Rakhi Sawant gets 12,515 marriage proposals in 20 days

From businessmen, doctors to models and NRIs - over 12,500 men from across the world have sent applications to marry controversy queen Rakhi Sawant after she announced a 'swayamvara' as part of a reality show on NDTV Imagine.
Within 20 days of the announcement of the unique reality show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamwar', expected to go on air next month, a huge number of men have sent their profiles to woo Rakhi.
The item girl-turned-actress, who has mostly hit headlines for her outspoken ways, is overwhelmed with the response.
'I want to thank everybody for their continued support. This huge response has proved to everybody that my 'swayamvara' and 'shaadi' (wedding) is not a joke. My only wish is to find a person who will always be my support system and will respect me for what I am,' Rakhi said in a press release.
Rakhi had shocked one and all when when she had announced that she would choose a groom for herself through a reality TV show.
After a series of selection procedures, Rakhi will choose from among 15 grooms on the show and will take the help of viewers to decide on her ideal man.
According to the channel, the capital has topped the list of Rakhi's prospective grooms with 2,465 entries. Mumbai follows a close second with 1,980 entries. Most entries are in the broad age group of 18 to 35.
Those who are keen and are yet to register for becoming the love of Rakhi's life still have a chance as the last date for registration is May 5.

Unhappy with non-performing bowlers, Dhoni hints changes

Clearly unhappy with the lacklustre show of his non-performing bowlers, Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said time is ripe to bring in some changes in the squad.
Today's six-wicket defeat against Deccan Chargers left the last year's finalists in an unenviable position with just one win from their five outings and Dhoni pointed his accusing finger at the bowlers for the team's string of poor shows in the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

"I think the bowlers are letting us down," a dejected Dhoni said after the match.

"We really need to come up with some ideas, maybe a few other combinations and test our bench strength," Dhoni said.

With Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs going great gun, Chennai bowlers had a forgettable outing today.

Lakshmipathy Balaji conceded 41 runs in 3.3 overs for his one wicket while Manpreet Gony gave away 20 runs in his only over, prompting Dhoni not to press him into service again.

Among others, Joginder Sharma bled 14 runs in his only over, while Albie Morkel conceded 29 in his three wicket-less over.

Dhoni didn't spare the batsmen either and felt Chennai batters struggled in the middle overs.

"We are getting good start but have been struggling in the middle overs. Middle order is not clicking, we need to work on that as well," said Dhoni.

Incidentally, Dhoni himself has not been in great form in the tournament so far. His counterpart Adam Gilchrist, meanwhile, had no such worry and credited his bowlers for restricting Chennai to 165.

"Chennai got off to a good start and I think we did well to pull them back. They looked like getting 180-190 but our bowlers just hung in.

"RP Singh did cop some runs but he bowled an important last over and I think we did well," he said.

Gilchrist, however, admitted that he erred in not allowing Pragyan Ojha complete his full quota of four overs.

"I think I made a mistake there. Ojha bowled two overs and took two important wickets (of Matthew Hayden and Dhoni) for just 11 runs. Maybe my mind got it wrong. He (Ojha) has done a great job in the tournament so far," he said.

Gibbs, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his unbeaten half-century, thanked his captain and said Gilchrist's presence at the other end took pressure off his shoulder.

"In Twenty20, we are not expected to get our eyes in. But with Gilly going after it right from the first ball, there was no pressure and I could relax," Gibbs said.

"We tried to made the maximum use of the first six overs. With Gilly going so well, I didn't have much to do," he said.

Images: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians

Indian cricketer and Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 33 runs for no loss.

Indian cricketer and Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 33 runs for no loss.

Indian cricketer and Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 72 runs for no loss.

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar of Mumbai Indians pats teammate Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 72 runs for no loss.

Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya of Mumbai Indians plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 111 runs for no loss after 10 overs.

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya of Mumbai Indians pat during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 111 runs for no loss after 10 overs.

Cheerleaders of Mumbai Indians perform during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians are currently 148 runs for three wickets

South African cricketer Jean-Paul Duminy of Mumbai Indians plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians scored 187 runs at the end of their innings.

Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh of Mumbai Indians plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Mumbai Indians scored 187 runs at the end of their innings.

Sri Lankan cricketer Lasitha Malinga of Mumbai Indians celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Brendon McCullum of Kolkata Knight Riders during the IPL Twenty20 match at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth on April 27, 2009. Kolkata Knight Riders are currently 19 runs for the loss of two wickets chasing 188 runs to win

We are getting better by every game: Tendulkar

Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar was happy the script went according to plan and felt they were improving in each match as they hammered the Kolkata Knight Riders by 92 runs in the Indian Premier League match here today.
The batting maestro and his opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya set the St George's Park on fire with some blazing shots. Both raced to half centuries and Tendulkar credited the Sri Lankan for his innings.

"It was a good partnership. Sanath picked up the pace nicely," said Tendulkar, who was adjudged man of the match for his 45-ball 68.

However, the manner in which they batted, a 200 plus score looked well on course and Tendulkar admitted as much.

"Everything went according to plan but maybe 200 plus would have been a better total. We are getting better by every game," said the record runscorer in both Tests and one-dayers.

A dejected Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum said they would have now to go back to the drawing board.

"We will have to pick ourselves and get back on track," said the New Zealander.

Mumbai Indians pacer Zaheer Khan said the opening partnership between Tendulkar and Jayasuriya set the tone. "Sachin and Sanath, playing the way they did was amazing," said the India pacer.