleep and how he could help me,” Smith said.

“We rubbed our noses together and he gave me some blessings, so hopefully it will help me with my sleep over the next five days.”

The last match of their tour, the series-deciding fourth Test, starts on Saturday in Dharamsala.

Smith said meeting the Dalai Lama gave their tour some perspective.

“It was a wonderful experience for all of us. If we can learn anything from it, we probably get overboard at times as cricket is a tough game. At the end of the day, it is just a game and you need to realise it,” the Australian cricket captain said.

On tour, the Australians and Indians have won one Test each. Another was drawn.