IPL-8 diary: Unattended bag causes panic at Wankhede

Sachin Tendulkar

There was panic for a brief period outside the Wankhede Stadium ahead of Mumbai Indians versus Rajasthan Royals Indian Premier League match yesterday.

SPINNING IT: Sachin Tendulkar bowls before the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. PIC/SURESH KK

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had to cordon off the area outside Vinoo Mankad gate and Polly Umrigar gate after an unattended, black backpack was spotted on a footpath opposite these gates.

Dhawal Kulkarni

The spectators were stopped at the entry points of the D-Road as the bomb squad carried out their operation. After nearly 20 minutes, the panic receded as the bomb squad found just a cap of a well-known coffee chain in the bag.

Amol Chavan, PSI of the ATS, told mid-day: "We spotted a bag lying unattended for quite sometime. The bomb squad was called immediately. Someone may have hidden the bag after he/she was not allowed to take it inside the stadium. Whatever it is, we have to stay alert all the time."

Dhawal gives RR a pep talk
MUMBAI-based India pacer Dhawal Kulkarni was yesterday seen doing all the talking in the Rajasthan Royals huddle, much to everyone's surprise. It is generally the coach, captain or the team mentor who gives a pep talk in the huddle before the match kicks off, but yesterday Rajasthan Royals chose Kulkarni, who was part of the Indian team during the last World Cup, to motivate the boys.

When Tendulkar rolled his arm over...
There is always a special cheer for Sachin Tendulkar every time he enters his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium. However, this cheer was soon converted into a roar when the legendary Indian cricketer, who is Mumbai Indians' icon, indulged in some spin bowling before the match started.

Tendulkar bowled for nearly half an hour as MI team manager Rahul Sanghvi ‘kept' balls before Mumbai youngster Siddhesh Lad took over. Tendulkar was also seen providing a few tips to the MI youngsters before rushing towards the dressing room.