The cricket enthusiasts at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here could be seen cheering 'India, India’ with eager eyes for their favourite cricketers to arrive. Some people were seen holding posters saying, “Welcome to Odisha.”
Later, the players of both the teams were escorted to a star hotel in the State Capital amidst tight security arrangements.
The players received a grand reception at the hotel, with the hotel staff putting 'tilak’ on the players' forehead and garlanding them.
Earlier in the day, the Odisha Director General (DG) Of Police Sunil Bansal and other senior officials of Commissionerate Police took stock of the security arrangements at the Barabati stadium.
In the first T20I, South Africa pulled off a seven wicket win against India at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi last night.
The two teams will play subsequent matches in Cuttack on 12th, Visakhapatnam on 14th, Rajkot on 17th and the last one in Bengaluru on 19th of this month.
