It was a rare Eden evening in IPL 4 when Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly came together — okay, not quite — to cheer for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Yet, all eyes in the stands rested on someone else. Longingly or lustfully, moonily or moronically.

Priyanka Chopra, the country’s best-known desi girl, had turned cheerleader for the Knight Riders on that balmy Saturday evening. She smiled, blew kisses, bounced around and waved the purple KKR flag in Box B1, grabbing all the attention in the Coca Cola Pavilion in C Block.

For Susmit Bhowmick of Tollygunge, who sat at a 30-degree angle from the KKR star crowd, it was PC who made the trip worthwhile on a night when Gautam Gambhir’s men trounced the visiting Kings XI Punjab team.

“Priyanka is the most enthusiastic cheerleader that I have seen at Eden. She kept waving at the crowd and jumping around with the pom poms. She never looked away even once when the mobile phone cameras went clicking. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious,” said he.

In a tight purple racerback tee with Knight Riders emblazoned in front, severely ripped jeans, more than a hint of cleavage, hair left open (by the fifth over, the Calcutta humidity had turned it into a oh-so-sexy topknot), killer smile and a pair of magenta and gold pom poms, Priyanka was the showstopper.

The Eden crowd in click-happy mode

For more than three hours, she became the unofficial KKR cheerleader. Shah Rukh receded time and again to the air-conditioned confines behind, but Priyanka — actor Sanjay Kapoor and her Don producer Ritesh Sidhwani in tow — made sure that she missed little of the match. One of the rare times she went missing was when the DJ played the Anjaana Anjaani title track.

“I would have loved to see her dance. It’s my favourite song and Priyanka is my favourite actress,” rued 12-year-old Prashant Daga who had come to watch the Knights — and Priyanka — in action.

THE KKR CHEER BRIGADE (From left) Ritesh Sidhwani, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan

Ria Basu from Barasat, a Shah Rukh Khan fan “since Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” kept looking left every few minutes. “Kothay shey?” she kept asking fiance Tirthankar Dey who kept peering up, searching for someone else. “All these weeks, he has been ignoring me whenever I have asked him to get me to Eden Gardens for a glimpse of Shah Rukh. As soon as he learnt that Priyanka is going to be here this evening, he ran out to buy tickets!” laughed Ria. The couple shifted seats twice during the match — to get a better and closer view of their respective screen idols.

Even though the men in purple on the green park were turning it on, Manjari Ali and boyfriend Asif — seated about 250 feet from Priyanka and SRK — kept turning their heads towards Box B1. “We have come as much for the stars as we have for the cricket. So we are dividing our time between the two,” laughed Manjari.

Stumped by the distance — from there Priyanka was just a tiny speck and Shah Rukh was near invisible — Asif even grabbed a pair of binoculars from a fellow spectator in front to catch a clearer glimpse.

Every time Priyanka jumped up and down when a run was scored by KKR, the crowd in front of Box B1 automatically and in unison swivelled their heads towards her. Mobile phones were in constant click-click mode.

When the winning moment arrived, most eyes in C Block were on the star brigade. “It was so much fun to see Priyanka hug Shah Rukh, who ruffled her hair like an elder brother. They were genuinely so happy. And so was the rest of Eden,” said Susmit.

For all those who couldn’t get close to Priyanka and Shah Rukh, there was the Tolly brigade — Jisshu Sengupta, Rudranil Ghosh, Kanchan, Locket and Manali — to queue up for and take autographs from.

If Priyanka grabbed the spotlight from Shah Rukh, then Sourav Ganguly stole the thunder for a bit from Piggy Chops. A blink-and-you-miss glimpse of Dada on the giant screen followed by the words “Welcome Dada” was enough for the Calcutta crowd to ditch the Bollywood hottie for a bit and scream out for their Behala hero.

“The best thing about the match today wasn’t the KKR win. It’s the fact that Ganguly chose to come here. Just one glimpse of him made this evening worthwhile,” gushed Sumanta Banerjee of Ballygunge.

“Dada should have come to Eden much earlier. His gesture and presence will act as a huge morale booster for KKR,” smiled 27-year-old Puja Basu, an obvious Ganguly fan.

With Sourav quietly exiting just as successor Gautam Gambhir tucked a Piyush Chawla delivery to square leg for the winning run, the spotlight was back on Priyanka. Taking a victory lap with Shah Rukh, Sanjay and Ritesh as a more than half-filled Eden cheered on, she was Ms Sexy — the sleeveless tee tied into a knot above the waist, arms raised seductively and a kiss-me smile on her lips.

One junglee billi who made the Eden go purrrrrrr!

Priyanka Roy

the coach on KKR & kerala, snakes & superman!

If I wasn’t a coach: I used to work as a government insurance inspector, so I probably would have been doing that.

The word I use most on the cricket field: Hell!

If I could be invisible for one day, I would: Eavesdrop and go somewhere one usually doesn’t have access to — like the Oval Room (in the White House).

I am addicted to: Tobacco, but I’ve given that up and it’s been five years now.

The naughtiest thing I’ve done as an adult: Scared people with rubber snakes.

I am creeped out by: Ironically, snakes… but live ones!

If I could be a superhero, the powers I would want: Superman’s.

If I could be a character in fiction, I’d be: Hugh Grant’s character in Notting Hill.

Something people don’t know about me: I have a good sense of humour, sometimes bordering on the weird.

For me, Calcutta means: It’s my place of work, besides having a rich history and friendly people.

For me, KKR means: A big challenge. I get a lot of enjoyment working with the team.

My fitness regimen: I do a lot of cardio to keep my weight in control.

My diet tips: Breakfast and lunch are good and disciplined but it’s at dinner time that I end up eating all the wrong stuff.

My pets: I have three Beagles — Machang, Cassie and Boo.

My favourite travel destinations: Kerala (on the houseboats), Goa (in the shacks) and Sri Lanka.

Books I read: Mainly fiction… a lot of Jeffrey Archer and John Grisham. I’m currently reading The Emperor’s Tomb by Steve Berry.

Movies I see: I hardly get to see many movies but I like action thrillers.

Gadgets I can’t live without: My mobile.

If I woke up to find I’ve changed into a woman, I’d: Double-check in the mirror, and then scream!