Dananjay Anandan wrote this article.
There's a new act in the circus and it's called the Indian Premier League.
There's a new act in the circus and it's called the Indian Premier League.
The IPL was formed to concentrate cricketing action in the most lucrative market for the sport in the world today. Eight teams, each representing a region or urban center of India are competing in a tournament of Twenty20 cricket - a shorter prime-time-television-friendly version - across forty-five days and
fifty-nine matches.
Much like the NBA and the EPL, The IPL teams comprise of players from almost all the cricketing nations and are owned by either corporations or individuals.
As of now the tournament is well into its first season and is proving to be all that it was promised to be: a successful investment for all its stakeholders and the franchise owners, the sponsors, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
But there's also a very good chance that it may be successful in ways that it was never intended to.
One of the good things that might come out of this is that with players - both seasoned and fresh - from different parts of the world coming together, a fruitful exchange of knowledge and sharing of experiences will ensue, that cannot but help raise the general standard of international cricket - both in sportsmanship and the quality of the competition.
It may also break the unfortunate bond that the sport - in its international version - has developed with nationalism. The danger of a regression to regionalism may just be offset by the simple fact that all teams have players not only from the regions they represent and other countries but also from other regions of the country.
Until now, there hasn't been any substantial support for intra-national sporting competitions in India. The IPL, by putting petty rivalries out in the open within a sporting context, may just be successful in defusing it - much in the way that the India-Pakistan cricketing tradition managed to repair - even if partially - the damage done by decades of war and hate propaganda in the sub-continent.
This is an entirely new phenomenon and anything can happen. But sport, like cinema and other arts, communicates in a universal language and given the way the IPL is structured, I have a feeling that it may, over time, just manage to do some real good.
Much like the NBA and the EPL, The IPL teams comprise of players from almost all the cricketing nations and are owned by either corporations or individuals.
As of now the tournament is well into its first season and is proving to be all that it was promised to be: a successful investment for all its stakeholders and the franchise owners, the sponsors, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
But there's also a very good chance that it may be successful in ways that it was never intended to.
One of the good things that might come out of this is that with players - both seasoned and fresh - from different parts of the world coming together, a fruitful exchange of knowledge and sharing of experiences will ensue, that cannot but help raise the general standard of international cricket - both in sportsmanship and the quality of the competition.
It may also break the unfortunate bond that the sport - in its international version - has developed with nationalism. The danger of a regression to regionalism may just be offset by the simple fact that all teams have players not only from the regions they represent and other countries but also from other regions of the country.
Until now, there hasn't been any substantial support for intra-national sporting competitions in India. The IPL, by putting petty rivalries out in the open within a sporting context, may just be successful in defusing it - much in the way that the India-Pakistan cricketing tradition managed to repair - even if partially - the damage done by decades of war and hate propaganda in the sub-continent.
This is an entirely new phenomenon and anything can happen. But sport, like cinema and other arts, communicates in a universal language and given the way the IPL is structured, I have a feeling that it may, over time, just manage to do some real good.
This is a great article, Dananjay! I wish I knew more about the IPL and India's love of cricket and so I am am thrilled to have this published for the reading. It will be interesting to see the comments of others as they join in your passion and examination.
Is the sense of nationalism anything like how some people in Seattle wouldn't go to Oakland because their teams have a vicious rivalry? Or perhaps am I misunderstanding?
Dananjay--I'm not a huge sports fan and I know nothing about cricket. However, I do like soccer.
I did connect to the IPL website and tried to view some streaming of the sport but they don't allow U.S. registration.
I assume you're a big fan of this sport.
Will you get to go to any of the matches?
David!
Yes, cricket (especially after the surprise 1983 world cup win) has enjoyed massive support here. and right now, india with it's growing economic power and rampant consumerism, has sort of become the center of the cricketing world.
Hi Gordon,
i guess it's about linking national pride and self-worth with the fate of the national cricket team. extreme emotional swings that could go from cheering a victorious team with a million-strong parade to burning effigies of the members of a losing side! it's all very unhealthy and we could well do without it.
Hi Donna!
You may be able to catch some IPL action on youtube. i'm not exactly a big fan, though i don't mind catching up on a game now and then just to relax. and soccer is as good to watch as cricket!
but i won't be going to watch any of the matches live. cricket is one of those few sports whose enjoyment is enhanced by the way it is packaged on television!
Hi Dananjay,
I am a die hard sports fan and of cricket - to say the least.
I am not sure how to react to this "mix" of sports, business and entertainment....enjoying it as "aftermint" I think!
(have anyone ever thought in his life that one of the leading filmstars of Indian movie industry will encourage his team throughout the game standing in the gallery?)
Everything changes with time - so does cricket - I guess.
Hi Katha!
Have you been to any of the matches? What do you think of the cheerleaders?
I think it'll be interesting to see how we take to professional sports as a nation.
Hi Dananjay,
I wish I could!
At this point I am too preoccupied with other things in my life and there is an advantage being in front of the TV - you can just switch off if you don't like what's happening.
I don't think anything of the "cheerleaders" to be precise...they come as frills.
At times I get confused about whom to support - my favourite captain is plaing for one regeion, favourite batsman is playing for another...and so on....
Katha!
Yes! it's one of the advantages of television. as for the cheerleaders, there are a few sections that are raising hell about them and the news media is more than happy to cover it!
why the confusion? you can now sit back and just enjoy the cricket!
Dananjay,
Those who are creating a hoopla out of it I hvae a question for them -
What do they think of the following two videos?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NqdVJZrI_Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM9JT_CjJvk&feature=related
Is it okay just because it is happening in the screen instead of in the field?
Hypocrisy bhi koi had hoti hay!
Touche Katha! I don't think they'll have an answer to that!
Hi Dananjay,
They will still have an answer for it - mixing "cheerleader" kind of entertainment with "cricket" goes against our "culture"!
That excuse is even worse.
[I wrote a sentence in Hindi in my previous comment as I was a little agitated and it was a slip of pen...
"Hypocrisy ki bhi koi had hoti hai" means - there should be a limit of hypocrisy!]
How true, Katha!
We should give them some straw dolls and ask them to burn it and get it over with already!