The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League faced several challenges. Coming so close on the heels of ICC ODI World Cup, the competition had to grapple with viewer fatigue. The addition of two more franchises, Kochi Tuskers and Pune Warriors, increased the number of matches from 60 to 74. Despite a lukewarm beginning, the IPL came back well in the subsequent phases. The competition ended on a night of triumph for the Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. CSK, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, among the most successful captains in international cricket, became the only team to win the competition twice. The Chennai side, which has reached the IPL final thrice and also won the Champions League title, has firepower in batting, variety in bowling, and cool when it matters most. When the team appeared heading for a defeat in the first qualifier against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Mumbai, strokeful left-hander Suresh Raina conjured a 50-ball unbeaten 73 to clinch a thriller. In the summit clash in Chennai, opener Murali Vijay displayed a wonderful sense of occasion by producing an explosive near-century. The solidity of ‘Mr. Cricket,' Michael Hussey (492 runs in 14 matches at 41.00), the pace and thrust of Doug Bollinger (17 wickets in 13 games at an economy rate or ER of 7.00), the masterful wielding of the bludgeon by Dhoni whenever needed, and the control and craft of off-spinner R. Ashwin (20 wickets in 16 matches at an ER of 6.15) served CSK splendidly.
Fittingly in the finale, CSK came up against the game changer of this IPL. Chris Gayle, signed up by RCB after he was left out of the West Indies squad for the ODIs against Pakistan, had batted right through like Superman, blowing away attacks at will. Ashwin's prising him out with a delicious piece of deception in the first over was a rare moment of sporting drama. Gayle, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament, made a sensational 608 runs in 12 matches at an average of 67.55 and a strike rate of 183.13. Slinger Lasith Malinga of the Mumbai Indians was the outstanding bowler with 28 wickets from 16 games at an ER of 5.95. The Sri Lankan's toe-crushers were on target. The IPL provides a platform for emerging players to showcase their skills, and aggressive opener Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab), promising leg-spinner Rahul Sharma (Pune Warriors), and combative left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla (Kolkata Knight Riders) made headlines. The cash-rich IPL has reopened the club versus country debate. While there are no easy answers, the BCCI should make a sincere effort to ensure that the India cricketers do not play too much cricket at least 15 days before and after the popular Twenty20 competition to combat player fatigue and reduce the risk of injury.
Keywords: IPL 2011, ICC ODI World Cup
With no doubt of IPL success both in publicly as well as financially,will increase gap in between TEST-T20 cricket.Players keen interest to play in short format will definitely hamper formats like Test cricket.In my view player successful in T20 format may not succeed Test format.
IPL is a good show but our players must understand that country comes first always.
While I agree with the author's comment that too much cricket is being played by today's cricketers, I disagree with his opinion that some time off should be given to the players pre and post the IPL event. This is a tournament involving players from almost all cricketing nations and asking all countries to adjust their international schedules to ensure that their players can play comfortabley in the IPL is unfair. Let us put things in perspective. IPL is a domestic twenty/twenty tourney, albeit a cash rich and famous one. Forcing other nations to allow a window in their international schedule to allow their players to participate in the IPL is symptomatic of the arrogance with which BCCI is starting to deal with ICC using its money power. Even if the other nations agree, there will be an undercurrent of resentment towards BCCI which is not good for international cricket in the long run. The best solution is for the respective boards to allow their players the freedom to choose which tournament they want to play and not penalise them for their choice at a later stage. I love the IPL, but I have not lost sight of the fact that it is a popular domestic tournament at best.
In my opinion people this time round have shown less interes in IPL solely because it started on the heels of the World Cup.
Seriously what was the article all about. Is the title of the article in sync with the content. Why was this article even publised here in the editorial section. I am really taken aback, having followed The Hindu for quite sometime. Didn't expect something like this to appear in opinion section.
After the triumph in world cup, cricket is on all time high but IPL as it seems ,due to its overdose of crickt, is more an usual event. People now only look at it as an escape from their otherwise 9 to 7 boring life.
What is the heading what does the article emphasize on ?
It is aptly suggested that too much fatigue would ruin the skills and natural play of the players. And also the players are vulnerable for injuries preventing them from playing for India in the ODIs and Test Matches.
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