Champions Trophy diaries: Rahane enjoys 'jhakaas' birthday meal in UK

Ajinkya Rahane and his wife Radhika enjoyed a leisurely half-hour stroll through Hyde Park to catch up with Sudhansu Purohit, a friend of Sunandan Lele, the veteran journalist

Ajinkya Rahane with Sudhansu Purohit

Powai may not have a station to call its own, but the Eastern Express Highway has ensured that Mulund is virtually a neighbour. Yet, it was in London that an Indian batsman from Powai met the former executive chef-turned-restaurateur from Mulund.

Ajinkya Rahane and his wife Radhika enjoyed a leisurely half-hour stroll through Hyde Park to catch up with Sudhansu Purohit, a friend of Sunandan Lele, the veteran journalist. The icing on the cake, literally and figuratively, was that the chef whipped up a spread for Rahane’s 29th birthday on Tuesday.

After being stuck in hotel rooms that aren’t the biggest, especially in London, the relaxed atmosphere in the apartment abutting Hyde Park struck all the right notes.

"To get such good food on your birthday, and that too in London, I can only say one thing: jhakaas," exclaimed Rahane, who tucked into the roast chicken, lamb shanks, boiled veggies, salad and garlic bread. "There’s nothing like spending a special day with good friends, and of course, with Radhika," said Rahane, who might not have been with his team and yet ended up with cake on his face.

For entertainment, there was master mimic Vikram Sathaye, who pulled out his best Ravi Shastri imitation, keeping the room in peals of laughter. It was a rare evening where Rahane, who is thought to be a shy guy, let his hair down and had a good time among friends. It is Radhika who is credited with getting the usually reticent Rahane to loosen up.

At the end of a good meal, Rahane was more than content, not something the Indian team could say earlier in the tour. When they first arrived, the team was in for a shock as the caterers at the grounds served them pre-plated limited portions. Imagine a tired fast bowler after a long net session asking for a second piece of grilled fish, only to be told he could not have it. What followed, of course, was inevitable, the caterer was changed and normalcy returned.

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