IPL: Glam and cricket make for a heady mix

What's cooking, good looking?

This is the first question sure to pop into the head when you see Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone enjoying the company of Siddharth Mallya, the son of liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

She certainly gave her new friend great company in the stadium, when Mallya's Royal Challengers Bangalore faced Delhi Daredevils.

Ms Padukone was there in all her splendor, cheering on the Bangalore side. Sadly, it wasn't enough as the Royal Challengers lost by 17 runs.

Delhi Daredevils had just beaten Royal Challengers Bangalore. And with an up and down season for the Delhi team thus far, the victory was reason enough to celebrate.

The bubbly was brought out and bottles uncorked; Virender Sehwag served the champagne at the IPL after-party.

Just what was required to unwind after a successful day at work.

Cricket has become a glamorous sport ever since Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Preity Zinta became part of the cricketing circle with the birth of the IPL.

Now their peers make it a point to be part of the extravaganza, especially if the matches are played in Mumbai.

Here we have actor/director Farhan Akhtar, ace photographer Atul Kasbekar and the handsome Kunal Kapoor at the Brabourne stadium enjoying the proceedings in the match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

All self-confessed fans of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, the trio got what they came to see. Tendulkar top-scored with a scorching 72 runs to help Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets.

Talk of Wives and girlfriends (WAGs) of cricketers showing support to their better halves.

Sometime back it was Yuvraj Singh's new lady love Anchal Kumar who made it to the IPL after-party. This time we spotted Geeta Basra, the pretty model who's rumoured to be dating India and Mumbai Indians off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Portsmouth-born Basra, who has acted in two Bollywood films, was at the IPL after-party, revelling in Mumbai Indians' win over the Chennai Super Kings.

The IPL, the shortest and most entertaining format of the game, has done well to attract a lot of female audiences. And, our glam dolls are not to be left behind.

Take, for instance, Bollywood sizzler Bipasha Basu. She was supposed to attend only the after-party fashion show, but surprise, surpise, the long-legged beauty was cheering for the Mumbai Indians during their match against the Chenai Super Kings at the Brabourne stadium.

Bipasha's boyfriend John Abraham is a crazy football fan; wonder if she has plans to make him a cricket convert!

You know the boy in the picture. We've seen him a million times on TV, egging on his favourite team or just flashing his pearly whites for the cameras.

Yes, who doesn't recognize Ruchir Modi, the son of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

But 'who's that girl?' you may ask. We introduce to you, Karima Burman, Modi's London-based daughter.

Some sibling revelry this. Just call it a 'Kodak moment'.

Got designs on your mind? Don't wait for the next fashion week.

The Indian Premier League will give you a ramp to display your latest creations. The IPL after-parties are a nice way to allow both fashion and cricket to share space with much ease.

The after-night parties have given the hardworking cricketers a license to chill. So while the cricketers have time to themselves, India's best desginers come out and showcase their chic new ensembles.

Here we have models walk the runway in Vikram Phadnis creations.

Sushmita Sen and IPL comissioner Lalit Modi hopped from one multiplex to another to cheer on the spectators watching the IPL matches being broacast on big screens.

They were specifically there to announce the telecast semi-finals and final matches of IPL 2010 in 3D format.

But once they finished with the promotions, they rushed to the DY Patil Stadium, in time to catch Mumbai Indians in action against Deccan Chargers. 

The IPL has become a platform for some of the most popular designers to show off their latest collections.

So when fashion jewellers Gitanjali and fashion label Pantaloons wanted to have a show, they decided to tie-up with the IPL to display their newest designs.