The grand finale of IPL Season 2 is going to redefine the meaning of grandeur. Top shots from the world of film, politics and corporates are going to add to the zing of closing ceremony of IPL Season 2. The organizers are not ready to disclose now, but media can dig out any secret and as goes the scoop: the crowd at the Wanderers are expected to witness an unprecedented assembly of rich and famous on the May 24th.

Over the past one month and more, the South African crowd has been watching Bollywood stars cheering for their teams. Now its time to see some of them dancing. If the Indian Premier League management and producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Eros International are able to reach an agreement, the Kambhakkt Ishq stars, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor will be there to entertain the crowd gathered.

International film festivals were considered the most suitable venue for holding the premier of the upcoming movies, but Indian Premier League clearly provides a bigger launch pad for the Mumbai movies. After missing it out in the Cannes, Sajid Nadiadwala is all set to unveil his film at the Indian Premier League. For the film’s hero, Akshay Kumar, association with IPL is not a novel experience, as he was the brand ambassador of Delhi Daredevils in the previous season. However, for Kareena, IPL will be a new experience. She is expected to perform a special dance number from the film.

If Akshay and Kareena are not enough for your eyes, then wait to see the beautiful Katrina dancing to the steps of Shiamak Davar to the tune of ‘Jai Ho’ and two other Bollywood babes, Bipasha and Rani sharing stage with her, Shilpa Shetty joining American R&B sensation Akon as he sings his Grammy award winning Smack, Caribbean music legend Eddy Grant performing the world-famous “Walking on Sunshine” and his anti-apartheid hit “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”, followed by pyrotechnics and laser show are all part of what is being marketed as a spectacular closing ceremony. 

But the celebrity list does not end there. Many other film stars both from Bollywood and South Indian film industry are going to appear at the closing ceremony. Many of them are brand ambassador of some of the IPL teams, the rest have been invited simply to add up to the glamour quotient of this mega event. 

Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Ramya and Upendra (Bangalore Royal Challengers); Juhi Chawla, Arjun Rampal, Sajid Khan, and Farah Khan (Kolkata Knight Riders); Singer Daler Mehndi (Kings XI Punjab); Vijay and Nayantara (Chennai Super Kings); Ila Arun (Rajasthan Royals); Hansika Motwani (Deccan Chargers); and Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor (Mumbai Indians).

In addition to the who’s who from the glamour world, the big shots from industry and politics are also going to attend the gala ceremony on Sunday night. Although, the organizers refused to divulge the names of the politicians for obvious reasons, there are reasons to believe that some of the most high profile politicians are flying in here to attend the event. 

And if the speculation of the cricket news media proves correct, the newly-elected South African President Jacob Zuma will be there to grace the occasion. Among the businessmen, Vijay Mallya, the seventh-richest man in the world, and Mukesh Ambani, the fourth-richest in the world, will definitely be there to cheer their respective teams, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.

Tags: Akshay Kumar, Bipasha, bollywood, Caribbean Music, Deepika Padukone, Eddy Grant, Gimme Hope Jo'anna, Grammy Award, Grand IPL Final, Hollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009 News, IPL Finals, IPL Updates, Jai Ho, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Preity Zinta, R and B sensation, Shah Rukh Khan, Shiamak Davar, Shilpa Shetty, Smack, Walking on sunshine

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Rajasthan Royals had weapons like lethal bowling, athletic fielding and super strategies to defend their Champion’s title, but pathetic batting poured cold water on their aspirations, according to their dejected skipper Shane Warne.

“While defending we gave absolutely everything we had and showed the real fighting power we have. It is disappointing as defending champions for not making it into the semi finals.

“I think our bowling was good as any team probably the best in the IPL. Our field setting and tactics was as good as anyone but unfortunately our batsmen just didn’t fire. We were always under pressure after the first six overs as we lost our top order regularly. At the end of the day that probably costs us,” the legendary leg-spinner said.

The defending champions crashed out of the IPL season 2 after failing to defend a modest 101 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday.

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A cracking contest is on the cards on Thursday when Chennai Super Kings take on a rejuvenated Rajasthan Royals at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Fortunes have followed different routes for both last year’s finalists, who were on a roll in the inaugural edition.

