Bowling maidens over!

We’ve seen them bowl us over, score centuries and take catches on the field.
Now, here’s your chance to see six of India’s cricketers try and bowl us over with their dance moves, score points week after week and catch the finale prize — the winner of the funkiest reality dance show yet, Ek Khiladi, Ek Hasina, which is on air on Colors.
Khiladis S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Vinod Kambli and Nikhil Chopra will dance their way to your hearts along with their partners, their Hasinas — Surveen Chawla, Mona Singh, Gauhar Khan, Ashima Bhalla, Shama Sikander and Barkha Bisht. What’s more, the six pairs will be judged by none other than the khiladiyon ke khiladi — bowling legend Wasim Akram, and the hot hasina Sushmita Sen!
On the sets of the show, there is non-stop energy flowing, as the six pairs practice hard to get their moves right. While Ashima believes her partner Irfan’s strength lies in his “hundred per cent dedication”, Shama admits she was surprised with her partner, Vinod Kambli’s dancing skills. “We are known as the energetic jodi, the real entertainers,” laughs Shama. Vinod, on his part, reveals he has a personal reason to take part in the show.
“You’ll know that once you watch the show,” he keeps us in suspense. Nikhil Chopra tells us that though he’s having “great fun” dancing, he would think twice before participating in another reality show. “Since I know the other contestants, it’s more masti-mazaa than competition,” smiles Nikhil. His partner, Barkha, is all praises for the cricketers.
“I admire their guts to do something so different.” But it’s a two-way process. For the gals are getting their tuitions on cricket too. “I didn’t know who I would be paired with. But when I saw Bhajji I said, ‘Ok, I know him! Yahoo, Singh is King!’” Mona Singh laughs. Likewise, Bhajji (whose favourite step, not surprisingly, is the bhangda!) found ‘Jassi’ familiar.
Gauhar Khan tells us that Dinesh has taken the contest very seriously and has given it his 100 per cent. “In fact, all the boys have approached the contest with the same dedication they approach their team practice,” says Gauhar. Dinesh, on the other hand, simply said the experience was “good fun.”
And what do the judges have to say about this unique dance show? “It’s wonderful to see our cricketers doing such a different kind of thing. It’s also interesting to see the chemistry between the couples,” says Sushmita, her excitement at judging such a show evident as she speaks.
While Sush is familiar with the jhatkas and matkas of Bollywood, this is a completely new experience for Wasim. But he’s enjoying it just as much, in fact, you’ll even get to see him dance in the special semi-final episode! “It’s a very different show, lots of fun.
And the icing on the cake is getting to sit next to Sushmita!” laughs Wasim. And what about him taking to the stage for a special performance, was that as easy as taking wickets? “I’ve been a part of two World Cup finals and even then my heart didn’t beat as fast as it did when I was on that stage!”