Sunil Gavaskar likes IPL's Bollywood connection

Lauding the star-studded opening ceremony of the Indian Premier League (IPL), cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar Wednesday said he specially liked the Bollywood connection.

"The opening ceremony was terrific. I particularly liked the Indian film industry connection.

Because that's what the premier league is all about, Pitbull was also very very good,there's no question about it. But what Shah Rukh Khan did along with Deepika and Katrina was fantastic," Gavaskar told a TV channel at the Eden Gardens, which hosted opening match of the sixth IPL between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils.

"I also want to compliment the artists on the ground who were dancing. They were so well synchronised. That made for a very pretty picture," Gavaskar added.

Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium hosted the glittering and glamorous inaugural event, with Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif shaking a leg to their hit numbers.

American rapper Pitbull performed his party anthems to tumultuous applause from over 50,000 spectators as flying drummers from Europe, Chinese women percussionists, acrobats, gymnasts and around 300-odd youngsters from Kolkata and its suburbs provided the cultural connect.

Gavaskar also acknowledged the passionate attitude of people of Bengal in everything they do.

"Anything they do when they support a team they do with passion. When they play, they do it with passion, when they debate and discuss...they also do it with great passion," Gavaskar said.