Skip to main content

IPL-6 Preview!


The rise in frequency of Farah Khan ads teaching you dance moves along-with multi-genre group of people splashing colour across your TV screens subtly reminds that the carnival is just round the corner. The gradual transition into the IPL-mode is settling in: electronic & print media are offering the routine previews, foreign players are sounding excited with landing in India and team PR mechanisms are striving to stir up fervour and adumbration!

Yet, you get this feeling of déjà vu leading up to April 3, like the IPL season succeeding the 2011 world cup. The magnitude of India’s recent success might not be as big as that win, but for followers struggling to find a source of joy in the last 18-24 months, the 4-0 series win has quenched the deep/longstanding thirst. An 8-test long home series with a couple of ODI series squeezed in between has already left followers spent. The presence of the look-forward-to element might be IPL-6’s biggest test. Not that IPL-6 is arriving unnoticed; it has its share of controversy a couple of weeks preceding it, but the approach isn’t as pompous and grand as we have witnessed previously.

It could be purposeful or merely coincident but every season has brought some novelty alongside; the necessity or the lack of it cannot be generalized. IPL-6 has a new team (or precisely new owners), the first season under the new chairman, a set of recently auctioned players, new title sponsors, few new venues and a couple of fresh faces as broadcast hosts. It would be a matter of curiosity to find whether this tinkering clicks or not.

Player injuries have amputated a couple of sides already. The presence of greater number of afternoon games under the sweltering sun could swell those concerns. A long home season could throw up a couple of sub-standard tracks making for low scoring lopsided contests at certain venues; an aspect which a league primarily based on the quality of cricket doesn’t desire. IPL history suggests that it takes a couple of exciting, close finishes to infuse life into the tournament. With the bracket of consistent teams narrowing down, the number of anticipated rivalries trimming and jaded live action hungry audience, the wait for the season to kick off in the real sense could get longer.

The IPL brand has settled down nicely after an overwhelming initial success. In retrospection you often study cases with time-frames or periodic cycles; for a sport/sportsperson a 4-5 year cycle is often an informative/resourceful quantum of period. If that is indeed the case, IPL-6 is an important event on the IPL timeline, for it forms the core of the 2nd cycle which generally is the part of the performance graph with the negative slope. The stakeholders of the IPL would be aware that this isn’t a season to expect much and would be happy if their respective financial reports record a stable plateau.

The question marks about the longevity of an IPL season arise as every new edition is about to embark. Like always, after the glamour and controversies have their share of limelight, the recurrent anticipation of witnessing Chris Gayle’s breathtaking power, Malinga’s death bowling, Steyn’s mesmerising spells, Dhoni’s ever-so clinical finishes and the creation of an unexpected star glides you through the poignant length of the season’s schedule sheet!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adieu Rahul Dravid

It could have been timed better, it could have come a little later, it could have been better celebrated but the retirement was always going to come some day. It is easier said than fathomed - the Indian test side without Dravid! The news on first instance was a moment of disbelief, followed by a moment of daze before logic struck saying that it had to come and the moment had indeed arrived. Dravid was never a glamorous character on or off the field, more of a thorough gentleman commanding respect from all quarters. His announcement was synonymous with his usual self - calm, composed, dignified and non-fussy. Dravid was, is and will always be remembered as a role model for his conduct, dignity, selflessness  on the cricket field & off it  along-with his technically impeccable batting. On the global scene the game has lost one of its modern-day great and an all-time legend. The clock was ticking for Dravid much before, but an exceptional tour of England postponed this event (
4 comments
Read more

India's problems begin from the top!

The middle order of India’s batting line-up has been the focus of all the criticism in the last couple of months. Amidst this chatter, an aspect of India’s success over the last decade or so - the opening has been a bit neglected. Yes the middle order deserves all the flak and resurrection in that department should be executed with priority but you cannot overlook the constant failure of the openers to deliver what is expected of them. Sehwag & Gambhir has been India’s best opening combine in terms of runs and also the longest serving duo. When you have the same pair at the top, you either don’t have too many options or they are doing too well to disturb; 23 opening stands of 50 or more & 10 stands of 100+ out of 76 outings is a reasonable stat and should endorse the latter view. Dissect that stat a bit and a few creepy things crop up. The duo has managed to provide an opening stand of 100 or more only on 3 occasions out of 34 times they have gone out to open the batting on
2 comments
Read more

Should Cricket Embrace The 5 Rings?

Another glorious edition of the Olympics goes into the sunset. A couple of weeks that showcased the best athletes compete for the ultimate glory, an event that exhibited disappointment, defeat, joy, pride, victory, glory and a portrait that had participation from 204 nations! A rich history, a massive platform, unparalleled glory and probably the biggest show sports can offer, makes an Olympic Games edition stand out. Ardent cricket fans/followers would feel left out from this marquee sports event. Unlike Motorsports, Cricket is a recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Though cricket wasn’t an outright success in multi-sport models previously, times have changed and today cricket has its T20 avatar to offer for such events. The ICC has 105 countries as its recognized members, spanning continents and covering most of the globe.
2 comments
Read more