Unadulterated desi fun with gully "keerkat'!

Making a pocket-size edition of a game like cricket having epic dimensions, was a real challenge on the pitch for the promoters ” the plans may hook a six or get stumped. But the toss came in favour of the game ” its fizz thus heightened with the new short and spicy Twenty20 Cricketing version ” taking the game to even bubblier heights of passion for the avid fan.

Inspired, enthusiasts designed many other versions of the game ” all equally popular in its spirit ” never ceasing to raise the adrenalin levels.

But, what is a game without some desi tadka? The gully "keerkat' ” unadulterated desi cricketing fun filled with spicy Indian backstreet tadka! Isko nahi khela to kaunsa cricket khela? This gave birth to Coca-Cola India's exciting idea of connecting its young consumers to the tingly effervescence of the street game, nicknamed "gully cricket', the back alley game that put cricketing skills to a maximum challenge.

Sprite Gully Cricket Championship was launched in keeping with brand Sprite's positioning of "Seedhi Baat, No Bakwaas... Clear Hai!', said Srinivas Murthy, Director Marketing, Flavors, Coca-Cola India. This grassroots-level cricket championship ” a direct-consumer connect initiative ” was organized across seven cities of Kolkata, Durgapur, Siliguri, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Patna and Guwahati. The brand aimed at engaging with the youth and discover young promising cricketing talent in the region.

Sprite Gully Cricket Championship ' Season 2 was loaded with all the marketing paraphernalia attached to the IPL extravaganza ” from TV, radio, internet to road shows, music bands, cheerleaders, and dance troupes on ground to create the atmosphere on the streets.

The championship kicked off from February 19 and involved over 2,600 young and budding cricket players between the age groups of 15-30 years from four states in the seven cities. Of the over 1,800 teams that registered for the 31-day cricket tournament, 225 teams participated in the mega tournament. A total of 32 teams were selected to play the city league out of which 16 teams were finally selected through a "Super-over' game. The winning team won Rs 1 lakh as prize money and a chance to be a part of the 'Cheer for KKR Squad' and also watch the KKR matches at Eden Gardens. The winners of each city competed in the 'Super League' in Kolkata.

The 'Super League' final was played between Team Agrani Sanskritik Parishad from Durgapur and Team Annex, Kolkata. Agrani won the championship and a bumper prize of Rs 3 lakh along with an exclusive opportunity to meet Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly besides other Kolkata Knight Riders. "Our perseverance and team work has helped us win the Sprite Gully Cricket Championship ' Season 2 national finals. I would like to thank Coca-Cola India for giving us a platform to showcase our talent," said Rajib Shyam, captain of the winning team.