It seems that DLF Indian Premier League franchisees are leaving no stones unturned to create a complete package of cricket combined with entertainment.
The eight teams are: Delhi owned by GMR, Mumbai (Reliance India Limited), Chennai (India Cements), Bangalore (UB Group), Mohali (combined team of Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia), Jaipur (Emerging Media), Hyderabad (Deccan Chronicle) and Kolkata (Shah Rukh Khan).
The Kolkata team seems to have zeroed in on maximum plans with Sourav Ganguly as the iconic player at the helm. Sources disclose that the name of the team could be ?Kolkata Knight Riders?. Shah Rukh has already signed on fashion designer Anaita Shroff Adajania for designing the team jersey. Black is Shah Rukh?s favourite colour. But it?s possible that black?s not going to be the team?s colour. Music composer Vishal-Sekhar is creating a team anthem, which will be made into a music video featuring SRK and maybe a few cricketers.
GMR has already christened team Delhi as ?Delhi Daredevils?, which according to the franchisee, is synonymous with the city?s image of pride and fearless passion. Prior to this, there was an on-air and on-ground campaign that was launched, appealing to people to vote through SMS and name the Delhi team. So, will there be a tug-of-war between the Bangalore team and the Mohali team over the team colour? If rumours are to believed, Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia have decided ?red and white? colour for team Mohali – the same colour combination of Vijay Mallya?s Kingfisher. However, sources say that Mallya has many options and so might just agree with Zinta and Wadia.
Mallya is also the host of the inaugural ceremony of IPL, which will be held on April 18 in Bangalore. All the eight teams with their franchisees will be present at the ceremony. All the ICC member countries have been invited as well. Therefore, with ?the king of good times? playing the host audiences will sure be on a high.