IPL

Yes, i am following IPL. I think it is exciting for Indian cricket although i see many negatives at the same time.

It has been only 6 matches and there may have been 1000s blogs written all over the world. I too join their bandwagon. The reason i am enjoying IPL is because i am getting to see the sport without the country boundaries. Today during Rajasthan vs Punjab, Indians cheered Kamran Akmal. Can you believe it? I have seen Sachin, Dravid, Laxman getting standing ovations in Eng, Aus and everywhere but i have rarely seen any foreigner getting a standing ovation in India even after scoring a double or triple ton. Matthew Hayden scored century after century and so did Symonds but they were booed by public and also by the media. This has changed due to IPL. Crowd support their team and players in the team and it doesnt pain them at all that all players are not Indians.

Yesterday, before the start of Bombav vs Bangalore match, while the groundsmen were clearing some stuff, at the center, three people were chatting. They were - Jayasurya, Chanderpaul and Praveen Kumar. It was so good to see it. Rahul Dravid is also surprised as he admitted in his speech saying that he hit a 4 and no one clapped in a Mumbai stadium filled with 70K people. He never anticipated that. Some reporter wrote this line : "Never will you see Sachin jumping from his seat and clapping on seeing Rahul Dravid out".

Yesterday, Boucher was out on a ball by Pollock and Pollock couldnt't smile nor celebrate as he would normally have. Similar thing happened when an under-19 bowler bowled Virat Kohli (under-19 captain) and he could hardly get a smile as they are best buddies. So has been the nature of game. In another instance two Ranji trophy players from Delhi faced similar situation.

In the past 6 innings, no MOM has gone to an Indian but still the crowd support has been lovely. Rajasthans today chanted "Srisanth Hai Hai" while Akmal kept on hitting him. One can argue that Indians still have the same heart - they cheer for their team and not for the game, but i think that we have taken a big step forward in accepting other players as a part of their team.

Things i hate about IPL is the mixing of bollywood in it. Set Max's coverage is pathetic. The camera after every ball focuses on the bollywood industry sitting on the stands. I hear Reshamiya music playing at the back. The SRKs, the Johars, and yada yada yada of industry are there taking the spirit out of the game. Movies like Lagaan, Iqbaal etc took Bollwood towards cricket and they were a sell out. IPL is doing it the other way round, taking cricket to bollywood and so far it has done the trick for corporates. Set Max with its pathetic panel team, arbit anchors (including Jadega) are making a mockery of themselves and the game. Thankfully, CBN is also covering the sports and it is a welcome relief to hear a better commentary and watch cricket only on it.

I am looking forward for many things in this IPL tournament. I want to see Sachin and Jayasurya to open and smash the opposition. I want to see Bangalore in the finals. Many say that it is a test team playing 20-20 but i think Bangalore has a point to prove. The game in any format can still be won by playing proper cricketing shots, bowling good balls and there is no need to glamorize your innings. Dravid, Kallis, Boucher are leading it and i would love to see Kumble in the side too. I am waiting for Laxman to show his style again to the world in this format. I want Warne's team to do well to show that this game is not won by big names but people playing their parts properly. Team spirit plays an equally important role.

Another interesting feature has been the IPL fair play award. Although just for the sake of it, but it may be a good start.