An Australian team has won the World Cup yet again, and the attention of the world’s largest cricketing nation will now shift to the razzmatazz of the Indian Premier League (IPL), widely popular and controversial in the same measure, very similar to Justin Bieber. As the eighth edition of the cricketing jamboree rolls on, Metroplus wonders on whether off field controversies, change in team personal, fatigue after a long cricket season will impact interest in the IPL.
Photographer Nishant Shawaney considers himself a cricket purist and believes that the IPL has lost its charm after the first couple of seasons. “In the first few seasons, people were hooked on more for the celebrities that turned up on the field and the cheerleaders. It was an innovative idea then. The Indian team was doing really well and none of the other sports had leagues. Now, every sport in India has a league of its own, with assorted celebrities. People like to watch these leagues to understand the game better. Cricket has been on our television screens for almost eight months now. There is bound to be some burnout.”
Prakash Kapoor, a data analyst and cricket fanatic does not consider the IPL real cricket. “I watched the first couple of seasons since the concept was relatively new. I have always felt that the quality of cricket in the IPL is lower than in Tests and ODIs. The constant chopping and changing of players and crew in teams and the controversies that have dogged the league has put me off. I am looking forward to the Ashes.”
Software professional Rupesh Pal agrees, “I used to support teams with my favourite players. With everyone changing teams, every three years, I find it tough to invest emotionally in the league. The League seems to be trying very hard to ensure that people do not take it seriously. Why else would the opening ceremony of a cricket tournament have more Bollywood stars than cricketers?”
He adds, “Cricket has been on our screens for nearly five months now. The ratings for the IPL dropped considerably after the Indian World Cup win in 2011. With India not winning the tournament, the interest levels will be much lower. The fact that scores in excess of 400 have become common in ODI cricket will also ensure that sixes and fours do not hold much charm among cricket watchers.”
IT analyst Prakash Kochhar has a contrarian view. “I think the IPL is a great show. The cricket is on the sidelines, but that is changing now. The teams are building their support bases outside the duration of the tournament. The surfeit of sporting leagues have ensured that city-based teams have built an active fan base. The many sporting leagues that have been launched were also well received and I see no reason why the IPL should not remain popular.”
Fashion designer Shashank. R contends that the IPL should reorient itself and associate more with cricket than the extras. “The audience now yearns for a cricket contest. The novelty of a prancing Shahrukh Khan no longer exists. As long as the competition is about serious cricket, even in an abridged form, the audiences will flock to the grounds and watch it on TV. This would ensure the cricket played is of high quality. I hope the IPL matures more and the matches have more of a context than just a mindless hit and run fest.”
