There was just one marvelous (published) ‘family’ image after the Indian Cricket team’s spectacular win at the historic World Cup, which looked romantic and intimate… it featured the Captain Dhoni’s young bride Sakshi, resting her head against his broad shoulders, her eyes shut , and a big, blissed out smile on her face. He himself looked slightly preoccupied and distant, with the (replica?) Cup held lightly between his knees, his freshly tonsured head reflecting the last rays of the setting sun. This picture was taken at the disastrous, hastily put together reception for the team on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan. Other than that, zilch! we had countless photographs of our hirsute, burly ‘Boys’ smooching the Cup – the blessed Cup! Not wives, not girlfriends! How peculiar. Sachin, the idealised Father , was allowed to take his victory lap with his two kids ( strictly, no spouse). But being the reticent, restrained husband in public, he also did not blow kisses to his wife nor pose for lovey -dovey pictures with Anjali at all the countless photo shoots that followed. Even the biggest players in the team ( and I’m not talking about their performances on the field ), Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, behaved coyly on and off the grounds, especially regarding the late, late, late ‘after party’ dawn hi-jinks at the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was only after starlet Neha Dhupia posted a picture partying with Yuvi, and dj Sophie Choudhary tweeted about the same fella at the same event, that fans found out Yuvi was indeed on a double date with two buxom glam gals that glorious night. Disappointingly, Bhajji was his lonesome ownsome self during the revelry – no wonder he drank gallons of champagne to boost up his flagging spirits. About the others – well, if there was something sizzling to report, we’d have known it by now.
What’s with us? Look at the sex appeal quotient of the current team – they are all serious hotties – himbos, even. Great bods, great attitude, proven performance. Testosterone- in- motion. And yet, when it comes to hook- ups and scandals, they behave like virginal school boys with stern principals looking over their shoulders at all times – even in the boudoir. Compared to these Goody Goody guys, an older generation of cricketers appear far more rakish, daring, dashing and lust worthy. All those juicy stories, all those link- ups….wow. The Noob and his Begum ( Pataudi and Sharmila, if you must know), Imran Khan and Zeenat Aman. Then later, Azaruddin and Bijli. What’s the point of being a God- like, macho sports star with swooning fans, if you are going to behave like a village school master or a head priest? These guys are young, some are single and free to mingle, and others are married to good lookers…. come on…. loosen up! Look at those English footballers, or the soccer\ baseball stars in
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