Bengaluru: Of the 40,000 spectators who were treated to some scintillating batting by Indian players at the Chinnaswamy stadium in a World Cup match against England here Sunday, a few hundred were the privileged ones to have walked in free with complimentary passes courtesy the International Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the local organisers.
Among the noted celebrities were Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, Kannada actress Ramya, sandalwood stars Shivraj Kumar, Puneet Raj Kumar and Sudheep from this garden city.
State chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa with some of his family members in tow, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily and opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah were also seen in the Diamond Box at the pavilion stand.
Former cricketers, including wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani and pacer Roger Binney, who were members of the 1983 World Cup winning team, former Test batsman G.R. Vishwanath, Rahul Dravid and a host of other current and ex-players were prominent among the VIP fans.
Business tycoon and Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka Vijay Mallya and his son Siddarth, owners of the IPL Bangalore Royal Challengers, came with a large contingent from their group companies.