Hrithik Roshan gives a ‘Royal’ snub to Mumbai Indians

After stupendous success owing to his royal ‘Akbar’ act, it’s nothing but the best that works for gangly hunk Hrithik Roshan. Living by the famous saying—‘In Bollywood you are as big as your last hit or the brand you endorse’, the stunner has switched his cricket loyalties from IPL team Mumbai Indians to last year’s winners Rajasthan Royals.

The actor, who wooed us all with his heart throbbing dancing number for the Mumbai team last year, will be seen cheering the Royals this season.

Whether or not Hrithik’s decision is inspired by Mumbai Indians’ lackluster performance at the pitch remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the actor has reportedly agreed to encourage Shilpa’s Royals.

Confirming the news a news daily quoted a source as saying, "Hrithik was on a one-year contract with the Mumbai cricket team. When approached for a renewal, the actor refused, citing date issues as he was busy with his film ‘Kites’."

Surprisingly, the dishy hunk was all-available for Shetty’s team. What’s more is that Shilpa will be shaking a leg with Hrithik in the video.

Well, Hrithik surely knows how to be a part of the winning crowd.

Royal plans in shadow of uncertainty

Jaipur: The world is mesmerized by Slumdog Millionaire, a story about winning when the world least expects you to. A year ago a team called Rajasthan Royals did the same.

Their journey so far in the Indian Premier League is what movies are made of with the Rajasthan Royals treading on a path that have transcended them from the underdogs to the champions and now Kaleidescope Entertainment will be making a movie titled 'Googly' on them.

On a lazy Saturday afternoon, Rajasthan Royals announced their big plans for the second season; all in the midst of concerns surrounding the second season of the mega event.

But the owners of the Jaipur franchise, though a bit worried, announced a slew of initiatives in a glittering function at the Taj, which includes a new sporting gear designed by Puma, a team anthem called Halla bol (composed by Anand Raj Anand and sung by Sunidhi Chauhan), fan gear merchandise in the form of a blue bugle, a DVD transcending the fairytale success of the Royals and launch of Googly.

Rajasthan Royals also announced their new squad for the 2009 season of the IPL which included new foreign Twenty specialists like Tyron Henderson (South Africa), Shane Harwood, Lee Carseldine and rookie Rob Quiney (all from Australia).

However, all the big announcements came after it was announced that the opening ceremony and the first game of the second season between the Royals and the Delhi Daredevils will not be staged in Jaipur but in Mumbai, something which the Royals are not too pleased about.

"It is sad as we will not have the home support and I wanted my first game to be played in Jaipur," said co-owner Shilpa Shetty.

Manoj Badale, co-owner and someone who has witnessed the growth of the Royals right from its inception said: "If it's left to us. We will play all our home games in Jaipur."

Badale's agitation with Jaipur looking unlikely to host many games in the second season of the IPL was evident but he stated that it was the security of the players and fans that was paramount and he is not worried about things which he cannot control.

However, on a bright note, Badale read a special message from the Jaipur skipper Shane Warne, who said that he will come to India and play in the second season of the IPL.

No question of foreign recruits skipping IPL: Badale

Rajasthan Royals owner Manoj Badale on Saturday dispelled doubts on the participation of Australian and English cricketers of his side due to any security concern that crept up following the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan players in Pakistan.

"Shane Watson has said publicly that he was eager to play in the IPL and Shane Warne too has spoken to me and has shown willingness to guide his team to another victory," Badale told reporters at a team promotional event here.

At a function to launch a new title song for his team and also unveil a new shirt, Badale said a victory parade will be held next month to celebrate the first edition triumph.

"We tried twice but just after the final last year few players left due to their prior engagements. When we tried again the terrorists attack in Mumbai thwarted our plans. As for now we plan to hold a victory parade on April 7 in which all players are expected to take part," said Badale in the presence of other stakeholders Raj Kundra and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty.

Badale said the team management was also planning to recruit more players from the home state.

"We had sponsored a few local tournaments and opened a window for local players. We plan to put four local players on the contract list and to select a few local players and give them the opportunity to share the dressing room with the squad.

"This will be a learning experience for these players. But I cannot change the standard of cricket in the state so quickly," he said.

He said the next priority for Rajasthan Royals was to spread the interest of the Twenty20 tournament to Gujrat, its catchment area.

"Our other catchment area is Gujrat and we have seven players from that region in our ranks. Initially we were planning to hold matches like one against Mohali and with Pathan brothers (Irfan and Yousuf), the match would have generated much interest in that area. If we are not able to hold the matches in Jaipur, Gujrat would be our next preference," said Badale.

Asked whether the shifting of the inaugural IPL match would mean that Mumbai was safer than Jaipur, Badale said it did not mean so.

"The world that we live in has people who are hell bent on destructing peace. Paramount for Rajasthan Royals is players' security and we will do whatever is asked from us in that regard. It can happen anywhere in world, in Lahore, in Mumbai or any where. This is not a judgment on standards of security but it is a question of resources and of assurances."