Defending champions Rajasthan Royals are back in contention after ending Delhi Daredevils’ winning streak with a high-voltage performance on Tuesday.

Royals have recovered from the huge first match loss against Royal Challengers and are now in top-four in standings with five points.

Super Kings, on the other hand, badly need a win as they languish in the sixth place in the points tally after only one win in five matches. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team would be wary of Yusuf Pathan’s blistering form. The T20 specialist has played two match-winning knocks – against Knight Riders and Daredevils.

Royals’ bowlers also looked in fine touch as they restricted a strong batting side like Daredevils to 143. Skipper Warne, who has been an inspiring figure in the team, marshalled his resources well against Daredevils.

The changes in batting order, bringing Yusuf Pathan down the order, worked perfectly while the bowling shuffle was also productive.

Munaf Patel has been their key bowler while young Kamran Khan has given a tough time to opponents with his speed. Warne has chipped win with crucial wickets.

Super Kings are still to fire as a unit. Their batting led by devastating Mathew Hayden at the top has shouldered all the workload, but the bowlers have failed to defend good totals.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has asked the bowlers to pull up their socks.

“The bowlers are letting us down. We need to come up with a few ideas. We have struggled in the middle overs. We need to pull up there,” he said.

Tags: Chennai Super kings, Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Jaipur Rajasthan Royals, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mathew Hayden, Munaf Patel, Raj Kundra, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Yusuf Pathan

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A struggling Rajasthan Royals will look to save their title while a rampaging Delhi Daredevils will strive to continue their unbeaten run when the two sides lock horns in an Indian Premier League encounter on Tuesday.

The Virender Sehwag-led Delhi team is gradually emerging as one of the strongest title contenders and is comfortably second in the points tally after winning all their three matches played so far.

On the other hand, Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals have managed three points by virtue of the tied match against Kolkata Knight Riders which they won in the ‘Super Over’ and are languishing seventh in the table.

The Delhi Daredevils’ formidable batting line-up, which managed 189-5 – the highest score of the tournament so far – against last year’s runner-up Chennai Super Kings in their second outing, have made them a force to reckon with.

Their explosive opening pair of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, followed by the likes of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored a gutsy 67 to guide the team to a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, will be a worry for Rajasthan bowlers.

In-form all-rounder AB de Villiers and Mithun Manhas have also proved themselves in trying moments and the side is seemingly poised for chasing down stiff targets.

In the bowling department, Dutch-born Australian left-arm paceman Dirk Nannes, along with India discard Ashish Nehra, is showing some ominous penetration power and getting early breakthroughs.

The new-ball pair is finding supports from the spin duo of Amit Mishra and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who is drawing from his vast experience to make Delhi’s bowling formidable.

In contrast, Rajasthan have seemed like a shadow of the winning unit they were last season.

Young paceman Kamran Khan, who scalped two wickets for 15 runs for a losing cause in Sunday’s match against Kings XI Punjab, and speedster Munaf Patel are surely doing their bit but the batting has failed to back their consistent effort.

The team will be desperate for some fireworks from South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, who is yet to make any notable contribution.

The middle-order consisting Australian Rob Quiney and British Dimitri Mascarenhas will also have to strike form for the side to climb up in the points ladder.

Tags: Ab De Villiers, Amit Mishra, Ashish Nehra, Chennai Super kings, Daniel Vettori, Daredevils, Delhi Daredevils, Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan Royals, Dimitri, Dirk Nannes, Gautam Gambir, Graeme Smith, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Kamran Khan, Kolkata Knight riders, Mithun Manhas, Nannes, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Super Over, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virender Sehwag, Yusuf Pathan

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Highlights of match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

