Team Karnataka readying for celebrity cricket league

6am. Palace Grounds.
That’s been the daily call sheet for each of the Kannada film actors who will be playing for team Karnataka at the much-hyped Celebrity Cricket League which kick-starts on June 4 in Bangalore.

“An hour and a half of physical training, followed by an intense practise session on the field for another hour is rounded off with more exercise,” says actor Dharma, one of the team members.
The preparation does not end here. A healthy diet plan and a couple of mandatory rules put forth by the team’s captain, actor-director Sudeep, has resulted in a team of film actors that could actually beat a team of professional cricket players recently.
“We played against a team of players, many of whom have been part of the Under 21 and Under 19 teams for Karnataka, and were shocked when we tied with them. They had scored 192 runs and when we took to batting, we did not expect to get even half way there. While that was a good match, we are waiting to see what will unfold during the main matches in June,” says actor Mahesh.

News of these intense practise sessions have travelled to the
other participating film industries too, and a source says, “One of the actors from the Tamil film industry called to ask if Sudeep has started Karnataka’s own Chak De team. It does seem like that, for the team’s players are not allowed to party  too late into the night. They are also off alcohol and smoking to ensure good stamina. Now, after a good month or two of daily practise, the team is looking good on the field.”

Also on call, on the field is doctor and physiotherapist Ramakanth, who has been a consultant to the Indian cricket team. During practise, a lot of the players tend to suffer minor sprains and injuries, which need immediate attention. In fact, Sudeep seems to have dislocated a small bone on his finger. “It happened last week, and the doctor says it requires a surgery. But I can’t risk a surgery just days before the matches begin. It will just have to wait. Until then, Ramakanth is helping out every morning with physiotherapy,” says Sudeep.

With so much preparation underway for the upcoming matches, the players seem to be doing their bit. The team owner, Ashok Kheny, has done his bit too — what with the number of crores he has invested on the team as well as on the film artiste’s association. Since the matches begin in Bangalore, the rest of the film industry is expected to be heading to the grounds on June 4 as well, to cheer for the Karnataka Bulldozers. Film stars playing for Hindi, Tamil and Telugu film industries are going to battle it out on the field. So the question is… are you gonna be there too?