Seems that Shamita Shetty is a very clever player of the game. “Shane Warne’s a fantastic cricketer and an even better captain, but I adore Yusuf Pathan and I’m fond of M S Dhoni,” said Shamita Shetty, thereby dashing all hopes the legendary Australian spin wizard and ladies man might have had of winning the sultry Bollywood actress in South Africa.

Shamita, as you might have seen on television, has accompanied elder sister Shilpa and her beau Raj Kundra — owners of Team Rajasthan, to South Africa for the IPL. From where reports came faster than sixes of Warne showing more than a healthy interest in the boss woman’s kid sis.

Some stories had the two cozying up at a party that Shilpa had thrown after a victorious match. Warne, who is notorious for his roving eye, was naturally unavailable for comment. But Shamita was not amused by the rumours.

“I don’t know where the press is getting this from but it really needs to get the facts right. Honestly, it’s the funniest bit of news I’ve heard in a long time,” said Shamita who doesn’t interact with the team and has barely met Warne thrice.

The story goes that Warne, whose wife Simone Callahan reportedly left him as a result of his womanising, had first hit on Shilpa herself. But since the elder sister was already betrothed to Raj Kundra, the captain of her team turned his attention to younger sister Shamita. Funnily, when BT was doing a Valentine Day’s story with the couple earlier this year, Raj had jokingly remarked, “I’d better propose to Shilpa before the T20 matches or else Shane Warne might try his luck!”

His failure with the Shetty girls has not done anything to spoil Shane Warne’s reputation as a world class cricketer in Shamita’s eyes. The twinkling-eyed Aussie still remains her “fave” player. But she adores Pathan. “Have you seen him get ready for a six? He’s got an amazing style,” she said. And then there’s also Dhoni, who is from the Chennai team, but still another favourite of the sultry actress. “I’m having fun,” she said, “from a non-cricketing fan, I’ve turned into a cricket enthusiast overnight.” Warne notwithstanding.