Not only do they have to be on their toes for 42 days, they literally have to think on their feet through 60 matches! The Extraaa Innings T20 quartet —Archana Vijaya, Shibani Dandekar, Gaurav Kapur and Sameer Kochchar — on how thy survive “the crazy two months” of the year!
Her method in the madness
It is harder when you have to plan your workout regimen and make sure you are eating right. It needs effort when you are already so exhausted and the schedule is hectic. I hit the gym before I go to the stadium, carry my food and make sure I eat every couple of hours and drink a lot of water. It is tough but I have kind of made a decision that it needs to be done.
Her time with the mic
When you record a TV show, you are mentally prepared that if you mess up, you can do it again. But on live TV, if you make a mistake, you have to correct it on the spot. It is all about going with the flow. People at Sony MAX are always cracking jokes and making us feel that it is not the end of the world. They make a great work environment.
Her fashion fix
I have tried to make it a little different this year.
I am wearing crop tops, pants, jumpsuits and cape jackets, Many of which are Deme by Gabriella designs.
Her co-anchors
Samir Kochhar: He is daddy cool.
Gaurav Kapur: A complete joker.
Archana Vijaya: She is the sexy bombshell of Extraaa Innings.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: He is just hilarious!
Shoaib Akhtar: He is very suave and witty.
Her method in the madness
It’s extremely hectic because you have to constantly look good and keep your head on your shoulders. The challenge really is to be on the ball. I can’t have late nights. I can’t be partying after the matches as we have to catch early morning flights the next day. Whichever hotel I am in or wherever I am, I manage to hit the gym. I like silence, maybe because I am deprived of it! I just sit in my hotel room and read a book and sort of unwind. I just finished William Dalrymple’s The Last Mughal. I go out for dinner with friends to have some time off. I need minimum five hours of sleep at night to be able to function through this.
Her time with the mic
Once a ball hit me during practice at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. I went live and said ‘hello and welcome’, but I didn’t realise that there were tears rolling down my cheeks! At the opening ceremony of IPL 8 (at Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta), it rained, it was chaotic and very difficult to present live. I ran from one end of the stadium to the other. Luckily, I carried a pair of chappals in my bag. Imagine, I wore chappals with my Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna outfit. Another time, in Ahmedabad, an umbrella hit me while there was a dust storm!
Her fashion fix
My stylist has worked very hard to give me a new look and so we are trying out different silhouettes. I am wearing Kanika Goyal, Swapnil Shinde.... I am promoting new brands as IPL is about new talents getting recognition.
Her co-anchors
Samir Kochhar: He is “out there”. Those are his two fave words!
Gaurav Kapur: He is my work husband!
Shibani Dandekar: She is my ‘little shiny’.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: He is a Sardar on fire!
Shoaib Akhtar: Rawalpindi Express.
His method in the madness
Sometimes when the flight lands, I don’t know which city I am in! It’s tough. On any given IPL day, I spend time at the gym between 9.30am and 10am. Then I go to meet my wife and my baby boy... I have just become a father. Then I run to the studio by 12.30pm. I sit for hair, make-up, have a quick lunch, talk to the designers and talk about the day ahead. Then we head for the one-hour show, watch the game and we come back in the middle of the game. Then we go back again to start the second show for the second match. We get done and go home by 2am. Sometimes I stop to meet my wife and baby, who are staying at my in-laws’, while going back home.
His time with the mic
So many things happen on live TV. I am a crisis manager. For instance, a game is starting at 7pm and I am stuck 20 minutes away from the stadium. We are live on air and I run. I put my earpiece on and jump in front of the camera. It’s fun! It’s two months of party, but it is a lot of work as the stress of live TV is huge.
His fashion fix
This season, I have been wearing the latest suit styles and sporting different kinds of ties and tiepins.
His co-anchors
Archana Vijaya: She has the most beautiful voice in the world.
Gaurav Kapur: He is seriously the funniest guy I know.
Shibani Dandekar: She is the biggest badmaash.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: He reminds me of Thoko band!
Shoaib Akhtar: He is an entomologist’s best friend!
His method in the madness
We stay in nice hotels. We fly comfortably. I can’t complain at all. I love cricket. I don’t consider this work at all. It is all so organised that after eight years, we don’t end up having any goof-ups. I can’t say I have no time because honestly I have plenty of time. I am lazy about it. I am careful about what I eat. I have decided that I have to get out from this laziness and work out.
His time with the mic
For me, it’s my favourite thing. I just can’t shoot anymore. I feel the truest way to get in touch with your audience is to have no safe limits. Last year, I remember I took my shoes and jacket off, kept my tie loose and suddenly it started raining and I had to go on air. So I ran and actually went on air without my shoes. The shoes couldn’t be seen. I told the cameramen to cut me to mid-level. I was on air for 10 minutes without shoes!
His fashion fix
I think I am horrible this season! My designer Varun Kumar did my clothes for the promo. He tells me that if I get comfy with something, I don’t want to try anything else. I like to wear things which are comfortable yet stylish.You might see me rocking a red jacket as I am experimenting with colours.
His co-anchors
Samir Kochhar: He is our in-house stud.
Archana Vijaya: She has learnt everything from me but doesn’t acknowledge it!
Shibani Dandekar: She is constantly learning from me but she is gracious and humble enough to accept it.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: We say that they have taken out Sidhuji’s blood and put it in Red Bull!
Shoaib Akhtar: He is like a loose cannon. He is unpredictable and funny.
?As told to Ratnalekha Mazumdar