The upcoming episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show is set to be a celebratory affair, honouring the Indian women's cricket team for their historic World Cup victory. However, fans will notice one prominent player missing from the lineup – vice-captain and batting star Smriti Mandhana.
A Star-Studded Guest List with One Notable Absence
The special episode, scheduled to stream on Netflix on December 27 at 8 PM, will feature a host of cricketing stars. Attendees include captain Harmanpreet Kaur, wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh, batter Jemimah Rodrigues, opener Shafali Verma, all-rounder Deepti Sharma, and bowlers Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav. Players Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal, along with head coach Amol Muzumdar, will also be present. The absence of Smriti Mandhana, a key architect of the team's success, is the only gap in an otherwise complete squad celebration.
Revealing Promo and Kapil's Signature Humour
A recently released promo offers a glimpse into the fun-filled episode. Kapil Sharma is seen asking Harmanpreet Kaur about the energetic bhangra moves she performed just before lifting the World Cup trophy. The skipper reveals that it was Smriti Mandhana who insisted she dance. Jemimah Rodrigues chimes in with a humorous anecdote, recalling, "Harry didi doesn't listen to us anyway. But Smriti had said that if I didn't do the bhangra, she wouldn't talk to me for life."
Kapil also brings his characteristic wit to other interactions. He inquires about an injury sustained by Pratika Rawal, and when she replies with a straight face, he quips, "Why are you getting angry? I just asked casually." Later, he playfully slips into matchmaker mode, questioning Renuka Singh about her 'ideal boy'. The episode promises more chaos with Kapil's regular cast, including Sunil Grover and Krushna Abhishek as Karan and Arjun, and Kiku Sharda as Filmy Maa.
Legal Clouds and Streaming Details
The new season of the show premiered with an episode featuring Priyanka Chopra. However, the production is currently navigating some legal challenges. A report from Mid-Day states that Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) filed a commercial IP suit on December 12. The suit alleges copyright infringement for the unauthorised use of songs in three episodes. PPL India has petitioned the Bombay High Court to prevent the show's producers from using its copyrighted recordings without a proper license and to disclose any revenue earned from their alleged unauthorised use.
Despite this backdrop, the much-anticipated cricket special is locked in for its December 27 release on Netflix. The episode aims to capture the joy and camaraderie of the champion team, offering fans a lighter, behind-the-scenes look at their favourite players following a monumental sporting achievement.
