| When we first saw it, we knew it was a revolution. | | | | Tendulkar versus a team comprising of Adam |
| Today, it has become a habit. | | | | Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi and Andrew |
| The Indian Premier League has been the biggest | | | | Symonds? |
| upheaval the game of cricket has ever seen. With | | | | If, on one hand, IPL forced Indian supporters to |
| time, the formats reduced from the Test matches | | | | cheer for the Symonds and Watsons, it weaved the |
| to One-Dayers and then, the latest, 20 over games, | | | | cricket playing nations closer too, and it undoubtedly |
| the shortest format of the game till date, which is | | | | did. After the Sydney fiasco, who would have |
| packed with full throttle entertainment, excitement | | | | thought Indians would be cheering for Ricky |
| and energy. | | | | Ponting’s success? |
| Taking a cue from ICL, BCCI successfully capitalised | | | | Would Swapnil Asnodkar have, in his wildest dreams, |
| on the idea of city based rivalry and brought to the | | | | thought of sharing the dressing room with the King |
| fore the rivalry that was only spoken of but never | | | | of spin, Shane Warne? The answer to this question is |
| witnessed. The IPL 2008 entered the history books | | | | either a ‘No’ or a ‘No’. IPL indeed |
| of the game and Indian Premier League 2009 is | | | | puts the stars of the future under the right guidance |
| expected to repeat the success. | | | | of the legends of the game so that they are shaped |
| No sooner had the inaugural season ended, talks had | | | | to perfection to carry the load of their respective |
| already begun as to when the IPL 2009 will begin, | | | | nations besides supporting them financially and |
| which players will be traded, who will replace MS | | | | rewarding them for their non-stop struggle in |
| Dhoni as the most expensive player and so on and | | | | domestic circuit. |
| so forth. The craze for the profligate tournament can | | | | The Indian Premier League can well be related to the |
| be weighed by the ripple effect of the rumours of it | | | | English Premier League football where the concept is |
| being cancelled had. IPL was everywhere, the news | | | | the same. Players from every country are traded for |
| channels carried it as ‘Breaking News’, the | | | | huge sums to play for various clubs and thus every |
| newspapers as their ‘Headlines’ and | | | | club comprises of the giants of the game from |
| magazines as their ‘Cover Story’. Eyes on | | | | different countries and states. This has provided the |
| television and adrenalin pumped in anticipation of the | | | | perfect platform to players on the domestic circuit to |
| tournament’s fate. The shortest format of the | | | | showcase their talent and prove a point to the |
| game started to be known as IPL Cricket rather than | | | | selectors of the national team which, otherwise, |
| T20 cricket. | | | | remains in the backdrop. Not everyone follows the |
| The first edition of the lucrative and extravagant | | | | domestic level of the game and thus limelight evades |
| tournament saw what the gentleman’s game | | | | them which is not the case with IPL. |
| had never seen, or let us say, took notice of. The | | | | The ICC has always strived to put cricket on a global |
| IPL news was everywhere. The ‘Big | | | | stage. They gave Bangladesh a Test status, included |
| Daddys’ of the international arena came | | | | 16 teams in a World Cup edition, but all of its |
| together to play for the same team and a Delhi | | | | initiatives to put the game on a global platform failed, |
| resident supporting the home team, Delhi Daredevils, | | | | and failed miserably. The IPL South Africa might just |
| cheered and celebrated when Sachin Tendulkar was | | | | be a start to ICC’s goal achievement |
| dismissed. Such has been the impact of IPL on | | | | programme. |
| international cricket that an Indian prays for Andrew | | | | An example could probably help the ICC. Suppose |
| Symonds’ century and a third umpire decision in | | | | Bhaichung Bhutia gets a contract with Manchester |
| favour of Shoaib Akhtar. What more can be said! | | | | United. People in India will then gain further interest in |
| No matter what players have to say regarding their | | | | football and start rooting for Manchester United. |
| ‘priority’ to put their country before IPL, | | | | Similarly, if the IPL authorities or the franchisee spot |
| money is undoubtedly a criteria for everyone and the | | | | a cricketer from Holland, or a country where cricket |
| T20 League by the BCCI provides plenty of that. It | | | | is not as famous, and give him an IPL contract, |
| is only in this country that cricket is a religion, its | | | | people in that particular country will start viewing the |
| citizens the worshippers and players their demi-gods. | | | | game, thus popularising it. |
| India is the hub of cricket and its land, the route to | | | | In this fashion, who knows, maybe someday, |
| monetary benefits from the game, the airlines the | | | | ICC’s so-far failed objective of globalising cricket |
| carrier of players to bring in here. | | | | might just come true and we get to see the |
| Who would not look forward to a match where | | | | gentleman’s game in the Olympics too! |
| Sanath Jayasuriya would open the batting with Sachin | | | | |