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19 March 2024

Driving Sharjah crazy... Preity Zinta's infectious smile

Published
By Roopesh Raj

(@IPL)

It is a long drive to the Sharjah cricket stadium. At least from the Oberoi Hotel in Business Bay where the Rajasthan Royals are staying.

Is there anyone else staying there?

Seems like half the IPL contingent from India – backroom staff, front-end high-flyers, coaches, analysts, fans and more fans.

The IPL has a specific buzz; not unlike any other major sporting event but certainly unique to Indian cricket – this is big, big deal.

(‏@lionsdenkxip)

Folks are hustling in and out, mostly putting the concierge under siege for ‘hospitality’ envelopes for the Royals versus Kings XI Punjab game in Sharjah.

We saw no helicopters flying in, which means the celebs (despite UAE radio stations covering the match indulging in a bit of hyperbole with Bollywood! Stadium packed! What a day for cricket!) that did show up – one celeb and one former celeb drove there.

For that alone Preity Zinta deserves the early award for most dedicated team owner.

Vijay Mallya was also in Sharjah for Bangalore’s game there last week, but no word on whether he did the Dubai to Sharjah drive at peak hours.

(@RCBTweets)

Which is what delightful Preity did yesterday and was late, and was rushing through the gates to catch her team bowling first and seemingly getting hammered. Watson and young Sanju Samson were having a right go at some ordinary Punjab fielding.

Ok, so we in the UAE are a bit Bollywood-obsessed and star-starved, so forgive the, er, hyperbole.

(@shameer_666)

Ms Zinta has the kind of effervescent presence and joie di vivre effect that allows her to reach the fan sitting at the furthest corner of the stadium from her perch in the hospitality area.

And when she goes crazy, as she did, when Glenn Maxwell went crazy to give Punjab victory, she does so with a genuine enthusiasm that is infectious. Yes, we get it, she is an actress after all.

(‏@chaithu_culguy)

Then there was ‘Sandokhan’, the ‘Thief of Bagdhdad’ - Mr Kabir Bedi.

Gracious, ageing and still doing more for a full beard than Brad Pitt or George Clooney can ever hope to.

(‏@iKabirBedi)

And chivalrous. A poor lady in his section managed to twist her ankle rather badly. In fact, so badly, that she required medical treatment.

Bedi was on hand to make a few suggestions to the nursing staff about the right angle of the raised foot and of course, in his soothing baritone to assure the woman in distress it would all be ok.

Which is what someone needs to tell Shane Watson - the Rajasthan Royals captain – Maxwell destroyed you, Shane, but don’t worry, it will all be ok.