For a cricket crazy nation like India, there is never something like ‘too much of cricket’. The cricket fans may have shouted their lungs out rooting for the Indian team in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup, but the glittering IPL extravaganza that took off this week has brought in oodles of energy and glamour quotient for the T20 version of the game. And for the cynics, who thought this would be an overdose of cricket, the message is loud and clear - IPL just can’t be wished away.
MatchesThe eighth edition of the Indian Premier League which began on Wednesday will bring the exhilarating cricketing action back to Visakhapatnam after a gap of three years with three matches. The feast will start with Sunrisers Hyderabad playing against Rajasthan Royals on April 16, which starts at 8 p.m., followed by matches against Delhi Daredevils on April 18 and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 22, both will commence at 4 p.m.
A full house is expected as Vizagites wait with bated breath to share the excitement of the cricketainment called IPL.
“I am a die-hard fan of Dhoni so my support will be for the Chennai Super Kings,” says Vikranth Hanumantu, a cricket fan who represents the Waltair Club team. He recently captained the Waltair Club team against the Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University team in a friendly match played under the flood lights in the ACA-ADCA stadium, the first time after the Hudhud cyclone. The match was held to test the lights for the IPL matches.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to play under the lights. The ground here is a beauty!” says Vikranth, who is all excited to see the IPL matches live here. His team-mate Rana Uppalapati, too, has made plans to catch the IPL encounters in Vizag in the stadium. “I am looking forward to some ‘slam bang’ cricket from the home team Sunrisers Hyderabad. But the one player from whom I expect some firecrackers will be Yuvraj Singh of Delhi Daredevils,” he says.
While some were sceptical about IPL taking off in a big way post the world cup, cricket fans say that the World Cup has in fact strengthened the buzz around this season’s IPL. “Cricket lovers got acquainted with many foreign players whom they will be keenly following in the IPL teams. Without doubt, the terrific form that Glenn Maxwell and AB De Villiers are in, they will be the most followed players,” adds Vikranth.
With the onset of vacations in various colleges and institutions, youngsters are ensuring that they don’t miss out the fun.
For Sumedh Yadavalli, meeting his favourite player Dale Steyn during his recent visit to the city was a ‘dream come true’. All set to see the three IPL matches in the Vizag stadium, Sumedh says: “Steyn has been a great inspiration for me. His spectacular rise as the best fast bowler in contemporary cricket is a story that inspires me a lot.” An ardent supporter of Sunriser’s Hyderabad, Sumedh didn’t miss the chance to visit the stadium this week to see the team in the training sessions.
“This time IPL will be very exciting. All teams are equally poised to win. But for me, my heart will root for Sunrisers Hyderabad,” says the 14-year-old.
The other reason that peps up the IPL encounters in Vizag is the local quotient. City lad Ricky Bhui, who gave a fine performance in the under-19 Indian team, is back in SRH in his second IPL season.
