There was no trace whatsoever of their stormy past as S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh -- the main protagonists in the 2008 Slapgate episode -- hobnobbed like long lost mates brought together by the ongoing second India-Sri Lanka second Test match in Kanpur on Thursday.
Those who expected sparks to fly at Green Park, whenever the volatile duo came near, were in for a pleasant surprise as both gave the impression that they have buried the hatchet and moved on in life.
So much so that Sreesanth found himself in Harbhajan's embrace after the temperamental Kerala speedster dismissed Tharanga Paranavitana for his first wicket after 19 months in international wilderness.
The last time the duo hugged each other in full public view was last April when Farokh Engineer brokered peace between them.
Harbhajan had slapped Sreesanth in Mohali during an Indian Premier League match involving Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. He was banned for the remainder of the IPL while Sreesanth was censured; the duo had to perform the unforgettable task of hugging each other in front of lensmen.
Thursday's camaraderie between them, however, betrayed no signs of the bad blood. In fact, the bonhomie suggested all is well between the two most volatile characters in the Indian dressing room.
Manning the mid-on, Harbhajan gave the impression that everything was hunky dory with Sreesanth as he kept chirping and clapping to encourage the speedster, who was breathing fire in the morning session.
In the post-lunch session, they swapped roles, and it was Sreesanth's turn to reciprocate the gesture.
And when Sreesanth completed his five-wicket haul, Harbhajan rushed from mid-on, patted his back and ruffled his hair. The offie also clapped for the pacer when the team left the field with Srresanth leading the way.
Later, Sreesanth waxed eloquent about how much Harbhajan backed him.
"He has been very supportive. He told me you have got to believe in yourself," Sreesanth said.
"Bhajji paji is like my elder brother and I look up to him as a cricketer and as a human being," added the speedster.
Overall, Sreesanth seemed to have mellowed down a lot and was in control of his emotions that often landed him in soup.
Back in the Test side after a 19-month hiatus, the 27-year-old pacer has shown rare poise. He did over-appeal a bit on Wednesday, but it was more because he wanted to make an early impression in his comeback match and nothing else.
There was no running up to the batsman, snarling, giving him the glare and a piece of his mind, as was his wont.
Sreesanth's antics were confined to the gesture he makes at the top of the bowling mark, pressing his hands down in his bid to keep his cool and then the mild pumping of air.
In contrast, Harbhajan looked more charged up, twice collecting Mahela Jayawardene's feeble push off his own bowling and hurling it back with considerable ferocity even though there was no possibility of a run-out.
Harbhajan remains an indispensable part of the Indian team but since that Slapgate episode, Sreesanth gradually slipped into oblivion, punctuated occasionally by fresh reports of his discipline breach that eventually incurred him a warning from the BCCI that he would be banned from domestic cricket if he didn't mend his ways.
The speedster went to Warwickshire for a county stint and there also was criticized by Alan Donald for his approach. The former South Africa pace ace said the erratic youngster needed to discipline himself.
An impressive outing in the Irani Cup and Sreesanth was back in the reckoning again and Ishant Sharma's prolonged slump in form also helped his cause.
After earning the recall, Sreesanth didn't waste time in making a mark. Now the selectors will have a difficult time when they meet to pick the team for the third and final Test, starting in Mumbai on December 2.
Image: Sreesanth gets a hug from Harbhajan Singh after his five-wicket haul.
Photograph: Reuters
