It’s Mumbai versus Maharashtra on the cricket field today, when Sohail Khan’s home team Mumbai Heroes plays Riteish Deshmukh’s Veer Marathi. The teams are competing in the third Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) tournament at the Maharashtra Cricket Association International Stadium in Pune. The rivalry between them is intense as Riteish was once part of the Mumbai team as the vice captain, but left it to form his own team.
Mumbai captain Suniel Shetty, says, “On the field, we are rivals. As a captain, I feel I have lost my Sachin (Tendulkar) in Riteish. Also more than him, I miss (his wife) Genelia. She was the life of the team.”
Riteish shares the same sentiment, but keeping his sporting spirit intact says, “It’s not easy to play against the Mumbai Heroes as they are my friends. I have played with them and worked in movies with them too. But I’m sure both the teams will play to win and the spirit of the game will be retained.”
The league is on its last leg and Veer Marathi, although a newly formed team with Marathi actors led by Riteish, has already gained a strong foothold in the series. In contrast, the Mumbai Heroes, owned by Sohail and led by Suniel Shetty, have just won their first match against the Chennai Rhinos in Dubai. The Mumbai team is already low on enthusiasm as Sonu Sood is reportedly injured and Apoorva Lakhia is away shooting for the Zanjeer remake.
