Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Offbeat role for Vijay

— Photo: R. Ragu

Star Ambassador for Chennai Super Kings Vijay (right) with K. Srikkanth, former Indian captain, at a function in Chennai on Tuesday. V.B. Chandrashekar, former selector (left), is in the picture.

CHENNAI: Actor Vijay was formally introduced as the Star Ambassador of the Chennai Super Kings, the India Cements group-owned cricket franchise in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), at a city hotel on Tuesday.

T. S. Raghupathy, Executive President, The India Cements Ltd., said the IPL was a package of cricket and entertainment — Vijay was therefore a natural fit.

“Being from Chennai, I wanted to support my team,” said Vijay, who will be involved in promotional events for the Super Kings.

“I’ve always liked cricket, and in the last few years I’ve started watching more of it. I’m very proud that we have [M.S.] Dhoni, who is a strong leader, to captain our team.”

Super Kings Brand Ambassador and Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth said Vijay would draw youngsters to the tournament.

Asked if cricket needed the prop of cinema to lean on, Mr. Srikkanth said, “This is about the Chennai Super Kings, about kings in every field. And we have the Super King of Kollywood with us in Vijay.”

Actress Nayanthara, who was also named a Star Ambassador, wasn’t present on the occasion.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu