The IPL extravaganza rolls on every year – it has rolled on for 14 years now – and has gone bigger, richer season by season.
While the camera remains fixated on the players and the team dugouts for most of the time, the broadcasters also occasionally give fans a glimpse of the franchise owners sitting in the stands, cheering for their teams, usually when the owner gives a reaction to the happening on the field.
The Bollywood glamour aspect was a key selling point during the initial years of the IPL; later joined by the other owners as well.
You might know about the teams and cricketers in the IPL, but today we will let you meet the most beautiful female owners of the IPL teams.
Shilpa Shetty
Bollywood actress and fitness icon Shilpa Shetty has been a renowned figure in the Indian public. She is one of the former co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals. Shilpa Shetty, now a judge in a dance reality show, was regularly seen during IPL season 1, in 2008, when Shane Warne captained the Royals to the inaugural title.
Kaviya Maran
Kaviya Maran is the daughter of Sun Group owner Kalanithi Maran. Kaviya has been a constant in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s games, and was even present last season when crowds weren’t allowed. The 29-year-old is also involved in SUN Music and FM channels of SUN TV.
She was referred to as the ‘Mystery Girl’ of Sunrisers Hyderabad when she made her initial appearances in the stadium in an SRH jersey. Kaviya is seen expressing her emotions in full flow.
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla, a Bollywood actress has been the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders sharing with Shah Rukh Khan since 2008. Chawla has also made appearances at the auction table.
Juhi Chawla won the 1984 Miss India beauty pageant before entering Bollywood where she established herself as a premier actress in the 80s and the 90s. Chawla was seen celebrating with Shah Rukh Khan when KKR won their maiden title in 2012.
Preity Zinta
Bollywood superstar Preity Zinta has been a household name in the 2000s making her an automatic to-watch-out for owner every time she is in the stands. The pretty Preity is a bubbly and exciting character whose emotions are out to see with every boundary her team – Punjab Kings, before Kings XI Punjab – scores or takes a wicket, and her upset and sad faces are also clearly observed when Punjab don’t do well.
Punjab are yet to win the title even once. Zinta has also been heavily involved at the auction table over the past few years.
Gayatri Reddy
Gayatri Reddy was the owner of the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, who won the 2009 IPL under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist. She is the daughter of T Venkattram Reddy, owner of the Deccan Chronicle.
Gayatri had helped her father build the Deccan Chargers team. She was involved in picking the players for the team and became a constant presence in the stands when Deccan played.
Nita Ambani
Nita Ambani, the wife of India’s top Businessman Mukesh Ambani, has been the face of Mumbai Indians since the inception of the IPL. She is the chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation. The 58-year-old is the heart of the Mumbai Indians franchise and is commonly seen waving an MI flag whenever the 5-time champions take the field.
