Having played cricket at the state level (Maharashtra women’s team), Saiyami Kher lived her dream when did starred in a cricket-centric film Ghoomer. Now, the actor “thrilled” to use her knowledge of the game as a technical host for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Talking about turning her dream into reality, she says, “The energy is unparalleled. When I was 12 and (host-actor) Mandira Bedi was hosting the World Cup, I was inspired to do the same. Dad and I tried to convince my mum to let me quit school for this. This has been a childhood dream.”

Elaborating on her role, Kher says, “I’m not into the fashion or food choices of the cricketers. Instead, I like to discuss the technicalities of the sport, since I’m a cricket geek.”

Sharing space with several renowned cricketers is also a matter of pride for the 31-year-old. She says, “Discussing cricket with (cricketers) Harsha Bhogle, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Shaun Pollock and Michael Vaughan, among others is exciting. I don’t see it as a pressure because this is my passion. We do pre-match analysis, talk about the game and discuss it after it’s over. It feels like friends talking about what they love.”