MUMBAI: You bet, she does. Shilpa Shetty has done her homework well. The co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals has been working hard and keeping her part of the bargain as the marketing in charge of the franchisee.

Before the Indian Premier League had started Shetty had predicted, “We have a great new acquisition in our team. He is Michael Lumb. Not much is known about him, but he will be the find of the 2010 IPL.” One took that prediction with a bit of salt as one usually does when an actor talks about the game.

But Shetty has had the last laugh. After a first ball duck, followed by another single digit score, Michael Lumb has suddenly come to the party. The opening batsman for Rajasthan Royals has been instrumental in fashioning a fantastic start for the 2008 IPL champions and suddenly the team has registered four consecutive wins, beating favorites like Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. Shetty laughingly said, with a mischievous glint in her eye, “I know nobody believed me but I had full faith in Shane Warne. He is Warney’s discovery and one does not take the master spinner’s words lightly. Lumb has found his form and we have suddenly moved up in the points table.”

Shetty has also been seeking divine intervention and has visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple, while hubby, Raj Kundra has been wearing the same pair of torn jeans which he feels has proved lucky for the team. A good dose of strategy, superstition and prayers is working wonders for Shetty and her team, and no one is complaining.