An interesting excerpt

from Rajasthan's chief of coaching

There was this unique sense of camaraderie among the Royals. You seemed to be able to make the players believe they were one family?

I believe that was the difference between us and the rest of the sides. It's an immeasurable thing but it was important. During a mini-break in mid-May, when some of us foreigners went to Goa to relax, Asnodkar, who is a native, invited us to have dinner at his family home one night. Warne, Shane Watson, Graeme Smith, myself and Snape got into a car and drove 45 minutes to Swapnil's house. His parents were there along with his grandfather, who came up later and said, in Hindi, "I can die a happy man. Shane Warne sitting in my lounge room ..."

When Yusuf Pathan was selected for India, we all gave him a standing ovation because we all felt part of it - we felt that this tournament launched him to higher levels.

There was Zahir, our bag man. He lost his mother during the tournament, but he stayed on with the side. We wore the black armband in respect. He was important, too. Before leaving to go home he came to my room crying.

You can't quantify emotions and passion in people. It all has to do with trust, honesty and respect, and you only get that if you treat people fairly, evenly.