Preview: How fans respond to new-look teams could be the litmus test for IPL4
By Jamie Alter
Chennai: Apr 7, 2011
It is ironic that the Indian Premier League (IPL), considered by many to be a major threat to 50-over cricket, begins its fourth season, much like the recently-concluded World Cup did on February 18. Like in the ’70s, one-day cricket faced an uncertain future when the World Cup began. The answer came quite emphatically, via an action-packed tournament being hailed as the best since 1992 and, by some pundits, as the best ever.
Today, the lucrative IPL also faces an uncertain future. Already it has been reported that IPL’s brand value has fallen by 11% – or $460 million – to $ 3.67 billion. (Ouch. Sorry, investors and stakeholders. This really is about you, not the cricket.) This time around there is no Lalit Modi, the brash brains behind the lucrative league. Modi is not even in the country, and there are many out there who are eager to see how the league functions without it brash anchorman and fiercely opportunistic icon. The league has been dogged by financial irregularities and match-fixing probes, and the inclusion of two new teams while a total restricting of the way teams looked over the past three seasons has threatened the very essence what Modi heralded as his goal: to inculcate a city-based fan allegiance across the nation.
How fans respond to new-look teams could be the litmus test the IPL faces. Will they stick to their teams or move on to where their favourite players are? Will Gautam Gambhir be cheered when he returns to Delhi as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)? Will the fans in Rajasthan warm up when they see Yusuf Pathan walk out to bat against the home team? What kind of reception will Yuvraj Singh receive? How will the players gel with each other? How soon can they inculcate a team spirit? It could prove fascinating to watch.
In an era where player burn-out has been as much an issue of concern as match-fixing and technology, the IPL also carries with it the risk of fatigue. It starts just six days after a 43-day World Cup concluded and spans 51 days and 74 matches. In the five-day gap between the World Cup and IPL, there have been jersey unveilings and franchise requirements which have kept many Indian players busy. It is almost grotesque. How can the players’ bodies hold up, the massive cash incentives notwithstanding?
The current internationals have all been part of the World Cup. India and Sri Lanka played the most matches. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India captain and leader of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – who will begin the tournament on Friday against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai – has spoken of player fatigue due to over-scheduling. The next few weeks will test him and his India team-mates.
Aside from the glamour and glitz that the IPL carries, it remains a cricket contest between bat and ball. That is why for the IPL to remain strong and thrive it is imperative that season four be a success; not financially but in terms of the cricket played and the number of people who watch it. The Twenty20 format allows for many closer matches than 50-over cricket. In fact, each IPL season has seen a rise in the number of close encounters.
The World Cup dispelled doubts about the 50-over game and ensured the format will live on. It has, in fact, rejuvenated interest in one-day cricket irrespective of where you stand on the ICC’s decision to leave out the Associates for the 2015 World Cup.
The IPL can learn much from the success of the World Cup, which came down to largely good cricket that threw up some close matches and a couple unforgettable upsets. In the IPL, if the players ensure competitive, closely-fought matches that will in turn draw fans to the stadiums. That is the IPL’s biggest challenge – to ensure a competitive tournament after all that has transpired since the last final and opening day of 2011. It has a small history, and one on which it can pride itself, but repeating history, as many sportspersons will tell you, isn’t easy.
(Jamie Alter is a freelance cricket writer, having worked at ESPNcricinfo and All Sports Magazine. His first book, The History of World Cup Cricket, is out now. His twitter feed is @jamie_alter)
Pictures © Getty Images
Preview: How fans respond to new-look teams could be the litmus test for IPL4
By Jamie Alter
It is ironic that the Indian Premier League (IPL), considered by many to be a major threat to 50-over cricket, begins its fourth season, much like the recently-concluded World Cup did on February 18. Like in the ’70s, one-day cricket faced an uncertain future when the World Cup began. The answer came quite emphatically, via an action-packed tournament being hailed as the best since 1992 and, by some pundits, as the best ever.
Today, the lucrative IPL also faces an uncertain future. Already it has been reported that IPL’s brand value has fallen by 11% – or $460 million – to $ 3.67 billion. (Ouch. Sorry, investors and stakeholders. This really is about you, not the cricket.) This time around there is no Lalit Modi, the brash brains behind the lucrative league. Modi is not even in the country, and there are many out there who are eager to see how the league functions without it brash anchorman and fiercely opportunistic icon. The league has been dogged by financial irregularities and match-fixing probes, and the inclusion of two new teams while a total restricting of the way teams looked over the past three seasons has threatened the very essence what Modi heralded as his goal: to inculcate a city-based fan allegiance across the nation.
How fans respond to new-look teams could be the litmus test the IPL faces. Will they stick to their teams or move on to where their favourite players are? Will Gautam Gambhir be cheered when he returns to Delhi as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)? Will the fans in Rajasthan warm up when they see Yusuf Pathan walk out to bat against the home team? What kind of reception will Yuvraj Singh receive? How will the players gel with each other? How soon can they inculcate a team spirit? It could prove fascinating to watch.
In an era where player burn-out has been as much an issue of concern as match-fixing and technology, the IPL also carries with it the risk of fatigue. It starts just six days after a 43-day World Cup concluded and spans 51 days and 74 matches. In the five-day gap between the World Cup and IPL, there have been jersey unveilings and franchise requirements which have kept many Indian players busy. It is almost grotesque. How can the players’ bodies hold up, the massive cash incentives notwithstanding?
The current internationals have all been part of the World Cup. India and Sri Lanka played the most matches. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India captain and leader of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – who will begin the tournament on Friday against Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai – has spoken of player fatigue due to over-scheduling. The next few weeks will test him and his India team-mates.
Aside from the glamour and glitz that the IPL carries, it remains a cricket contest between bat and ball. That is why for the IPL to remain strong and thrive it is imperative that season four be a success; not financially but in terms of the cricket played and the number of people who watch it. The Twenty20 format allows for many closer matches than 50-over cricket. In fact, each IPL season has seen a rise in the number of close encounters.
The World Cup dispelled doubts about the 50-over game and ens