The cricket caravan, or at least part of it, hit Cuttack on Tuesday afternoon accompanied by the usual baggage of fever-pitch excitement and loads of hangers-on.
Team India, sans Anil Kumble, reached the Barabatti Stadium late in the afternoon and worked out for close to four hours winding up under lights with some volleyball where Debasis Mohanty and Shiv Sundar Das too joined in the fun.
New Zealand are flying in to Bhubaneswar, where the teams are based, on Wednesday afternoon and are scheduled for nets under lights.
The Indians have sent their condolences to Kumble after his father’s death. Late on Tuesday night Board secretary S K Nair told the HT that the selectors have chosen Sairaj Bahutule as replacement for Thursday’s tie.
“Kumble will join the squad in Bangalore,” Nair said. The leg-spinner’s place is likely to be taken by a left-arm bowler - either Ashish Nehra or Murali Kartik.
Nehra had an extended run at the nets and coach John Wright said he is fit and available for selection in the final XI.