Sportive crowds, film stars give IPL clash festive atmosphere

BANGALORE - Kannada film stars taking a buggy ride to cheer up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) supporters and a sportive crowd that booed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for their sedate start but applauded as the runs flowed added to the festive atmosphere at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium as the two teams played a crucial IPL tie Saturday.

KKR captain Saurav Ganguly would be pleasantly surprised at the support he still enjoys from the Bangalore cricket fans. Cheers for him as he came out for the toss and then walked in to start the KKR innings were louder than for local lad and RCB captain Anil Kumble.

Cricket fans who filled the 40,000 capacity stadium were impatient with Ganguly and his partner Chris Gayle for their slow start and booed them. But with singles turning into fours and sixes, it was cheers again for the duo.

Entry to the stadium in the city centre was chaotic as hundreds of late comers tried to get in before play started.

Kannada film heart throbs Puneet Rajkumar and Ramya, who are RCB brand ambassadors, were taken round the stadium in a buggy to cheer up the crowd and prompt them to boost the morale of Kumbles men to win the critical tie to smoothen the passage to the semi-finals.

With the central sports ministry reportedly taking objection to realtor and IPL title sponsor DLF logo with tagline Building India painted in the bolwers run-up area which meant bowlers running over word India, the tagline was missing at the stadium.