Super League Kerala is all set and rolling as football excitement has reached its peak in Kerala.

The six teams participating in the star-studded league are Calicut FC, Malappuram FC, Kannur Warriors FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, Thrissur Magic FC, and Forca Kochi FC.

Further fueling the league’s growing popularity, some of the biggest names in the Malayalam film industry and sports arena are involved in various capacities ranging from brand ambassadors to owners — this includes Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sanju Samson, and Basil Joseph.

However, what has now kept the internet abuzz is a promotional video of the league featuring Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Kerala’s cricketing icon and Indian international Sanju Samson.

Here’s how the video unfolds:

A confident Shashi Tharoor, wearing the jersey of Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, is shown telling Sanju Samson over the phone (who is the co-owner of Malappuram FC) that this time the SLK cup will be won by the Kombans, to which Sanju retorts, “Jab tak Malappuram hai, Trivandrum ko cup jeetna aasan nahi hai” (which roughly translates to “As long as Malappuram is there, it won’t be easy for the Kombans to be crowned champions”).

We all know that Shashi Tharoor is not a man who would bow out that easily. The veteran politician, as shown in the banter video, uses his signature style, shooting out complicated words at Sanju such as, ‘for such crude instruments of coercion as threats…’

A bewildered Sanju, at the end of the video, tells Shashi Tharoor in Malayalam, “Rajasthan marubhoomi mein manal math daalo Shashi sir” — (which roughly translates to “don’t export sand to Rajasthan deserts”). Despite being a punchy line, the mention of Rajasthan seems to have left both Shashi Tharoor and cricket fans guessing, given the existing ambiguity over Sanju’s next big move in the IPL.

What’s even more interesting is the fans’ reaction to the funny promotional video:

While one user said, “Whoever created this idea to promote this event is brilliant. Now I’ve become a fan of the Kerala league,” another netizen said, “Waiting for Tharoor vs Prithviraj — who is the co-owner of Forca Kochi.”

Fans also wanted a faceoff between Sanju and Basil, who are longtime friends.

The thrilling promotional campaigns have just added flavor to Kerala’s exciting club football season, as fans, pundits, and ultimately players vie to bask in football glory — Kerala is celebrating its favorite game!