Welcome to Lanka Bala

"You will be playing him?" Murali asks Venkatesh Prasad about L Balaji. "Hey Bala, full toss for me ok!"

A short while earlier, Murali's eyes had almost goggled out when he saw his IPL team-mate Balaji sitting at the breakfast table. "Hey what are you doing here? Are you here as a commentator?" Balaji laughed and explained the real reason. Murali, still not convinced, checks with Praveen Kumar, who explains Munaf Patel has gone back to India.

Murali’s eyes light up and he joins the table. "So a great domestic season, eh? And how is the action now? Same? What new tricks have you added?" The questions keep coming and Balaji tries his best to match Murali's rapid-fire Tamil. Both share their IPL memories and continue their conversation, which is punctuated by constant laughter.

Ravindra Jadeja joins in and Murali asks him, "Hey, any changes in your IPL team? Is Shane Watson playing? Good player," before he purses his lip while his right wrist delivers an offbreak, suggesting Watson can be a bit iffy against spin.

"So coming in April [to India for IPL]," asks Balaji. "Yeah. Batsman's game. I am in good batting form now," says Murali. Praveen and Balaji laugh.

Balaji was in Mumbai, about to leave for a pilgrimage when he got the news of his selection. Couple of flights later he eased into Colombo last night. From then on, it's been a happy reunion with team-mates. He is back in the national squad after three torturous years, recuperating with injuries but has shown an admirable mental strength to fight his way back.

Prasad drops in the table. "Welcome back Bala." Gary Kirsten drops by with a couple of forms for Balaji to sign. Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando and Nuwan Kulasekara offer their congratulations and best wishes.

"Hindi bol leta hai yeh?" [Can he speak Hindi?] I ask Praveen. "Haan haan kar leta hai bhai." [Yes he can manage] And Balaji assures, "Teek taak hindi bol leta hoon yaar. I didn't learn in school but picked up while playing." The leg-pulling and laughter continue as one by one the other members of Indian and Sri Lankan squad drop in to welcome Bala.