The glitzy Indian Premier League (IPL) is to start today, helping to ease the heartache of millions of fans following India’s failure to win the World Twenty20 on home soil this month.
India’s short-form extravaganza, famous for its fireworks and dancing cheerleaders as well as unwanted corruption scandals, begins with the Mumbai Indians taking on the Rising Pune Supergiants.
Fans hope the cash-rich league, featuring blockbuster stars, including Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, will soothe the pain of India’s semi-final defeat to eventual World T20 champions the West Indies.
Photo: AFP
India went into the tournament as favorites, but seriously under-performed, losing to New Zealand and only beating Bangladesh with a last-ball run-out before prevailing over Australia to scrape into the final four.
“It was a below-par performance by Dhoni and company. I hope IPL helps us overcome the pain of the semis loss,” Kolkata Knight Riders supporter Nehal Ahmed told reporters.
The ninth edition of the franchise-based competition, which has revolutionized world cricket, sees eight teams clash in 60 matches at 10 different venues across India.
“We Indian fans have a short memory. A good two months of IPL and we will forget all about World T20,” said fan Modit Dhasmana, who said he is an ardent admirer of IPL razzamatazz.
The IPL is the most popular domestic league in the world, but has been plagued by controversies since its inception in 2008, with corruption and match-fixing cases often taking center stage.
A spot-fixing scandal in 2013 led to two teams — the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals — being suspended last year for two seasons. They have been replaced by Pune and Rajkot-based Gujarat Lions, who are to make their IPL debuts in this edition, which runs until the May 29 final in Mumbai.
The IPL, which has spawned a host of similar leagues around the world, was the brainchild of cricket administrator Lalit Modi, who is refusing to return from Britain to India to face corruption charges.
Despite the controversies, the IPL has attracted a host of foreign players who have shaped or resurrected their careers and in turn have become household names in India.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur said the success of the IPL in attracting global stars, sell-out crowds and massive television revenues has proved critics wrong.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla has insisted the reputation of the tournament remains intact, despite the controversies.
“The response we have got during [the] bidding process shows how IPL is still popular and credibility is not lost,” he said, referring to the league’s auction earlier this year.
India’s short-form captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was synonymous with two-time champions Chennai, leads the Pune squad, who have former England talisman Kevin Pietersen competing for them in his fifth IPL.
“It’s recognized as one of the biggest tournaments in the world. It’s an opportunity to play alongside some of the best talents,” said New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, who is in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad.
Ace India batsman Kohli will be looking to carry on from his scintillating form at the World T20 — which saw him hit three ice-cool half-centuries — as he leads Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Bangalore boast one of the tournament’s most formidable batting line-ups. In addition to Kohli, they have West Indies star Gayle and South Africa master shotmaker A.B. de Villiers.
Retired Australia all-rounder Shane Watson is to line-up alongside them after Bangalore pocketed him for US$1.98 million during the auction in February. West Indies’ man-of-the-moment Carlos Brathwaite was a fairly unknown entity when Delhi Daredevils bagged him for US$640,000 at the bid.
However, it looks like money well spent after the all-rounder smashed four consecutive sixes in the final over of the World T20 final to snatch an unlikely win from England.
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