No 12194, Thursday 21 Dec 2017, Gridman

Solution and annotation of 8D left for any rookie commenter till 10 AM.

ACROSS
1   If a native says he is from a certain place, there he's ... (4,3,4) BORN AND BRED [CD]
9   Colour of small kiddy, disheartened and sad (3-4) SKY-BLUE {S}{KiddY}{BLUE}
10 I had backed officer-commanding — see renovated place of bishop (7) DIOCESE {I'D<=}{OC}{SEE*}
11 Everybody to return ration (5) ALLOT {ALL}{TO<=}
12 Well, you can't take this permission from work (4,5) SICK LEAVE [CD]
13 Escape from car? (5) DODGE [DD]
15 Topicality of the French cave being described around noon (9) RELEVANCE {RE}{LE}{VA{N}CE*}
18 A recall by university board is trustworthy (9) REPUTABLE {PER<=}{U}{TABLE}
21 Fellows who come in suits? (5) CARDS [DD]
22 In support of eastern gallery holding small preview (9) FORETASTE {FOR}{E}{TA{S}TE}
24 Five have a fever that's hard to pin down (5) VAGUE {V}{AGUE}
26 I retain studied disinclination to move (7) INERTIA {I}{RETAIN*}
27 The fellow, ace, strayed into a terrible raid — fool (7) AIRHEAD {HE}{A} in {RAID}*
28 Treadmills reset by primarily rigorous military trainer (5,6) DRILL MASTER {TREADMILLS}*{Ri...s}

DOWN
1   Spectator breaks brandy set (9) BYSTANDER*
2   Throne occupant unites two men (5) ROYAL {ROY}{AL}
3   Grant a learner much, male servants little time (9) ALLOTMENT {A}{L}{LOT}{MEN}{T}
4   Medical officer knocks the head of minor hospital assistant (7) DRESSER {DR}{lESSER}
5   Firebrand carries out raid on parts of California (7) RADICAL {RAID*}{CALi...a}
6   Gigolo ordered to show up slaver (5) DROOL [T<=]
7   Trainer riding roughshod over Oriental servant (8) RETAINER {RETAIN{E}R*}
8   Told an outstanding player to hand over (4) ?E?E (Addendum - CEDE (~seed) - See Comments)
14 Left section indeed (8) DEPARTED {DE{PART}ED}
16 The other way around — boy's somewhat averse (4,5) VICE VERSA {VIC}{AVERSE*}
17 End teaser about a person living in part of London (4,5) EAST ENDER*
19 Cricketer, leaving TN, makes odd trip for rice (7) BASMATI {BAtSMAn}{TrIp}
20 Stare upon hearing setter shout (7) EYEBALL {~ I bawl)
22 Turn over female's undergarment without a trace of sensitivity (4) FLIP {F}{sLIP}
23 Child journalist carried around (5) TOTED {TOT}{ED}
25 Reportedly took a stab at the hotel patron (5) GUEST {~guessed) Debatable homophone again See comments

GRID

Bhargav's Tale

The DRILLMASTER BORN AND BRED as a true EASTENDER, wearing a SKY BLUE Tee had just DEPARTED having applied for SICK LEAVE.

Why a VAGUE reason to DODGE and go away?

The EYEBALLs of the Public School Headmaster turned like Zamin Chakkars.

He was a RADICAL in his youth.

Leaving aside his INERTIA he followed his drillmaster and saw him enter an Indian restaurant.

As a casual BYSTANDER he looked inside and the CARDS were on the table.

The drillmaster's weakness was Hyderabad BASMATI Biryani!!!