NAGPUR: Excitement, not in the ground, but amidst magnificent fauna in the lap of nature, got the better of a group of cricketers, as they visited wildlife sanctuaries near here, post the third match in the four-Test series between India and South Africa.
The third Test ended on the third day, thus giving the players ample time to explore the the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and the Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary (UKWS) near here RPT near here.
Ajinkya Rahane, his wife Radhika, Cheteshwar Pujara, his wife Pooja, Murali Vijay and Varun Aaron enjoyed their time at the TATR and were delighted to sight tigers from close range.
The cricketers and their WAGs were particularly thrilled at the sight of tigress 'Tara' and its majestic gait. They followed the big cat in their vehicle and captured the moments in their cameras and mobile phones.
It was an unforgettable moment for the players in the Jamunbodi core area, Forest department officials said.
Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott sighted 'Jai', a big-sized tiger, and the most famous one in the UKWS.
The teams are scheduled to leave today for New Delhi for the fourth and final Test match of the series, starting December 3, Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) sources said.