Winning and losing is part of the game: Vishal

 

While the fans of Chennai Rhinos and Karnataka Bulldozers go on and on debating the 'controversial' win of the former in the CCL, the skipper of the Chennai team, actor Vishal, would like to see an end to the hullabaloo. Says he in an exclusive interview to DC: "We go by the umpires' decision."

Reacting to allegations that there was foul play on the part of the Chennai Rhinos, Vishal said, "I don't think anyone would have gone to that level to win a match. After all, winning and losing is the game of cricket."

The dusky actor asserts that his entire team worked very hard for the whole season. "The atmosphere was at par with professional cricket. Even Jiiva said, 'I have not worked so hard for a film'. Some of us got badly hurt while playing. At day's end, it is the 'team spirit' that held us together to win the finals".

Ask him as to why they started the game late. "According to T-20 rules, if a team starts the game late, the owner of the team has to shell out Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh as fine! There was some technical snag, which they had to sort out and hence the late-start."

The actor denied rumours that some of the Chennai Rhinos members came to the field after taking liquor. He laughs it off, "It's not easy for one to play cricket in front of thousands of people after taking liquor. Let anyone prove this allegation, and, here is my promise, we would stop playing cricket," he says.

The Avan Ivan star says that the TRPs of CCL matches have skyrocketed and surpassed even those of IPL matches. "It's heartwarming to note from the TV channel which aired the matches that the rating of CCL, which was played in a professional manner, has gone up and crossed even IPL.

"You won't believe that in a small town like Kochi, there was such a huge turnout and the stadium was overflowing."

However, Vishal signs off, saying, "Sudheep is like my elder brother." Sudheep tweeted, "Let's leave it and move on! I and Vishal did have a talk and he was (sad) about the gestures that were pointed at our dugout from a few of their team members. We are friends first and teams next."