IPL: Preity Zinta,Gabriella Pasqualotto and Saurav Ganguly

Preity Zinta’s pep talk before the big game against Mumbai Indians worked wonders for Kings XI Punjab.

The Mohali home-boys trashed their opponents sending them crashing to only their third loss this season.

Though why Sachin Tendulkar decided to field first on winning his first toss in nine games is beyond my understanding. MI have done extremely well batting first.

Remember Shah Rukh Khan motivating his boys a few seasons ago?

The effect was less than salutary. Perhaps, it’s got something to do with cricketers being red-blooded boys and a Punjabi kudi knowing how to get the fists, heads and hearts pumping.

SRK’s histrionics probably work better on screen. Not that he needs to do much talking this year  with a new-look team that’s in the top four.

All major Indian news channels carried the story of a South African cheerleader,Gabriella Pasqualotto, sent home for blogging on her experiences at IPL 2011.

When I first came across her reports, I felt that this was yet another "Fake IPL Player’" type diary.

Oh, well, what was she doing blogging about her employers anyway? Couldn’t she have waited till later for her kiss-and-tell?

No sympathy here, for sure. I’m sure she’ll recoup any losses by selling her story to SA tabloids.

Ganguly returned to the IPL with "zero-confidence." That did not prevent him scoring a run-a-ball 32 in his comeback game for Pune Warriors. Dada seemed thrilled to be out in the middle after five uncertain months.

PS: If you arrived at this article looking for Preity Zinta, no, I do not consider Preity to be the last word on inspirational speaking.

If you found this searching for Gabriella Pasqualotto, I duly apologize; those few lines are all I know of the lissom cheerleader.

If , on the other hand, you were searching for Saurav Ganguly, oh, you sorry so-and-so.

Don’t find fault, find a remedy.

Henry Ford