India’s two world-cup winning captains came together for shooting a commercial in the iconic cricket stadium Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Ahead of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka on 16th November, MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev were seen in the city for a commercial shoot with Kapil Dev.
Dhoni also took a close look at the pitch for the first Test against the Lankans, though he has retired from the longest format back in 2014. In the morning session, Mahi was seen talking to curator Sujan Mukherjee, checking the Eden Gardens strip.
As per the reports of TOI, Mukherjee said, “Dhoni really appreciated the pitch preparation and wished us for the Test match.”
Dhoni and Kapil spent the whole day bowling and batting as per the shooting requirements and were joined by a group of kids. The commercial was directed by Bengali producer-director Arindam Sil and it’s a 33-second sequence. Sil said he’s feeling very lucky and blessed to have shot his first TV ad with the two World Cup-winning skippers at the Eden Gardens.
Taking to the reporters, Sil said, “It’s the Mecca of Cricket and I had two World Cup winning captains shooting for me. It’s the most memorable day in my life. They were the best of the captains. I felt nostalgic. I have watched them play from the same galleries here but to shoot with them now at the same venue is a lifetime experience.”
Sil further added, “Kapil said he would get tired to bowl but once he went to his bowling marks he went on and on and bowled numerous deliveries. He also batted and it felt the Kapil Dev of old is back.”
Dhoni also interacted with most of the kids and offered them some precious tips of the sport. The director said, “He told them on how to play aggressively about the stance and all of this in the midst of the busy work. It’s brilliant. I didn’t require a retake from Dhoni, he was natural in front of the camera.”
Thanking the CAB president Sourav Ganguly, Sil said: “I am thankful to Sourav (Ganguly) for providing us the Eden. He said ‘please go ahead’.”
Towards the evening while the duo was taking a break from the shoot, they were joined by Ganguly as the three successful former captains made up for a photographers’ delight in one frame together.
The final part of the shoot will take place in a studio on Saturday and the next day Dhoni will fly to Dubai to launch the MS Dhoni Cricket Academy on November 11. Mihir Diwakar, Dhoni’s commercial partner in Aarka Sports and former Jharkhand cricketer told PTI. He said, “He flew straight from Thiruvananthapuram after playing the final T20I (against New Zealand) yesterday afternoon. His schedule is hectic but he keeps himself fit sticking to his regime.”
Watch the video here:
