Indian team to get trendy look

Maria Abraham

A young designer who makes Indian screen sensation Hrithik Roshan look irresistible is gearing up to give the country's cricket team a snazzy makeover.

Bombay-based designer Rocky S, who fashions Roshan's outfits for commercials, photo-shoots and films, including his sensational debut film Kaho Na Pyar Hai, is working on the new collection.

The team's wardrobe, to be unveiled next month, will include a stylish collection of formal, casual and playing attire, team sponsor Sahara India's corporate communications chief Abhijit Sarkar said.

The Sahara India group, which has interests in airlines and media, won a three-year sponsorship contract earlier this month.

"We want the team to look smart, flamboyant and aggressive," Sarkar said over phone from Lucknow.

Busy with sketches and fabrics, Rocky, who also designs for other Bollywood stars like Amisha Patel, Aftab Shivdasani, Jimmy Shergill and the sexy Shilpa Shetty, is excited about his assignment.

FREEDOM TO DESIGN

The designer has to incorporate essentials like the sponsor's logo, the Indian tricolour and stick to blue in the players' on-field uniforms. But he will have more freedom in designing the travel and practice apparel.

"It's a big challenge for me," Rocky said. "It's also a big responsibility because they [the cricket team] are ambassadors of our country," said Rocky, who plans to blend style with comfort.

"I want the players' personality to come out. The clothes should not overshadow them."

The team will sport different sets of clothes while playing matches, during practice, traveling outside India and for formal occasions.

Percept Group, which handles events and advertising for Sahara India, is co-ordinating with Rocky on the new look.

"The design elements will be nationalist at heart, global in packaging and have a youthful energy," Shailendra Singh, joint managing director of Percept Group, said, adding the collection will be ready in a couple of weeks.

The final approval of the outfits rests with the cricket board, said Singh.

"The committee will decide when it comes up," Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jaywant Lele said.

Mail Cricket Editor