Talking Point with gaurav kapur

Firstly,the location itself has been different. While South Africa was more easy paced,there has been a lot of paranoia here with frisking being done every now and then.

The anchor believes that being a cricket host gets him the best seat in the stadium

It is your second season at the IPL. How different has your second stint been?
Firstly,the location itself has been different. While South Africa was more easy paced,there has been a lot of paranoia here with frisking being done every now and then. The security is a major issue this time. Also the crowds here are ecstatic. In South Africa there used to be 15,000 to 20,000 people at the stadium,in India you will find a similar number standing outside the stadium. It is just so exhausting at times. You are crumbling by the time the match ends and all you want to do is hit the sack.

Was it the cricket buff in you that made you take up the role of an anchor for IPLs Extraaa Innings?
I have always been a cricket fan. I have watched the game since I was five years old. Also,I worked with ESPN a couple of years back which actually set the pace for my stint at the IPL.

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You are hosting the IPL 3 with three other fresh faces in the field. Do all of you think of yourselves as the next generation of cricket experts?
We are people who bridge the gap between the cricket experts and the spectators. I strongly believe that one should host a particular game only when one has some sort of interest in it. I will never host something to do with hockey because I dont know much about the game,but cricket and football have been a part of me since my childhood. All of us who are hosting are those who have either played cricket or been keenly interested in the game.

Are there any cricket hosts you admire in particular?
I think Ravi Shastri is quite spectacular. From the current lot,Danny Morrison is very funny and witty. And there is Harsha Bhogle,who is the most sensible of all cricket hosts.

What,according to you,is the best part of hosting a cricket show?
You have the best seat in the cricket stadium.

Isnt live television a bit more unnerving than recording a shoot?
I simply love live television. I started off with radio which was live. So I have been kind of used to it. When you are live in front of 300 million people you cannot possibly goof up. This is the kind of pressure I enjoy.

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From being an RJ to VJ,actor,columnist and a cricket anchor,do you see a common thread binding them all?
Yes. It is the need to tell stories. I have always been a fan of conversation. When I started off,I indulged in completely nonsensical conversation. Now when I am little older I like to talk about serious topics like sports but in a lighthearted manner.

After IPL will you be doing any movies?
I have two films ready for releaseOffice Office-The Movie and PNCs Saloon. Also I have a couple of offers to host shows for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and also for the Commonwealth Games.

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