For a long time, Cricket was considered a male bastion, from players, administrators, commentators, and anchors. During the 2003 World Cup cricket, though, things began to change when Mandira Bedi presented the Extra Innings, wearing low-cut ‘ noodle strap ‘ blouses. With little or no knowledge of cricket, due to her dressing style, Mandira was able to get the eyeballs. The reasons given for Mandira being on the show were to increase the number of female viewers. But what the series managed to do was also interesting in some cricket-bashers.
1. Mandira Bedi:
Mandira Bedi is an Indian actress, fashion designer and television presenter who has gained celebrity status playing the title role in the 1994 television serial, Shanti, shown on Doordarshan, India’s national channel. Mandira Bedi is popularly known as a walking and talking cricket person. Mandira is an enthusiast for cricket as she also hosted the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, 2004 and 2006 Champions Trophy. In spite of Mandira anchoring only one IPL season in 2009, she is loved and adored by the Indian cricket fans. The spell of the classy and sassy anchor charmed the fans in her one year.
2. Archana Vijaya
Archana Vijaya is a model and an anchor for television. Currently, she is the face that all cricket fans in India are constantly present and known as she started her IPL journey in 2011 and was a constant feature until 2015. A professional model and television presenter, Archana, is one of the tournament history’s most popular anchors. Recently, Archana has anchored a host of cricket shows for various channels such as’ Tour Diary for extra cover,” Cricket Masala mar ke’ and many more.
3. Shibani Dandekar
Shibani Dandekar is a singer, performer, anchor, and model from India. She started her career as an American television anchor. The versatile girl, as she appeared in five IPL seasons from 2011 to 2015, has created an image with her looks and varied knowledge of sports. She was also all over for posing. The participation of the Bollywood diva in the IPL had a different appeal as it was obvious that when she speaks to the players, cricket flows through her veins and she did her job very well.
Shibani, who is the sister of MTV VJ Anusha Dandekar, will not be anchoring this season’s tournament and the fans will surely miss her.
4. Rochelle Maria Rao
In the Indian Premier League, Indian Diva, Rochelle Rao had a short role to play, but her presence was charismatic and admirable. During her brief stint in the Indian Premier League in 2015-16, the model brought in some charm and knowledge.
Rochelle Rao, in her sixth edition, previously hosted the event. In 2012, Rochelle has crowned the Femina Miss India International and previously served as a model while holding a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Media. The 27-year-old was also featured in the 2014 Kingfisher calendar, and in the sixth season of reality dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa was a wild card entrant. Besides that, she appeared in many other TV s.
Rochelle was also the third runner-up in the famous reality show Bigg Boss season 9.
5. Pallavi Sharda
Pallavi Sharda is another female anchor in the IPL. She is an actress by profession, but she is also well versed in Bharatha Natyam’s traditional Indian dance. She holds in Media and Communications not only a bachelor’s degree but also the law. The addition of a Diploma in Modern Languages to her academic credentials.
Pallavi is Australian-Indian, born in Australia to Indian doctors who made her Bollywood debut with a cameo in the blockbuster’ My Name Is Khan’ of Shah Rukh Khan. She later appeared in Zindagi’s Love Breakups.
6. Karishma Kotak
The British Indian, who was born in London, is a professional TV presenter, model, and actress. When she anchored the IPL’s sixth edition, the sultry diva graced the fans with her strong persona and attractive features. The 34-year-old holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising and Marketing and decided to become an educator in the beginning, but destiny had other ideas. At the age of 16, Karishma began her modeling career and even appeared in the 2006 Kingfisher Calendar.
When she appeared as a contestant in the sixth edition of Bigg Boss ‘ hit TV show, the sizzling beauty shot to fame. She has also portrayed well-known singers in music videos, including the 2004 hit’ Me Against Myself’ by Jay Sean.
7. Isa Guha
Isa Guha, a former cricketer, is an Indian origin England cricketer and has made several appearances in the IPL’s Extraaa Innings. At the age of 17, she made her test debut in 2002 and was also named the Year’s BBC Asian Network Sports Personality. In 2009, the 30-year-old captured England’s Women’s World Cup.
Isa has been a regular at the IPL, as the fans and players respect the analysis and opinions of the former cricketer.
8. Shonali Nagrani
The model, actress and television presenter from Delhi has crowned the Femina Miss India International in 2003 and finished the first runner up at Miss International in 2003. As she covered the 2006 Champions Trophy, the 32-year-old forayed into cricket anchoring. She also hosted and followed the 2007 World Cup with’ Stumped,’ where she appeared alongside the legendary Wasim Akram cricketer from Pakistan. Shonali was Miss India International’s first runner-up in 2003 and for four consecutive years has been a part of the cash-rich T20 league.
She also hosted the Champions trophy in 2006 and acts as an analyst in cricket shows.
9. Lekha Washington
Lekha is a famous actress and product designer from South India who was one of IPL’s hosts in the maiden season. The beauty of South India has featured in numerous films from Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, while also playing a cameo in Anushka Sharma starrer ‘ Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.’
Lekha made a name for herself in Chennai as a theatre actress and also worked with SS Music as a video jockey. She’s a big Chennai Super Kings fan.
10. Mayanti Langer
One of the most well-known personalities of Indian sports broadcasting is the passionate sports host, married to India’s all-rounder Stuart Binny. She’s also a great fan of football, being involved in cricket. Mayanti has hosted many major events over the years, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2014 Indian Super League, and 2015 ICC World Cup cricket.
She has been associated with Star Cricket and will be seen in the upcoming season.
