We are now into the third week of IPL4, and even an ardent fan of the test match cricket won’t deny that this IPL has been most entertaining of all editions so far and perhaps T-20 is not that bad after all. The quality of cricket may not have improved, but the restructuring in the format along with the euphoria of a world cup win have given the tournament an added flavor. Considering what had happened last year off the field, it’s certainly a reflection of our insatiable appetite for bat hitting a ball. But that’s to be expected since our memories of public debacles have no connection with the need for instant gratification provided by this format.
This IPL though has a soft spot because of a special person – Sachin Tendulkar. After a World cup win there is still a jewel missing in the crown (if you want to believe it) and an IPL trophy win will definitely complete the cycle of dominance that Sachin has been associated with ever since his debut and specially since his rejuvenation 3 years ago!
I have asked this question many times though, why has IPL been so successful over the last 3 years? Any true romantic of the game can spot the difference between genuine and half hearted efforts of some of the international pros. All that motivates them to win is to justify their price tags along with an added incentive of a hug if you are from KXI team. But when we talk about IPL it’s hardly the quality that drives the fans to the stadium. In the country we live in, it provides an escape route from the hardships of lives, from the mundane 9 to 5 jobs, from the inundation of indistinguishable soap operas, from whatsoever that has been bothering an average Joe. An undeniable fact though is that it is here to stay; for good or for worse that still needs to be seen post the golden era of Indian cricket.
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