IPL: An open letter to Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta

Dear Ms. Zinta,

It seemed as if the long wait for the coveted IPL crown would soon end this season for your side, but KKR clinched a well-deserved victory to sideline KXIP to the second spot. Amongst all the faces in the crowd, where few of them came to support a particular team while others were there to witness an exciting contest, the dejection of ending up on a losing side was quite imperative on your face. Certain mistakes proved vulnerable for the team and the side which played consistent cricket throughout the tournament was overpowered by a side which emerged from a situation where they had nothing to lose for.

Cricket is a sport, which once followed with enthusiasm, cultivates an emotional belonging with the game and that’s what was evident in you in all the editions of IPL. You seemed to have a robust nexus with the side, leaving aside all the lofty sums you have invested in this team. Your fervidness, your intermittent prayers, your loud cheer and more than that your faith in the side whenever it was not able to live up to the expectations speaks about it.

You supported the team more as a staunch fan rather than as an owner who have the stakes in every proceedings of the side. The previous seasons had nothing to cheer about and yet you come out with a hope that those 22 yards will give you a better result. You had and still have your charisma as an actress but I don’t see an actress when you come out to cheer for Punjab, I rather see a normal fan who wants to win at any cost.

This is a kind of league where players come and go every other season and hence a team is more relied on fans and owners who stand for them at worst of the times and keep them motivated to come better again and again. You along with your entourage did that every year and this year was no exception where you dismantled the side, build a good one, trusted an Indian coach and began the proceedings on a high note to make the difference.

When I take back the picture to preceding seasons where the team played sporadic cricket, I think this year would have given much ecstasy as the team played consistent and gutsy cricket throughout the tournament and proved the fact that possessing braveness can make a lot of difference. It was a whole team effort which comprises of people like you too, who, although oblivion about book cricket, tried the level best to keep things on track.

Although the scenes were sad for you on that night at Bangalore, you must realize that you are not far away from conquering a battle, sooner or later it will fill your cabinet with that glittering trophy. You must be complacent about the fact that the team emerged out as one of the best in the league and although KKR had lifted that trophy, playing this kind of cricket consistently is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Hence, keep that perpetual faith and hope alive.

Regards,

Kings XI and your fan