The IPL is helping achieve a new kind of bonding. The national language is taking roots, particularly among the foreign players. Thanks to the T20 league, Hindi becoming the global language at least for one fraternity - cricketers.
Professional sportsmen are known to take efforts to learn
the local language. A footballer who's played in Spain, Italy and England will be able to speak all three languages.
India has been world cricket's hub for quite some time now.
Foreign players with Rajasthan Royals are happy to go desi. "Ross Taylor is very keen to learn Hindi. He is learning from our computer analyst. He can now speak full sentences like kahan jaa rahe ho, kya kar rahe ho. Shane Watson has also progressed well," a Royals support staff said.
"Shane Warne has also picked up words like chalo chalo, jaldi karo."
Shaun Tait has an Indian girlfriend and may have to start taking Hindi lessons soon. That was the case with their physio, John Gloster, who was with the Indian team for 3 years from 2005. He is married to an Indian pilot and runs a gym in Mumbai.
Aussie umpire Simon Taufel can rattle off the bad words in Hindi at a great speed. He believes it could help while umpiring India or Pakistan games!
KKK's Brett Lee prefers often says 'shukriya' instead of 'thank you'. He has even featured in Asha Bhosale's Hindi music album.