Indian Premier League (IPL) is a unique concept brought about recently by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), I believe, in response to the Subash Chandra's much controversial 'Indian Cricket League'(ICL). ICL received much attention before its inception due to its prudent marketing and a concept, which seemed quite lucrative for players. At one point of time, it was claimed to be a big threat to BCCI, but the BCCI president refuted this claim by showing skepticism to this concept. It was also not welcomed by the cricket lovers and eventually it didn't make much profit in its opening season. On the other hand, the BCCI's IPL has a completely unique concept.
The game of cricket will be taken to a different dimension altogether. It will completely change the way we look at the game. If we minutely observe the concept, we realize that it is literally much more than just a game. The game of cricket that was mostly the source of money-making for BCCI and players has now widened its spectrum. It has developed into a platform where not only BCCI but also the industrialists and the millionaires see it as a source of business. Yes, you are thinking on a right line; it’s a business where any millionaire can venture into. Couple of days back, I was just watching a news channel which had its breaking news as ' Dhoni Bik Gaya 6 crore mein' and 'Andrew Symonds sold for 5.4 crore’ as if these cricketers were displayed on a window of a shop and people looking to buy them. One news channel displayed breaking news as 'Cricketers ki mandi'. But the cricketers won't mind this news; I mean who would as long as he is given such a humungous amount. They would be much happier to play for their franchisee than for their country.
The real core cricket that is test cricket is hardly seen anywhere. It is almost replaced by 50-50 one day cricket. Now days, a short version of one day cricket that is T20 cricket has come into existence and is gaining the popularity among the audience. When asked a businessman about the T20 cricket, he said "Its very short and exciting game, gets over in 3 hours and people come to watch such games due to which the pockets of cricket board and players are filled and people also enjoy such entertaining matches". In all this, the real test cricket has lost its essence and it would not be longer that we see test cricket becoming extinct.
Let’s see how this concept works out and what kind of response it gets from the cricket lovers. It will surely produce exciting games and fill the pockets of business tycoons along with BCCI and players but I doubt whether it will do any good to the game. It may prove to be a nemesis for Test Cricket. Well, time will say everything and will answer all our queries.
All that I can say right now is: IPL, surely, is 'MORE THAN JUST A GAME'.
The game of cricket will be taken to a different dimension altogether. It will completely change the way we look at the game. If we minutely observe the concept, we realize that it is literally much more than just a game. The game of cricket that was mostly the source of money-making for BCCI and players has now widened its spectrum. It has developed into a platform where not only BCCI but also the industrialists and the millionaires see it as a source of business. Yes, you are thinking on a right line; it’s a business where any millionaire can venture into. Couple of days back, I was just watching a news channel which had its breaking news as ' Dhoni Bik Gaya 6 crore mein' and 'Andrew Symonds sold for 5.4 crore’ as if these cricketers were displayed on a window of a shop and people looking to buy them. One news channel displayed breaking news as 'Cricketers ki mandi'. But the cricketers won't mind this news; I mean who would as long as he is given such a humungous amount. They would be much happier to play for their franchisee than for their country.
The real core cricket that is test cricket is hardly seen anywhere. It is almost replaced by 50-50 one day cricket. Now days, a short version of one day cricket that is T20 cricket has come into existence and is gaining the popularity among the audience. When asked a businessman about the T20 cricket, he said "Its very short and exciting game, gets over in 3 hours and people come to watch such games due to which the pockets of cricket board and players are filled and people also enjoy such entertaining matches". In all this, the real test cricket has lost its essence and it would not be longer that we see test cricket becoming extinct.
Let’s see how this concept works out and what kind of response it gets from the cricket lovers. It will surely produce exciting games and fill the pockets of business tycoons along with BCCI and players but I doubt whether it will do any good to the game. It may prove to be a nemesis for Test Cricket. Well, time will say everything and will answer all our queries.
All that I can say right now is: IPL, surely, is 'MORE THAN JUST A GAME'.
1 comment:
Awesome man . Its really more than just a game
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