Chennai, Jan 21 (UNI) Left arm fast bowler Thangarasu

Natarajan, who was part of the triumphant Indian team

that recorded a historic 2-1 win over Australia, was

accorded a hero's reception in Salem district, even as

health department officials asked him to get quarantined

since he returned from abroad.

Soon after he arrived at his native hither to nondescript

Chinnappampatti village in his native Salem district of

Tamil Nadu, Natarajan, who became the first Indian to

make his debut in all the three formats in the same

series was accorded a rousing reception by the villagers.

It was celebration time at Chinnappampatti, which has now

garnerned international attention, thanks to Natarajan's

exploits in the series Down Under.

The entire village wore a festive look in view of the arrival

of Natarajan, who was seen wearing face masks and hand

gloves.

He was greeted by tens and hundreds of people and was

garlanded by the officials.

He was escorted to his residence in a procession in a

tastefully decorated horse-mounted chariot.

Even people from neighbouring districts thronged the

village to greet him.

Locals welcomed him with folk dances, beating of drums

and bursting of crackers and presented him with bouquets.

Natarajan responded to the people's reception and greetings

by showing thumbs up sign and with folded hands.

Scores of people took photographs in their mobile phones.

Though the villagers have erected make shift dias all

along the route till his residence to receive greetings

from the people, the health officials have asked them

to remove it citing the COVID pandemic.

Health and district officials also visited his house and

asked him to undergo the mandatory 14 day home

quarantine as he came from abroad.

The cricketer was also asked not to meet any people during

the quarantine period, though he underwent corona tests

in Australia before leaving for India.

UNI GV 1718