Page 180 - IPL 2

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In Conversation with Priety Zinta, Co-Owner, Kings XI Punjab...

What a lot of people don’t know is that your team is not just Punjab, the crest names a few other states also, doesn’t it?
That’s very true. A lot of people do not know that our crest has KJHPH on it which basically represents – Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal,
Punjab and Haryana, the way these appear on the Indian map. All of these are our catchment areas and we clearly wanted them to be
represented within the Kings XI Punjab logo as we did not want anyone ever to feel left out. A quick rough sketch, some ideas bounced
off the only woman (well at that time) working with the IPL, Radhika Moolraj, and we were ready to sit down with O&M and describe to
them what we wanted. And soon enough we had the Kings XI Punjab crest which has now become synonymous with the team.

Are you also doing activations in your catchment areas to develop local players and get them onto the team?
Oh, absolutely. In fact, Kings XI Punjab was the fi rst in the IPL to host a domestic tournament featuring teams from within our catchment
area called the KXIP Cup for young players. We used this as a scouting opportunity to unearth young talent for our team. At this
tournament, not only did the youngsters have the opportunity to showcase their skills, but they also had coaching clinics and fi tness
tips etc. from experts. So, yes, we are doing a lot of on ground activation, in fact we have an extra budget allocated for activities for
youth development.

Its not just cricket, KXIP as a brand are supporting and sponsoring a lot of activities in the area?
KXIP is more than just a cricketing franchise, as we are very conscious of our social responsibilities too. I think we are the only team in
the IPL to support an entire village with solar power – this sort of social engagement just shows that we are a team with a heart. Even
in South Africa, we did a lot of work with under privileged children, with our players going out of their way to play cricket with them
and we also gave them equipment.

I remember you saying in South Africa that “We just have the worst luck in this IPL! Nothing is going our way.”
Lady luck just seemed to desert us for some weird reason in IPL 2009 in South Africa. We lost Shaun Marsh, James Hopes and Jerome
Taylor all to injury, and then Yuvi broke his fi nger. Brett Lee only came towards the end, Sreesanth was injured – so we had a seriously
depleted pace bowling attack and our problems did not end there. Mahela Jayawardene got injured towards the end and fi nally VRV
Singh too. So we had 8 players on the bench due to injuries – what more can I say!! But I must reiterate that our team tried its hardest
and put up a splendid show in spite of all the odds and I was very proud of all of them.

Let’s talk specifi cally about Shaun Marsh’s absence.
Shaun Marsh was the Orange Cap holder in the inaugural season and so had become an integral part of our team. When I heard the
news of his injury I was quite heart-broken, more so because earlier we had prepared ourselves that he would be available to us for only
half the season. But then, just 2 days prior to him joining us, we heard that he had pulled a hamstring and would be out for 8 weeks or 9
weeks. Cricket, however, has always been a team sport and we knew we had the other players to take us all the way. There was always
a certain attachment and we felt bad, in the same way as we felt bad for every other player that got injured.
What was your fi rst reaction to the news that IPL 2 would be moving out of the country Ness?
There was great camaraderie between you, the team and the support staff this IPL. You had a very down in the trenches kind of feel to “Oh, no! Here we go again!”
you whenever we would see you; you were like the front line soldier.
I am a front line foot soldier, willing and able to do everything that needs to be done to keep my team’s morale and motivation levels
high at all times. I have a lot of respect for all cricketers now. One catch dropped can make all the difference or one wrong stroke when NESS WADIA, CO-OWNER, KINGS XI PUNJAB
you are batting and its all over! So there is a lot of pressure and being down with them in the dugout is my way of telling my boys and “
my team that I support them, come what may.
PRIETY ZINTA MOHIT BURMAN NESS WADIA
168 KINGS XI PUNJAB KINGS XI PUNJAB 169 KINGS XI PUNJAB 169