• Kings XI have now recorded four points in four outings with a Net Run Rate of +0.271. Rajasthan Royals are placed at the seventh position with three points with a Net Run Rate of -1.700.
• The 75-run fifth-wicket partnership between Irfan Pathan and Kumar Sangakkara and Irfan Pathan is Kings XI’s best stand, obliterating the 63 between Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan against Rajasthan at Jaipur last year.
• Shane Warne and Ravindra Jadeja put on a seventh-wicket stand of 60, which is the best in the IPL, bettering the 54 between Dilshan and Maharoof for Delhi Daredevils against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur last year.
• Irfan Pathan (39 off 33 balls) recorded his second highest IPL innings, next only to the 40 off 18 balls against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai last year.
• In Rajasthan Royals’ innings, Irfan bowled splendidly to claim two wickets for 26 runs and became the first all-rounder to post a 35-plus and bag two wickets in the same match in the second edition.
• Irfan is now the second all-rounder after James Hopes from Kings XI to achieve the double.
• Ravindra Jadeja (37 off 44 balls) posted his best innings in the IPL, bettering an unbeaten 36 off 25 balls against Kings XI at Jaipur last year.
• Shane Warne’s unbeaten 34 off 33 balls is also his best IPL knock, outstripping the 22 not out off 9 balls against Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad last year.
• Kumar Sangakkara posted his fifth IPL fifty – his first fifty in the second edition.
• With 60 off 51 balls and two catches, Sangakkara has received his second Man of the Match award in the IPL.
• Kings XI Punjab, with a 27-run victory, have won two games out of three against Rajasthan Royals.
• Kings XI Punjab (139/6) recorded their lowest total against Rajasthan Royals.
• Rajasthan Royals also posted their lowest total against Kings XI Punjab.
• Kings XI Punjab recorded a 27-run win, which is their second in four matches this year in the IPL.

Tags: IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Irfan Pathan, James Hopes, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, Maharoof, Preity Zinta, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Yuvraj Singh

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A thrilling encounter is on the cards with the tactful Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals challenging win-hungry Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

The Rajasthan Royals pulled off a win via ‘Super Over’ in a nerve-wrecking tie against the Kolkata Knight Riders, putting behind their two successive losses to emphasise that they are in a serious business to defend their title in the eight-team tournament.

Warne fulfilled its promise to hit back strongly after it had collapsed to the lowest IPL total of 58 runs in their opening match while their second match had been washed off by rains. The Jaipur brigade would now try their best to build on their success and improve the run rate to fire up their title defence instead of slipping below the fourth position from here on.

With all-rounder Yusuf Pathan coming of age and rookie pacer Kamran Khan living up to Warne’s expectation, Rajasthan have also showed they were not missing any previous season players.

Kings XI Punjab, with just a single win in their pocket, requires to be extra cautious as they face Rajasthan Royals, who would be again waiting to surprise their opposition by flinging yet another surprise after baffling Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match.

Punjab skipper Yuvraj Singh, on his part, would rely on another stint of apt execution of plan, especially by his bowlers to tame the Rajasthan Royals by causing their yet another batting fiasco.

Riding on the heroics of their new revelations young England batsman Ravi Bopara, who hammered a match winning knock of 85 runs, and bowler Yusuf Abdullah, the Preity Zinta-owned team would hope to climb the rungs on team standing table, where they are languishing at lowly sixth among eight contenders.

Besides, Yuvraj Singh and Co would also be praying that rain may not play a spoilsport as they bid to continue with their winning ways.

Tags: bollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Kings XI Punjab, Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals, Preity Zinta, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, Ravi Bopara, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Super Over, Yusuf Abdulla, Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh

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Anil Kumble returned with his first five-wicket haul in Twenty20 cricket to bowl Bangalore Royal Challengers to victory over reigning champion Rajasthan Royals in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) second edition here Saturday.

The former India captain also has the best economy rate in the IPL (1.57). Delivering a minimum of twelve balls in an innings, Kumble bettered Mohammad Hafeez’s rate of 2.00 (4-0-8-1) for Kolkata Knight Riders against Deccan Chargers at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens last year.

Other statistical highlights of the Royals-Challengers match:

Kumble (5/5 off 3.1 overs) posted the second best bowling figures in the IPL. Sohail Tanvir had 6 for 14 for Rajasthan Vs Chennai at Jaipur last year.

Kumble became the fourth bowler to capture five wickets in an innings. Sohail Tanvir, Amit Mishra and Lakshmipathy Balaji were the first three to claim five wickets in an innings.

