Cricket, football, Drogba & Ranbir Kapoor: Delhi couldn’t have asked for more

Delhites couldn’t have hoped for anything better as in an effort to promote football in the country, Pepsi took an initiative of organizing Pepsi T20 Football event at the Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi. Apart from all the footballers and cricketers, the crowd got a special treat in the name of Ranbir Kapoor.

The Bollywood superstar, who is an avid football fan, has been the face of this campaign and the jammed pack stadium almost burst into deafening sound as soon as the young heartthrob stepped on to the stage. Ranbir came after the Indian cricketers including MS Dhoni, Virat Kolhi, Suresh Raina and others and the reception that he got was unbelievable. Ranbir straightaway ran to our cricketing gods and thanked them for being present.

But the friendship didn’t last long as Ranbir was to captain the Delhi team who won the All-India challenge against the cricketers. The superstar, who was playing the biggest football match of his life, had the biggest support possible in the form of his day’s coach Didier Drogba. The two seemed to jell very well and it was looking as if Ranbir wanted to grab as many tips as he can from the star footballer. Cricketers, who earlier admitted that the atmosphere in the stadium was like an IPL match, would have realized that it is the Bollywood factor that has made such an influence.

Ranbir fans were in the stadium six hours earlier then the scheduled time of his match and that proves how greater impact he has had on promoting the sport.
Every time Ranbir touched the ball the crowd went berserk and he acknowledged his supporters whenever he got the chance.

It was a very welcome change to see Bollywood stepping into to promote sports apart from cricket. One of the reasons why IPL is so successful is because of their Bollywood quotient and Sunday’s exhibition match showed that there is future for others games too. The tagline that Pepsi carried was ‘change the game’ and Ranbir Kapoor’s presence did make sure that the change is possible.

By Indian Sports News