Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; January 29, 2014)

The Celebrity Cricket League Season 4 made its debut in Mumbai. The inaugural day was a treat for Bollywood and cricket fans, who showed up in large numbers at the DY Patil stadium on January 25, proving why the two are considered akin to religions in our country.

Salman Khan obliged fans with pictures, bucked up the teams and danced to Yo Yo Honey Singh's hit songs including Shah Rukh Khan's Lungi Dance.

Amidst the mass hysteria, the superstar, who was in a jovial mood, said, "I appreciate that they like my work. I wanted to play this year but Jai Ho came along. Hopefully next year I will play the CCL." When asked if Sohail's Mumbai Heroes is the coolest team since he is associated with it, the superstar mischievously nodded in the affirmative, adding, "My father wanted me to become a cricketer but became an actor."
   Riteish Deshmukh and baiko Genelia Deshmukh brought the Marathi tadka along, as they made a unique entry to the stadium, on the beats of Nashik dhol. Riteish revealed, "A friend of mine organised that. It's to welcome the Marathi team in grand Marathi style. Our slogan is Veer Marathi shoor Marathi, shivba cha varsa veer Marathi."

Also upping the glamour quotient on the first day were Shruti Haasan (brand ambassador CCL), Trisha, Huma Qureshi, Sneha Ullal, Daisy Shah and former Miss India Manasvi Mamgai. Bobby Deol's wife Tanya and their sons Aryaman and Dharam too were there.