If there is a form of entertainment in India that has captured the hearts of its followers to a mind boggling degree it is the cricket extravaganza Indian Premier League (IPL) in the Twenty-20 format. With eight seasons under its belt it is looked forward to with intense enthusiasm and fanatical anticipation.
Doomsday forecasters who predicted that with betting scandals and match-fixing surfacing along the way the credibility of IPL would be severely dented and crowds would begin to shy away, have been proved wrong as this extraordinary instant cricket has grown from strength to strength in a country where entertainment avenues are woefully scarce.
The 8th edition of IPL which has just ended had its share of thrills and entertainment. After suffering five losses from their first six matches, the ultimate victors Mumbai Indians showed tremendous resilience and grit, winning seven of their last eight matches to finish second in the league and end up as final winners.
Pitted against familiar foes Chennai Super Kings in the summit clash — against whom they have played all their three finals — MI capped the turnaround brilliantly thrashing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s yellow brigade by 41 runs to win their second title at the Eden Gardens on Sunday night.
A lot of credit for the win must go to skipper Rohit Sharma who led from the front and showed a never-say-die spirit. The Indian selectors must have been left wondering why they chose the temperamental and relatively-mercurial Virat Kohli for leading India in Tests when Rohit has shown that he is more balanced and is a mature strategist who carries the team with him.
Dhoni, who will continue to captain India in one-dayers and Twenty-20s is no longer his old self—buoyant and super-enthusiastic. As he gets older he will inevitably have to make way for a more hands-on captain and if Kohli does not take steps to control his tantrums it could well be Rohit.
Another interesting fallout of the IPL this time has been the return of Harbhajan Singh to the Indian side in recognition of his fine performance in the IPL tournament through rare grit and determination.
The IPL’s utility lies in the fact that up and coming players in India are getting an excellent opportunity to play with the best in the world and to hone their skills. All in all, IPL has been an excellent platform for budding cricketers. Hopefully, it will get over its taint through corrective action.
