IPL

Nothing in India generates as much interest and curiosity as these two things does. One is Films and the other is no doubt Cricket AND the third angle to it is Controversy. Controversies are there everywhere and with so much of money running on in IPL and movie starts and politicians being linked to it, all three will go hand in hand for sure, whether agree or disagree and the proof of it is the recent Kochi franchise controversy.


Keeping all the controversies and gossips aside, IPL is definitely is one of the biggest entertainment of the hot summer over the last two years and is going to much bigger in the coming years. The revenue that it is generating is a clear indication of the success it is achieved. IPL brand value in 2010 is expected to be more than $4 billion and is expected to grow at a rate of 100% every year. India being a cricket crazy nation must have helped to achieve this number. No doubt that IPL as a business is a revolution and considering that it is started only 2 years back, this is a achievement on its own kind.


Business aside, the biggest good that IPL is doing is for all the cricketers who never dreamt playing for India or at least to play in the big stage has a platform now to showcase their talent and of course benefiting monitorily from it will do a lot of good for their lives, their confidence and ultimately it is good for Indian cricket. When IPL started on 2008, no one would have given Rajasthan Royals a glimmer of chance to win the tournament that year, but that is what is happened at the end of the league. RR emerged as a surprise winner for 2008 and considering them being the least priced franchise and banking on a lot of unknown fringe Indian players, no one would have given a chance to win the tournament with that team and Shane Warne proved every one wrong with his unconventional leadership skills. Everyone in the world cricket knows that Warne has a great leadership skills, though he is never given chance to prove his mettle with Australian team, IPL has given him a chance and he grabbed it with both hands. It helped Ravindra Jadeja to get in to the national side and who can forget the contribution of ShaneWatson for the team which helped him to grab a place in Australian side and everyone knows how is performing and cemented his place. Same goes to the second year edition in South Africa where DC and RCB (who stood and 7th and 8th in first edition) played the final in J'berg and DC emerging as a winner is a worth to remember for years to come. Adam Gilchrist this time turned the magic around for DC's unimaginable roller coaster ride and they continued this year as well to reach semi finals winning last five games in a row to reach the stage. It is only possible with IPL that the unfancied players like Harmeet Singh, Kamran khan, Trivedi, Rayudu, Suman etc., will get noticed and get to play alongside greats like Gillchrist, Sachin, Warne etc., AND almost forgotten players like Robin Uthappa keep reminding you (the selectors) that how big mistake it is not selecting him WC T20. FANTASTIC is the word that comes to my mind when I see these many players/teams of different kinds coming out of no where, the making the unexpected happens.


It is quite evident that in the two editions of the IPL, the teams who has done well till now has a team of domestic players performing well for their teams at the right time. The resurgent MI is an example for this and the players like Tiwary, Rayudu doing well did a lot of good for their team and who can forget the contribution from the legend himself who is the owner of the orange cap now. He needs no introduction. Being RCB fan, I would love to see RCB winning this time, but their last game against MI has put a lot of doubts in my mind plus they will be playing MI in semifinal in Mumbai. That's quite lot of odds isnt't it? Let's see what happens, honestly I don't mind MI winning as well because of Sachin. Fingers crossed !!!! (to be continued...)