Footloose

It was 11.45pm last night when some of us journalists walked into the bar where we bumped into the India team celebrating the series win. They were in full strength. On one side of the dimly lit bar, which shook with loud Hindi film remixes, a few cricketers were playing pool. Some drank, some didn't.

Yuvraj and the young brigade led by Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Suresh Raina and Pragyan Ojha had already begun shaking a leg. Sehwag and Gambhir parked themselves at one table with Gary Kirsten; Sachin Tendulkar was having a long chat with Paddy Upton. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was everywhere.

Suddenly, the Tamil song, Manmada Raasa blared out and a whistle rang through the room. It was L Balaji at work. Slowly, the dancers dragged everybody on the floor at various points - even Kirsten, who responded by vigorously shaking every limb, and Upton were not spared. Tendulkar never let himself completely loose but swayed around rhythmically. Sameer Dighe, the former India wicketkeeper, was there too and played pool with Tendulkar. Cries of cheating went up and now then from Dighe. Those gathered around the pool table laughed.

Some journalists approached Dhoni for permission to photograph the team celebrating. "No, yaar. Let them celebrate peacefully. I just want them to enjoy the moment."

Fair enough.