Shonali Nagrani

Shonali Nagrani is back. This time as the host of a new show on ESPN STAR Sports for the ICC T20 World Cup that begins today. A t2 chat:

Did you watch the IPL?

I did. I was hooked on to the IPL. I had hosted the first IPL. So that holds a very special place in my heart. It’s always been a story I am going to tell my grandchildren that I hosted the first IPL. I love the IPL! And I know so many of the cricketers. I keep following them on Facebook and I chat with them.

Who were you rooting for?

I am originally from Delhi. So I am very fond of the Delhi team. I am also very fond of Sehwag and Gambhir. I always wait to see what their partnership can deliver. This IPL, however, their partnership did not really explode. So, my second best option was Mumbai Indians. It is amazing when someone like Sachin is in such fantastic form at his age.

You have hosted a lot of cricket-based shows in the past. Have you always followed the game?

Cricket, literally, fell on my lap. My family is crazy about cricket. So, yes, from a very young age, I have been following cricket. The opportunity came for the first time in 2006 for the Champions Trophy on SET Max. I was extremely nervous because I was talking about a sport, which I had been only watching and had never spoken about.

The second thing was that it was live. These two things really scared me! Once I settled in, I realised it was quite easy. You finish your work in exactly one hour. Even after the show is over, there is an adrenaline rush. You are charged. Your senses are sharp because it is live TV. There is no room for error at all.

What do you like most about hosting cricket shows?

Besides my knowledge of and interest in the game, I have been able to travel to places, where most people haven’t. It is a lot of travelling! There is flight almost every other day. It is a lot of fun as well! I love being outdoors. This time for the T20 World Cup, though, I will be locked inside the studios for over 12 hours a day!

Who are your favourite cricket hosts on TV?

I love watching Harsha Bhogle. As a host, as a commentator, I enjoy listening to him. He has never played professional cricket. For him to come up to this level where he is sitting with a Sunil Gavaskar or a Wasim Akram and talking to them about cricket is really commendable.

Tell us a little bit about the World Cup show…

This is the first time when I am doing a full cricket show. Even for a hardcore sports channel like ESPN, it is a huge change to put a woman and a funny co-host (Cyrus Broacha) together. The show is called Cricket Crazy. Cyrus is going to add dollops of fun. He is just going to be Cyrus. That’s his job! My job is to keep the discipline of the show. If someone has to control Cyrus, it’s me. But I don’t think that is possible at all. You cannot control Cyrus Broacha!

The expert on the show is Wasim Akram. We have worked together before and share a very good rapport. It is very interesting to hear Wasim talk. He is very candid. Cricket Crazy will come one hour before the matches start, in between the two innings, in between two matches, mid-innings of the second match and also post match!

Who will you be wearing?

Mandira Wirk is doing a lot of my clothes. I like her drapes a lot. I have also got Satya Paul to do some outfits. They have never done Western outfits. The look is very chic and elegant, glamorous, classy and young.