India-SA cricketers accorded a warm welcome in Kanpur

The Indian and South African cricket teams arrived in Kanpur on Friday evening amid great excitement for the One Day International match to be played between them in the city today. A large crowd had gathered outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the players. The crowd, which the police and the CISF had a hard time containing, kept on cheering for Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan.
The hotel lobby was also packed with people who were armed with their cameras to click pictures of the cricketers. “I am so excited. This is the first time I am meeting the Indian and South African players,” said Vipul, a kid who came dressed in the South African team outfit.
The SA guest team members were welcomed first with a teeka and flowers. David Miller gave a thumbs up to the crowd while Dale Steyn, Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla accepted the flowers. Despite the tight security, fans outside the hotel mobbed the car of Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith.
The most awaited arrival was that of the Indian team. Among the first ones to step in was skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who was accorded a warm welcome with a huge bouquet. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane followed suit waving to the crowd outside. Former cricketers Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar also arrived with the teams.