Old habits die hard.

Even though he is no longer associated with the club, Raj Singh Dungarpur made it a point to visit long-time companion, the Cricket Club of India, to watch the Indian team practice at the Brabourne stadium on Friday.

Dungarpur, or Rajbhai as he is affectionately called, was a name synonymous with the Cricket Club of India before he unceremoniously quit as president earlier this year.

The veteran administrator may not be in the best of health, but made it a point to meet the Indian team.

Twenty20 World champions India were having a net session on the eve of their one-off Twenty20 international against Australia. Dungarpur spoke with the younger players in the side and had a long chat with them.

Last month he retired as president of the CCI and was later accused of misappropriation of funds by the club, a charge he continues to deny.

Under his guidance, the CCI, which had lost its pre-eminence as a Test centre when international cricket action shifted to the Wankhede stadium, regained that status by hosting matches, including the final of last year's ICC [Images] Champions Trophy.

The 71-year-old has served Indian cricket with great distinction and occupied almost all important posts. He played first class cricket for 16 years for Rajasthan and then served the BCCI in various capacities, including president.

For Dungarpur, it's always been eat cricket, drink cricket and sleep cricket!

Photograph: Sandeep Pandey