IPL 4

Well this post is just an analysis of the Indian Premier League-4. The edition that comes a week after the greatest achievement of a 1.2 billion strong cricketing nation and the first edition post the dismissal of Lalit Modi.

Its been 4 days since the league started with almost every team playing at least a game each. So a quick review of all teams. But before I do that I would also like to mention that the lack of frenzy, the franchise loyalty that the fans showed in the IPL in its past editions is pretty evident by its absence. Apart from he DD vs MI game there has hardly been any stadium with capacity crowd [This game had capacity crowd for three reasons-

• Delhi is known for its jugaad so a lot of people know at least someone who in turn know someone who can get them complimentary tickets or better still just bribe the policemen on duty, this is a fact because that is what my friend circle did in the 2010 IPL's DD vs MI game to get in,
• The ground (Feozeshah Kotla) ain't that big and I don't mean seating capacity here(45000) I mean the conspicuous seating capacity, the architecture is so poor that people sitting on the ground floor's back rows can't see the ball in case of an aerial shot so everybody tries to occupy the front 15 rows and the stadium looks full house, also the case is the same with the first floor crowd since the ceiling obstructs the view, then comes the second floor from where it is difficult to spot the ball and you can't even see the full ground (thank you M/s Siddiqui and Khanna for leaving behind your common sense at home when designing the stadium).
• And finally, MI has SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR so the stadium has to be full house. I am guessing the 65000 capacity Eden Gardens would be full house too. (KKR is minus dada, still)

Now, a quick analysis-

• CSK- With the core group unchanged add to that game changers like Styris this is the team to watch out for. X Factor- MSD. The Weak Link- Hard to find.
• DC- Looks a very promising team on paper, like the first three seasons. Lacks a strong middle order. X Factor- Dale Steyn. The Weak Link- since its a completely revamped team adjustment will be an issue
• DD- Too much reliance on a couple of players. Not the force that it was earlier. Though certainly unpredictable, courtesy the Kotla pitch where they will play half their matches. X Factor- Virender Sehwag. The Weak Link- No stars at all
• Kings XI- Looks like a decent line up. With Gilly, DK and Broad looks can be decieving. X Factor- Adam Gilchrist. The Weak Link- Middle order needs some firepower
• KTK- Full of former Indian players, RP Singh included. But they have BMac and Mahela to take them through. X Factor- Brendon McCullum
• KKR- Unlike the KKR of yesteryears this team has the experience and skill to go all the way. X Factor- Yusuf Pathan. The Weak Link- Unknown uncapped players
• MI- Certainly a brilliant team. Good all-round balance and attack. MI couldn't have been any better especially with the core intact. X Factor- SRT and that man Pollard. The Weak Link- Weak and MI cannot be used in the same sentence
• RR- Well you never know what trick Warnie can pull off from under his hat. Add to that Watson and Roscoe. But needs the Ranji Trophy holders in its line-up to perform. X Factor- Shane Warne The Weak Link- No reliable domestic players
• RCB- A dynamic team. Just what you expect from Mallya. Has a lot of former DD players plus a dashing domestic attack. X Factor- AB De. The Weak Link- Not a great bowling unit.
• PWI- A perfect blend of youth and experience. Is the team that can chase down any target with the firepower it has. X Factor- Yuvraj Singh. The Weak Link- Lack of quality local players.

Lets talk about the reasons for a possible decline in popularity of IPL4-

1. India won the CWC and that euphoria of being the world beaters hasn't sunk in yet (well you can't blame us; it's just been a week). Plus there are no grudges/rants against any Indian player so you won't be hurling abuses at them for non-perfomance or performing exceptionally against your favourite team as the love can't change to dare-I-say-hatred in 10 days time. So it will take a couple of close games to get people back into the groove.
2. CWC victory in the same year as the re-shuffling of teams hasn't helped the cause either. It will take a while for DD fans to see Gauti wearing Purple and Gold and not Dark Blue and red or Yuvi wearing Black and not Pink. It takes a while for people to associate themselves with some player or the other. I can't buy the logic of the lack of any local players in these franchisees. Well how many of us go to the Palam grounds to watch Mithun Manhas, Virat Kohli and Rajat Bhatia strutting their stuff in the Ranji ties. So how can you feel that local touch with them. I see no difference in a David Warner or a Unmukt Chand, because I can see them only once a year, in IPL thats it and I am least bothered about their performance in the domestic circuit[I here actually refers to the general public, because I personally follow Ranji Trophy with as much enthusiasm as Sheffield Shield)
3. It might be but am not too sure of this one, overdose of cricket and the now-informed viewer knows that ESPNStar is a much better telecaster of cricket than the money controlled SetMax. No seriously, watching cricket on SetMax is so irritating (and I haven't started on Neo yet- Neo please don't give me a break) especially when you see those same ads over and over again.
4. Finally, in a country of more than a billion people I guess I'll be the only one to say this but I think Lalit Modi was a fantastic administrator. Hogging all the limelight aside he has given us an unsinkable ship in the name of IPL. A visionary, Lalit Modi, knew that club format is the future of international cricket with only 10 teams playing the sport in a professional manner. Having said that I hope Chirayu does a good job in taking the mantle forward.

I have a hunch that if the IPL isn't as successful this time people will blame it on the first two reasons, but I think the fourth point will be the most important reason for its failure.

Chirayu Am-in. Lalit Modi-out.