‘Injuries won’t affect IPL star power’
Even as the IPL’s injury and pullout list grows long, franchises and officials believe there will be no dearth of interest
While there will still be some stars when Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore take the field on Wednesday, the biggest crowdpuller Virat Kohli will be missing.
The Indian skipper is recuperating from a shoulder injury and has been ruled out of the initial phase of the IPL.
There are other Indian stars like R Ashwin and KL Rahul who are set to miss the entire IPL along with a host of foreign ones like Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock among others. Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, two other India heroes of the recent Test season, are also recovering and could miss some matches.
So when the 10th IPL, the last of this 10-year cycle, gets underway, it could literally limp without some of the big names in cricket.
“We have had IPLs in the past where top players were missing. Although this is an unprecedented situation, you have to allow them to recuperate. They got injured during the national duty, so can’t force them to play,” says Rajiv Shukla, IPL chairman.
Asked if the absence will lead to lack of interest, Shukla denied it vehemently. “I don’t think there will be any lack of interest.”
Franchises also say that the absence of star players will not impact the league.
“You can’t do anything about the injuries,” said Hemant Dua of Delhi Daredevils. “But there are still plenty of stars that will make the league attractive. I don’t think there will be any decline in interest.”
When the new IPL cycle begins next year, one of the headaches for BCCI will be related to the league’s broadcasting rights.
BIG TV RIGHTS
If reports and sources are to be believed, the BCCI expect a big rise in TV broadcast rights fees in the tender for next cycle, almost double the current figure. However, the broadcasters may not be able to match it if the revenues remain at current levels.
It is said that the current broadcaster is managing to earn only 15-20% profit over the current fees. This season, with lack of stars, their returns could take a hit although officials deny it.
After a heavy home season this time, India will have foreign trips post-IPL till 2018-end with only some cricket at home or in the subcontinent.
Managing their injuries will be crucial. While the loss of cricket due to injuries doesn’t affect India players monetarily as their contracts are covered through insurance, it could be a loss for the league if it has to remain as big in the next cycle.
FOREIGNERS OUT
A recent trend has seen foreign players pulling out of IPL more readily than they did before. It perhaps reflects on the fact that foreign boards are putting their foot down in trying to save their players from burnout. Also the fact that every country has begun to have a league of its own. The case of Mustafizur Rahman exemplifies it. Mustafiz wasn’t given permission by Bangladesh Cricket Board to play in IPL.
“I don’t think it is that big an issue. All this talk of sponsors being cagey is nonsense,” added Shukla.