‘Preity Zinta (INTERVIEW) is simply the best’

‘Preity is simply the best’

He’s bowled over by the bubbly Miss Zinta, and can’t wait to roam the greens of India’s tiger sanctuaries.

After all, roots do count, right? Ravi Bopara, English cricketer of Indian origin, and now, Kings XI Punjab player, chats with PT about the IPL and more

Describe the Indian Premiere League experience...
Cricket is fun here. This tournament has changed the format of classical cricket. I never thought it would be so exciting. We are playing against cricketers from all across the globe, millions of people are watching it, and so many celebrities have lent their name to it... What better platform could a cricketer hope for?

Would you have enjoyed the tournament better had it been held in India?
I had heard so much about IPL. I was looking forward to playing in India, travelling across cities and soaking in all the excitement. I have a family back in India, and wanted to visit those places. But, things have changed. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for next time!

Graham Gooch called you a “very bubbly, infectious character” to have in the dressing room. Have you bonded well with the very bubbly team owner, Preity Zinta?
Oh, she is simply the best! Her presence can be a major boost for the team. She chats with everyone, understands what the team is all about and can offer solutions in an instant. Her communication and coordination skills are fantastic. Now that I’ve seen her as a team owner, I plan to get the DVDs of all her films to catch her as an actor. I want to see this dynamic lady celebrating with the team after winning this tournament.

But the rain is playing spoilsport...
The weather can actually impact the league table. But, I believe that fortune favours the brave. As every team is facing the vagaries of weather now, we should just concentrate on performance.

You have players like Yuvraj Singh, Kumar Sangakkara and Irfan Pathan in the team. How is it sharing the dressing room with them?
When you play with legendary cricketers from South Africa
, India, New Zealand and other countries, you get to know how they draw up their strategies, how they get themselves into match-winning form, and how they analyse other’s players. Each member of the team has something new to offer. And Yuvraj and the others are simply great!

Your views on Yuvi’s captaincy...
He is a leader, not a boss and that’s why he is so well accepted in the team.

Which team do you think has the best chances this year?
My own team, of course, as this is the most balanced squad. But then, the format of the game is such that you can’t really predict anything. It all depends on how a batsman or bowler performs on that particular day. Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai have experienced players, who are capable of changing the situation in a single match.

What’s the one thing you want to do, when you visit India?
I just want to meet the people there. I am also an animal lover, and have heard a lot about India’s tiger sanctuaries. So, I’ll make it a point to spend a whole day at one of the tiger sanctuaries there.

source:timesofindia