Did somebody just say Indian Party League?
THE DLF Indian Premier League starts today, but the good times are well under way as far as the teams are concer ned. There is no doubt that this is the biggest, best, most international show in India, across all categories. True, we did capture public imagination in South Africa, but home is where the heart is and since IPL’s dil is Hindustani, it’s going to be a bigger, better version of IPL-I
At around the time this newspaper reaches you, Mumbai’s beautiful people would be getting home from the Tote at Turf Club, Mumbai after the IPL Opening Night. This one’s going to be one big gig with international acts Akon, Lionel Ritchie, Shakira and of course Shah Rukh Khan. You can look out for the post mortem right here today, with some scoops. Did somebody just say Indian Party League?
Sure, the Opening Night was the Mount Everst among parties, but the good times started even earlier. I met the horned squad from Deccan Chargers, including a much reformed Symonds. He seems to have left his dreadlocks behind, was sedately drinking lime soda, which is something I haven’t seen before.
And then there was Adam Gilchrist looking ever so angelic even with a pair of horns growing out of his head. Speaking to Gilly, I could not help but marvel at his fitness and motivation levels, and, he is so into the team! He is really chuffed about getting ‘the Bullet from Barbados’ Kemar Roach as well as Mitchell Marsh, an 18-year-ol from Perth.
Shane Warne, resplendent with a Rajasthani moustache has just discovered the joys of Twitter. Like Gilly, he too looks like in prime condition. The Royals look a little more relaxed and are in a good space, they have done it all, but they don’t have the pressure of being defending champions.
I met another Charger, Rohit Sharma, and he was feeling really good about scoring a triple century. He dedicated his 309, to Virender Sehwag who had scored exactly that many at Multan. Rohit said, Viru had told him: “100-200 everbody scores, go for a 300!’’ And Rohit did just that. Speaking to all these blokes, one thing is clear: you can take a cricketer out of the game, but you can’t take the game out of a cricketer.
This article appeared in The Times of India on 12th March 2010.
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