It is the summer season of 2024, and Vindhya Vishakha Medapati is again on the small display screen for the ongoing star-studded Indian Premier League (IPL). Glamorous and spontaneous, Vindhya, one of the Telugu presenters — actor Nandu and anchor Ravi being the different two — has a approach with phrases and numbers for Star Sports channel. A VJ, mannequin and tv leisure host, Vindhya has created an area for herself in the area of interest cricket circuit.
Vindhya Vishakha throughout the cricket World Cup 2023
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“IPL 2024 is my seventh edition,” says Vindhya, who was the first feminine Telugu sports activities presenter for IPL in 2018. She provides {that a} presenter is a bridge between professional commentators and a cricket viewer. While specialists (former cricketers) focus on methods, technicalities and intricacies of the gamers’ sport/crew, a presenter tries to see a match by way of the viewers’ eyes, asking questions and clarifying doubts. Their interplay with stars coming to the tv studios will increase the pleasure and boosts viewers engagement.
Presenter for Pro-kabaddi
Presenter with Pro-Kabaddi
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Born and introduced up in Hyderabad, Vindhya, an English literature pupil from Kasturba Gandhi Degree and PG College for Women was an extrovert with no stage fright.
Her tv stint began in her school days, as a news presenter on HMTV in 2011, and grew to turn into a bunch, for leisure, and sport reveals/programmes for Star Maa, TV9, Zee Telugu and ETV. Having performed for the Darling Devils crew in Kevv Kabaddi (kabaddi sport present) on Gemini, she made her debut as a sports activities presenter for Pro-kabaddi (KBD Live Season 5) in 2017 for Star Sports (Telugu).
When Star Sports acquired the broadcasting rights of IPL and was in search of a Telugu sports activities presenter, Vindhya was not assured as cricket was a sport she had solely watched and cheered. She nonetheless went forward to audition for the function with a ‘it is just an audition, not a real presentation’ angle; being chosen was a pleasing shock to her.
Literature pupil
Vindhya Vishakha with Ravi Shastri
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Though a fan of the now-defunct Deccan Chargers franchise, she by no means thought of changing into a presenter, it was her cricket fanatic husband Vishal, who was her large help. Recalling their preliminary days of marriage, she says with amusing, “Sometimes I used to see him watch a cricket test match at 2am and would jokingly say, ‘I am going to divorce you if you watch like this’ but when I got the IPL show offer, it was his turn to tease me and say, ‘God is there, I’m so happy he’s putting you in the right place.”
Style of presentation
Memorable second… Vindhya Vishakha with David Beckham
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She has come a good distance from being nervous and doing homework earlier than a presentation. Having watched sports activities presenters Mandira Bedi and Mayanti Langer, Vishakha created her distinctive type. Interacting with specialists and sports activities presenters of English, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil channels throughout breaks, watching a sport with others and making notes have all been half of her studying expertise.
Focus on statistics
with actor Nani
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Her speak factors, inquiries to specialists and presentation type advanced over the years. The expertise of presenting the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023 and the Asia Cup and interacting with Vivian Richards, Sachin Tedulkar and David Beckham have been feathers in her cap. “ . Earlier I would read up about batsmen’s and bowlers’ techniques. Now, I know the sport, get the statistics right and read the docket to remember the key contest between two teams. .”
Spreading Telugu flavour
IPL commentary crew
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Presenting comfortably in Telugu is an added benefit. “My mother says, maa ammayi ki emochhina raaka poyina, Telugu maatram spashtam ga ravali ( whether my daughter gets anything or not, she should get the Telugu correctly).” Catching up with commentator Harsha Bhogle (“Harsha loves talking to me because I speak a lot of Telugu with him”) or her video with DK (Dinesh Karthik throughout the 2023 World Cup) in Telugu or not too long ago educating just a few Telugu phrases to MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) to show his daughter makes not simply her mom however Telugu cricket followers too fairly comfortable.
On the private entrance, coping with her father’s sickness (persistent kidney difficulty) has been nerve-racking. “Initially, I couldn’t balance work and personal life and used to cry. I was depressed for six months but have accepted the situation now. I greatly respect my father, a farmer, who never rests. Even after dialysis, when he goes home to Ghatkeskar, he first goes to his dairy to tend to his cows and buffaloes.”
Next purpose
Making a mark
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Exploring prospects to develop to the fullest has been her dictum for all times. While she balances sports activities shows with pre-release occasions, trailer launches and company occasions, Vindhya hopes to be an entrepreneur.
Finally, who does she assume will win IPL 2024? “SunRisers Hyderabad; not only because I am a huge fan but the team is looking great,” she says with amusing, , “If you see the IPL history, the trophy went to the Hyderabad team when it had an Australian captain – (Adam Gilchrist/ Deccan Chargers (2009) and David Warner/SunRisers Hyderabad (2016). This time, we have Pat Cummins, an Australian captain for the SunRisers team.”
