Concerns are there, but IPL created allround wellness and is positive on balance

If IPL is as much commerce as cricket then the question must be asked — in cricket’s balance sheet, is it positive or negative? The majority view is IPL is great; it represents cricket’s economic liberalism that took the game to another level. The master stroke of combining cricket with entertainment gave the game a new life. IPL converted religion into a money-spinning industry.

It also created all-round wellness. Today, BCCI is sitting atop a mountain of wealth. With IPL, corporate India connected with consumers. Fans gave it a thumbs up and broadcasters and sponsors couldn’t stop smiling.

IPL is India’s ‘make in India’ moment, also proof of cricket’s soft power. Like Bollywood films, its reach is global. Virat Kohli’s team draws footfalls and eyeballs across the world. IPL success is not only commercial, it advanced cricket. Players from different backgrounds work together — divided by nations, united by franchise loyalty. When experience sits besides youth, cricketing wisdom is shared and latest knowledge transferred — under-19 Manjot Kalra sitting at the feet of Ricky Ponting is a ‘money can’t buy’ cricket tuition. Shaped by IPL, young Indian cricketers are professional, fitter and more determined to succeed.

With IPL, cricket became contemporary and ‘cool’. It captured the attention of fans and aligned with changing social preferences and lifestyle. Cricket is also richer from a technical standpoint. Interestingly, these tech advances energised Test cricket by speeding up run rates and reducing the number of boring draws.

Critics find IPL gimmicky, not real cricket, and quote the example of players with limited skills who flourish in a 90-minute game but are found out when tested over 30 hours, across five days.

When IPL started, Rahul Dravid voiced concern that youngsters will value a commercial contract more than an India Test cap. Last week, Lalchand Rajput confirmed this trend when he attributed Mumbai’s decline to T20 leagues and the changing aspirations of youngsters.

But considering the larger picture, and overall plus and minus, IPL is a runaway winner — its balance sheet is positive!