It was by choice that this busy film star invested time and money in cricket. The Kings XI Punjab gave Preity Zinta a platform to explore her love for sport and her interest in cricket has only grown with each passing year in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As co-owner of the franchise and the popular face of the team, Zinta is looking forward to Kings XI Punjab winning the title in the tenth edition.
She admits things have not panned the way she had expected. “Obviously not in some ways. In some ways it exceeded my expectations. I always believed that it (IPL) would be a big brand. It’s become an incredible global brand. I would like to win the tournament. That would be a big high. We missed that bar but I am crossing my fingers this year. I won’t say we have played to our potential. It’s been a roller-coaster ride.”
Learning curve
Which has been the best phase for Kings XI Punjab? “There’s no good or bad phase,” she responds. “Every phase teaches you but I think our first year was incredible because the first time for anything is most exciting. That was a great year. 2014 was a great year as well. We played the final. Every year has been a learning curve.”
On her experience in the IPL, Zinta is candid, “Overall it was my first business venture and something I believed in. I am happy to see where it has reached today. Also look at what it has done to sports as general in the country. Today, when a young guy or girl tells his/her parents that they want to be professional sports persons the parents are like “yes, please go ahead and do it.” Earlier the parents would not support their children to play sport.”
Serious competition
She does not appreciate IPL being called mere entertainment than serious competition. “I think the people who say IPL is more about entertainment than competition they are not sure about what they are saying and are jealous,” she snaps.
“I don’t know what else to say? How do you not see the competition? Yesterday, this young guy from Delhi (Rishabh Pant) made 97 runs and what an innings he played! Where else would you see the opportunity for a youngster to come and play against the stalwarts of international cricket? After IPL came into being India won the World Cup. We are at the top in Test cricket too. The proof is in the pudding.”
Zinta praised IPL for the opportunities it gave to new faces. “The youngsters give their breakthrough performances in the IPL and go on to play for the Indian team. Look at Shaun Marsh. In 2008, he won the orange cap and went on to play for Australia. David Miller had a breakthrough performance in India and eventually went on to play for South Africa. It’s the biggest stage for players to perform in IPL and go on to represent their countries.”
Was she always interested in cricket? “Not at all. I must have watched three games. Mainly India-Pakistan matches (in World Cup). It’s different now. It’s become a three-hour format. One of the big challenges when IPL happened was how to make women and children watch IPL. Cricket was always a man thing, right! But look at it today. Families, girls, they just love it. It’s been incredible to have the whole country watching IPL and not just the men. I remember when the World Cup final was happening, my friend’s daughters were watching and they identified the players as someone from Kings XI and someone from Mumbai Indians. They knew the players. I never grew up knowing the players except a few Indian players. It has appealed to all sections of the society even if they were not cricket fans.”
Two IPLs
What would she like to bring to IPL? “In a perfect world,” she asserts, “it would be great to have two IPLs in a year – one home and one away. That would be amazing. When the IPL went to South Africa and Dubai it was amazing to see the response.”
Ten years of IPL has helped Zinta understand the game better. “Earlier I would think what was so great about cricket. Take a bat and a ball and play. Over the years, I realised there was so much of technique involved. There is so much of mental side to the game. Looking at the pitches, the dew factor, do we bat first, do we bat second. Now I can read if the ball was a yorker. When the IPL started I would sit in front of the TV screen because I would now know where the ball went. I would say we had fluorescent ball so that I can see it. I don’t see much of cricket when the IPL is not on. But I watch every game of IPL.”
Any plans of a movie with IPL as the theme? “I don’t know about that. A blockbuster movie for sure…You never know…Wait for it,” she smiles.
