30 April,2011 07:12 AM IST | | PB Chandra
Rajasthan tourism is delighted that Indian Premier League participants are keen to see tigers and the newest destination of craze among cricketers is Ranthambhore about 138 km from Jaipur.
Sathya Sai Baba
The tiger reserve was made popular among cricketers by late BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur. While he brought a host of cricketers to the sanctuary, his wish to bring Anil Kumble, a wildlife lover, remained unfulfilled. The tiger reserve was visited by RR players Rahul Dravid, Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor and Nayan Doshi, son of former spinner Dilip Doshi.
Sathya Sai Baba still on Sachin's mind
SACHIN Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians landed for their yesterday's match against Rajasthan Royals four days in advance. It is learnt that the Little Master was keen to visit Ranthambhore to see the tigers, but had to stay in Jaipur for a commercial shoot at a palatial bungalow called Kothari House. Tendulkar shot the ad in the vast garden under a Peepal tree where in 1973 the late Sathya Sai Baba held a discourse. He sat under the shade of this huge tree, remembered Sai Baba and also met some cancer patients who came to seek his autograph. Tendulkar was only happy to oblige them.
A young artist, Hitarth Purohit presented Tendulkar with an oil painting. "Wow," he is believed to have exclaimed when he saw it. The painting depicted Tendulkar playing an attractive stroke. Purohit's reward, we hear, was a complimentary ticket for the IPL match.
Spectators brave the heat
The Sawai Man Singh Stadium was expected to be packed for the MI and RR IPL match yesterday, but there were several seats unoccupied despite the Shane Warne vs Sachin Tendulkar and Malinga vsu00a0 Shaun Tait hype. "It's almost 40 degrees and only the brave could come for a match. I came just to keep my grandson company," said Namita Agrawal.u00a0 Rahul Sanghi, a bank executive braved the sun only to see the sizzling pace of Tait and Malinga, was a bit disappointed. Tait did not play and Malinga bowled a few at 148 kmph.
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