Apart from the politicians, who are trying their best to squeeze the most from the golden-egg-laying-hen called cricket, if there is any non-cricketer who has had the maximum impact on the game of cricket, it is undoubtedly Mandira Bedi. If Kerry Packer changed the way cricket was televised in Australia, Mandy did the same to Indian viewers – albeit in a different manner. Her noodle strap blouses and completely different manner of chatting up with cricketers made watching a cricket match nothing less than an event. The sex siren of Indian cricket is back on the screen with IPL Season 2 this time. And with a chic new hairstyle with side swept bangs. She will be seen, once again, hosting the much-talked about programme Extraa Innings. TellyChakkar caught up with her for some exciting tidbits.

Welcome back to Extraa Innings. How does it feel?

Needless to say, it feels great. This show allowed me to live my passion of cricket and continues to fuel that! I started hosting cricket shows through Extraa Innings way back in 2003. In fact no one even thought of doing similar shows during that time. A cricket show a decade back meant boring discussions of statistics without any glamour element whatsoever. We changed that thought process completely by launching Extraa Innings.

I am glad that MAX thought of me again for hosting the show, despite me not being part of IPL Season One.

Are you in touch with all that is going on in the IPL scene?

Yes of course! I may not have been a part of the television show last year, but that does not mean that I have lost the passion for the game. I watched 12 matches last season and travelled across the country including Kolkata, Jaipur and Mumbai, of course.

I know how much IPL changed the Indian cricket and television scene. In fact, it played havoc with the TRPs of other shows. I hope this time it will be even better because we will be able to explore South Africa more. At a personal level also, I am looking forward to going around in South Africa. In 2003, when I was there, I could manage to go to only Cape Town. This time I plan to go to other cities as well.

Have you done any homework for hosting IPL this time?

I think I have done enough cricket shows and have crossed the stage where one requires to do homework. I want to just enjoy the experience of IPL and am really looking forward to it.

I feel a host’s performance in an event like this depends completely on the base knowledge he/she has about the game. It is all about how passionate you are about the game, how much you know, how much you are enjoying and last but not the least – how fluent you are with the language. And I feel pretty confident on all these parameters. The rest is on the audience – how much they will like and accept me.

You seem to have changed your look for IPL…

Yes, I have changed my hairstyle and given it an IPL special look! That is the least I can do for this game! Cricket has proved to be a turning point in my life and I owe a lot of my success to the game. Before 2003, people knew me as Shanti and all the other characters I played on television. Only after I started hosting cricket shows have people started to know me as Mandira.

Will the famed noodle straps be back?

With time Mandira Bedi changes. You will see me in clothes with the latest trends! But I have decided something, since we will mostly be on the ground, you will not see me in a saree!

One cricketing question -- why isn't women's cricket popular in India?

The media is to be blamed for this. Our women cricketers are doing such a great job but there is no publicity given to them. I think all of you from the media should take it up. It is your responsibility.

You are not seen in television serials these days. Any particular reason?

Ask the producers. They seem to have forgotten me completely! But I don’t have any regrets for that. I am happy hosting cricket shows.