It was not a pretty sight with Indian captain Rahul Dravid pleading and his predecessor Sourav Ganguly refusing to budge from his stance, while coach Greg Chappell stood as a silent spectator.
Just before Dravid was to go out for the toss, the three went into a huddle with the captain wanting Ganguly to be ready to pad up in case India won the toss.
To the shock of the coach and captain, Ganguly wasn't willing to open. And his adamant stance forced Dravid to suggest that he would himself open the innings.
But Chappell didn't want to risk his most dependable batsman just to 'protect' someone who had been forced on the team.
A fresh dialogue followed with the team manager after which Raj Singh Dungarpur made it clear to Ganguly that whether he likes it or not, he will have to open.
Less than 48 hours before the first Test match, it was certain that Ganguly would not make it to the playing eleven. But the much-dreaded call for his inclusion came, allegedly from the Board's mandarins.
And much against the wishes of Dravid and Chappell, Ganguly was drafted into the side with regular openers Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer warming the benches.
Also see:
Job not finished yet: Younis
Chappell denies team rift
'No pressure to include Ganguly'
Openers made sacrificial lambs
