Superstitious stars will do anything for India's win

Since cricket is nothing short of a religion in India, it comes with all its extra trappings including rituals and superstitious beliefs.

And as Team India takes on Sri Lanka today, several celebrities in Mumbai will be doing their bit to “help the country win the World Cup”.

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has a tried-and-tested ritual which he claims works very well. “Every time I sit in an uncomfortable and awkward way in my chair while watching an India match, the country wins,” he said, adding that he tried the same trick for the recent Indo-Pak match which India won. “And I will do it again when India plays Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Bachchan Jr says that his entire family had its sets of rituals when it comes to cricket. “I learnt to be superstitious about cricket from dad (Amitabh Bachchan). He doesn’t watch a match live since he believes that every time he does, an Indian wicket falls,” Abhishek adds. However, Big B keeps tabs on the scores by asking for updates from wife Jaya or daughter-in-law Aishwarya.

Even actor Aamir Khan, who is not generally superstitious, is not taking any chances this time. Sources close to the actor claimed that Khan sat in his seat through out the Indo-Pak match at the Mohali stadium since whenever he stood up to applaud, an Indian wicket fell.

Actress Preity Zinta will be wearing her ‘lucky’ outfit as she cheers for Team India on Saturday while actor Vivek Oberoi’s cricket ritual includes being seated in the crowd instead of in a VIP box.

Best wishes also poured in from people of different walks of life. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, an avid cricket fan, and Bollywood celebrities also rooted for an Indian win and fervently hoped that batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will score an unprecedented 100th international century on his home ground in Mumbai. “Keep it up is all I would say. I hope India wins.”

81-year-old Mangeshkar said, “I am eager to see India winning the cup and if Sachin scores his 100th century on his home ground in the final, it will be icing on the cake. I will pray for that.”

When asked about the possibility of watching the final at Wankhede stadium, she replied in the negative. An avid cricket fan, Lata had enjoyed the 1983 World Cup final from the galleries at Lords. “I don’t go to stadiums anymore. I will watch the match at home and after that I leave for Pune where I have to attend an award ceremony,” she said. She also declined to predict the outcome of the much awaited match.

“Both the teams are equally good. Cricket is a very unpredictable game and you can’t guess anything about the outcome. I thought Yuvraj will play a big knock in the semifinal but he got out for a duck. So I don’t like to predict anything,” Mangeshkar said.

Bollywood star Lara Dutta said, the “whole country is rooting for the Indian tam. The team has all the ingredients essential for a win in the Final.”

Another star Suneil Shetty said the Indian team is a “perfect combination and it deserved to win”.
(With agency inputs)