South Africa vs India: Team bus drivers find Indian cricketers very welcoming

Team India is known to have a very huge fan base across the cricketing world. Wherever they go, they find the fans backing them. The Indian cricketers are also very responsive to their fans. They often interact with the fans on the social media and oblige with the autographs and pictures during the matches. Now, the Indian team has found new followers in the form of team bus drivers in South Africa.

Recently, Andre Krog, the South African team bus driver remarked how welcoming the Indian team is. He felt so enchanted by the warm welcome that the Indian team showed to the bus drivers that he hooted for the Indian team on the final day of the Centurion Test. Reportedly, Krog noted that the South African team is not as welcoming to the team bus drivers as the Indian team.

He mentioned that they do not consider him to be a part of the team. He felt very hurt when he was denied a coffee at the team hotel after he had driven the team on such a tiring route one day. He did not reveal the name but pointed out that there is one member in the South African camp who is not welcoming at all.

On the contrary, he compared this with the Indian bus driver, Ronnie Moodley, who gets the feel of being in the Indian team whenever he travels with the Indian side. Krog revealed that the Indian team not only welcome Moodley for the water breaks and the cool drinks but also invite him over. They also give the match tickets to the team bus drivers.

“I have been travelling around with these boys for a while and even though the players are fantastic chaps, there is one official around, who, if he had his way wouldn’t even like to consider me as human. It is surprising how even though the players will be warm towards me, this official has a problem with me. I have been asked why I walked into the team hotel in the morning one of these days to order coffee for myself. This, after I was told by THE HOTEL that it was on them. To be honest, I didn’t know I didn’t even deserve a coffee after driving the players to the ground and back,” quoted Andre.

“Look at the Indian guys on the other hand. Not only do they treat their driver (Ronnie Moodley) with respect and welcome him to be a part of the team, they are the ones who ensure that I get my water bottles and cool drinks when we (Roonie and me) are waiting out in the sun as the team plays in the middle. Is it not basic courtesy to check if I need some water or something else? The Indian players are so warm that they gave the driver tickets to bring his friends and family and in fact, I used one of those as one of my friends wanted to watch the game,” he added further.

On why he did not ask CSA for the tickets

Krog was further asked why he did not ask the CSA for the tickets. Citing the same old example, he hinted that the South African camp do not consider the team bus drivers as a part of their unit. Hence, there was no point in doing so.

“On some days, I am given my lunch coupon at 2pm when the man designated to hand the coupon realises that he had almost forgotten. So, you might as well realise how it is. I have my friends in the Indian team to help me out if needed,” quipped the bus driver.

On why he did not wear the South African jersey

Commenting further on the same note, Krog reasoned out why he did not wear the South African jersey. He mocked the South African camp saying that they would have had issues with that too.

“Obviously. I do not want to be now pulled up for wearing the team jersey when I am not a part of the team. I am happy in my shirt given to me by my company,” Andre reasoned out.

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