Rahul Dravid (66) has been adjudged the Man of the Match for the first time in the IPL for producing his third fifty in the tournament — his fourth in Twenty20.

Rajasthan Royals’ 58 off 15.1 overs is the lowest total in the IPL, surpassing the 67 by Kolkata Knight Riders against Mumbai Indians in Mumbai last year. Their total is the second lowest in the history of Twenty20, next only to Titans’ 47 against Eagles at Centurion in 2004.

Bangalore Royal Challengers’ 75-run triumph is their biggest by runs margin in the IPL.

Rajasthan Royals’ defeat by 75 runs is their first in three IPL games against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Tags: Amit Mishra, Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL 2, IPL 2009 News, IPL 2010 - IPL 3, IPL South Africa, L Balaji, Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers, Royal Challengers Vs Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Sohail Tanvir

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Bangalore Royal Challengers skipper Kevin Pietersen won the toss and opted to bat against Rajasthan Royals in their first Indian Premier League match at Newlands cricket ground here on Saturday.

The Teams:

Bangalore Royal Challengers: Kevin Pietersen (C) Jesse Ryder, Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, B Akhil, R Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn.

Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (C), Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, D Mascarenhas, Mahesh Rawat, Tyron Handerson, Niraj Patel, Kamran Khan, Munaf Patel.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL 2, IPL 2009 News, IPL South Africa, Kevin Pietersen, Newlands, Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers, Royal Challengers Vs Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, Shilpa Shetty, Vijay Mallya

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Cape Town is getting ready for the biggest celebrity invasion of the year as the off-field stars of the Indian Premier League (IPL) converge on the Mother City.

As a popular holiday destination and film-shoot location, Cape Town is no stranger to the rich and famous, but with the glamorous Twenty20 tournament due to start here Saturday, the city is set for a different sort of invasion.

The eight teams in the Indian competition are owned by some of the biggest Bollywood stars and richest people in the world, who will stay at Cape Town’s new five-star hotel, One and Only.

Officially opened by local hotelier Sol Kerzner just two weeks ago, One and Only was built with celebrities in mind, and extravagant rooms cost between 610 and 3,880 dollars per night in the low season.

The IPL task team are camped at the hotel as the tournament approaches, and confirmed that celebrities were expected to arrive from Tuesday.

“All the franchise owners, Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Preity Zinta, the Ambanis, will arrive today,” organisers told.

“The only exception is Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya, who will come next week as he first wants to watch his Formula One team, Force India, compete in the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.”

Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars and owns the Kolkata Knight Riders, while Shetty is co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals and a former winner of Celebrity Big Brother.

Fellow actress Preity is part-owner of the Kings XI Punjab franchise and will jet in from Port Elizabeth where she has been watching the team train and attending the fourth ODI between South Africa and Australia.

Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani is the head of the fourth-richest family in the world, and owns the Mumbai Indians through his conglomerate Reliance Industries.

If that weren’t enough, the various wives and girlfriends (WAGS) of the players due to compete in the IPL opening weekend will add extra sparkle around Cape Town.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will return to his homeland Thursday with wife Jessica Taylor, a reality TV star who recently competed in the English show Dancing On Ice.

Indian actress Lakshmi Rai is expected to spend some time in Cape Town watching India’s heartthrob captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with the duo rumoured to be dating.

Celebrity watchers will hope Andrew Symonds’ girlfriend Katie Johnson, recently voted Australia’s top WAG in an online poll will add some Australian flavour by following his exploits with the Deccan Chargers.

And there’s the local contingent, with Jacques Kallis’ model partner Shamone Jardim and actress Jeanne Kietzmann, girlfriend of Dale Steyn, set to represent the host nation at gatherings set to dazzle South Africa’s fairest city.

Tags: Cape Town, Chennai Super kings, Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils, Dhoni, IPL 2, IPL 2009 News, IPL venue, Jacques Kallis, Kevin Pietersen, Knight Riders, Mukesh Ambani, Mumbai Indians, Preity Zinta, Rajasthan Royals, Reliance, Royal Challengers, Sachin, Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Symonds, Vijay Mallya

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