The Play Clans

Actor Salman Khan best described Indian Premier League (IPL) when he said,Its like an action movie that starts with a climax and ends with one.

Written by Jagmeeta Thind Joy

April 2, 2012 02:28 AM IST

4 min read

The Big Night:Actor Salman Khan best described Indian Premier League (IPL) when he said,Its like an action movie that starts with a climax and ends with one. Well,the opening night of IPL on April 3 will see a mix of performances by Bollywood stars. Amitabh Bachchan will open the act by reading out a verse celebrating cricket,penned by lyricist Prasoon Joshi. The poem captures the spirit of the game and makes a commitment that whatever one may do in life,one would always want to be connected to the game of cricket, says Joshi. Leading ladies Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor,along with dancing sensation Prabhu Deva,will follow up with their performances. Adding to the Chennai heat will be singer Katy Perry,along with Salman Khan and Colonial Cousins.

Tigers on the Prowl:Hes best known as Salman Khans shadow. Gurmeet Singh Jolly aka Shera,the actors brawny bodyguard who runs a security company called Tigers,has been roped in by Rajasthan Royals to secure their players this season. Tigers has bouncers that shadow many Bollywood celebrities. Making their debut in the cricketing arena,the Tigers team will look after skipper Rahul Dravid and others.

True Colours:Ever since IPL began,changes in the teams gears have been constant. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have progressed from all-black jerseys to outfits in purple and gold,while the Deccan Chargers have swapped their muddy beige and black lapel uniforms for one-colour (dark blue) outfits. KKR,along with Kings XI Punjab,have also made changes to their logos and branding. Commenting on the new logo,Col Arvinder Singh,COO,Kings XI Punjab,said,Like the lions in the logo,the team will fight a fierce battle and prove to be the kings of the IPL jungle. Interestingly,the RCB team,which wears red,wore green jerseys during a match against Kochi Tuskers last year with an aim to spread environmental awareness. Pune Warriors India are the latest IPL team to get an all-new look. Shedding black and silver,the team is now in bright blue. Even though teams deny that astrology has anything to do with their changed jersey colours,the term Men in Blue takes on a whole new meaning.

The Googly:There are numerous team sponsorships that do the rounds during IPL. But heres a googly. Washington Apples,a fruit brand available in India,has announced its partnership with the two-time IPL champion,Chennai Super Kings. Apple will be their official fruit for the upcoming IPL season. Will they once again munch their way to victory?

Spreading Cheer:Cheerleading and IPL go hand in hand. Skimpily clad cheergirls with pom-poms have been on the front foot for many teams,but last year saw the debut of Cheer Queens by Pune Warriors India. Dressed in seven types of ethnic Indian costumes,Cheer Queens performed to Indian music. But looks like they have competition this year. As part of their New Knights. New Dawn campaign,KKR are putting together their team of cheergirls who,dressed in Bangla saris,will perform to Rabindra Sangeet. Meanwhile,official broadcaster Max is retaining the Miami Dolphin cheergirls on their set,with the addition of stand-up comedy acts and gigs to attract viewers. Cricket being a national obsession,we hope to deliver the best of entertainment to the millions of cricket lovers in the country, says Neeraj Vyas,EVP & Business Head,Max.

Ticket Counter:All teams have started online ticket sales,with some of them extending cash-on-delivery options as well. The opening night tickets are priced at Rs 1,500 onwards. For details,log on to http://www.iplt20.com