New Delhi: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar was unveiled as the brand partner of Delhi Daredevils, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owned by the GMR Group, at a glittering ceremony here on Monday.

Team captain Virender Sehwag along with Gautam Gambhir and Pakistani players Shoaib Mallik and Mohammed Asif were present at the occasion. The team website - delhidaredevils.com - and the team jersey, a red and black T-shirt sponsored by Adidas, was also unveiled. 

The Bollywood action star made a grand entry on the stage with a cricket bat and helmet and performed a martial art dance before vouching his loyalty for the team.

"I was born and brought up in Delhi at Chandni Chowk. My heart beats for the city. I always liked cricket and here I am supporting my team. I hope I can be a lucky mascot for it," Akshay said amidst a roar of applause from the gathering. 

"My dad taught me the values of sportsmanship early in my life and I have followed it throughout my career. I am a firm believer in sportsmanship and whatever success I have got is because of that." 

Akshay said he could identify with the team because of his roots in the city.  He is the latest Bollywood star to be associated with the cash-rich IPL after Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, owners of Kolkata Knight Riders and Preity Zinta, who bought a stake in the Mohali team along with Ness Wadia. 

"Twenty20 is pure entertainment and there are no bigger entertainers in India than Bollywood stars. People will get the best of both worlds in IPL," Sehwag said. 

Source : IANS