While the nation will be supporting an in-form Team India when they take on United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their third World Cup Pool 'B' match at Perth on Saturday, the locals of the tiny Darpale village in the interiors of Vasai will be rooting for a player from the opposite camp.


Cheering him on: Swapnil's parents Prakash and Pratima and his wife Manali, whom he married just two months ago, at their Vasai home. Pic/Nimesh Dave 

Their son of soil, Swapnil Patil, UAE's wicketkeeper-batsman, will be up against his countrymen and former Mumbai teammates. "All this while, everyone in my village has been supporting India, but this time they will be backing Swapnil too.