Prateeksha Thakur
New Delhi, 7 October 2024
Sometimes, the internet has a way of bringing back the past in the most delightful ways. A 12-year-old tweet by Bollywood star Salman Khan, aimed at Preity Zinta during the 2014 Indian Premier League (IPL), has gone viral again—this time for all the right reasons. As Zinta’s Saint Lucia Kings (SLK) clinched their first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title in 2024, fans couldn’t help but dig up an old gem from Salman, where he cheekily asked, “Zinta’s team won kya? (Did Zinta’s team win?)”
Back in 2014, Preity Zinta’s Kings XI Punjab were chasing IPL glory, but their dream ended in heartbreak as they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final. They made it to the playoffs, lost to KKR in Qualifier 1, bounced back by beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 2, and came within touching distance of lifting the trophy. Wriddhiman Saha even scored a heroic century in the final, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.
Fast forward to 2024, and Preity Zinta’s journey has come full circle—this time, she’s finally on the winning side. Her Saint Lucia Kings, a team she co-owns with Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, and Karan Paul, secured their maiden CPL title in a dramatic final against Guyana Amazon Warriors. Zinta’s infectious energy, always so evident in her love for the game, made this victory even sweeter.
The CPL final was not without its drama. After electing to bowl first, SLK’s bowlers, led by the brilliant Noor Ahmad, who took 3 wickets by just giving 19 runs, kept the Warriors in check, limiting them to 138/8. But when it was SLK’s turn to chase, things got a little shaky. Their top guns, Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles, both of whom had been pivotal throughout the tournament, fell bad, leaving the team wobbling at 51/4.
It was a tense situation, but then came the calm and class of Roston Chase (39 off 22) and the fearless aggression of Jones (48 off 31). Together, they turned the tide, attacking with intent and keeping their nerve, guiding SLK to victory with 11 balls to spare.
As the team celebrated their historic win, fans couldn’t resist revisiting Salman Khan’s tweet from a decade ago, making the moment even more special. Zinta, known for her passion and loyalty to her teams, finally has the cricketing triumph she’s been chasing for years.
NI Bureau
