LET THE PARTY BEGIN
T20 cricket’s biggest show starts today as India gears up for 47 days of thrilling encounters
newdelhi:it is that time of the year when the bugle sound merges with the roar of fans in stadiums across India and the thwack of bat meeting ball; living rooms and public spaces see millions celebrate in front of TV sets.
The 10th edition of the Indian Premier League gets under way in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, with defending champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in a repeat of last year’s final. It is a perfect time to look back at a decade-long journey.
When the BCCI announced the launch of a new Twenty20 league at a five-star hotel in the Capital in late 2007, it was cricket’s version of setting off on a voyage into the unknown. The shortest format of the game had just taken a big step with India, the game’s biggest market but reluctant to embrace T20s, having just clinched the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa. But the IPL plans caught the attention of the cricket world.
Entrepreneurs and celebrities were shelling out the top dollar to buy franchises and splurging more to snap up cricket’s biggest names in player auctions. The template was US sports, but a new era was about to begin.
The IPL’S single biggest brand must surely be Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Fresh from leading India to the T20 world title, the longhaired ‘keeper and power-finisher was installed as the Chennai Super Kings skipper. His magnetic personality turned him CSK’S pied piper as the entire Chennai turned up in yellow, waving the team’s flag. The entertainment world too embraced the team, with the crowd dancing to ace drummer Sivamani’s beat.
The city loyalty established was quickly embraced by Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders before others followed suit. Foreign stars led the way. Brendon Mccullum smashed a match-winning century in the opening game while Shane Warne took unfancied Rajasthan Royals to the first title in 2008.
However, the focus moved from foreign players to Indian stalwarts. RCB, a team initially seen as a ‘Test squad’, had turned into a collection of some of the game’s biggest hitters.
Virat Kohli, Gayle, de Villiers and then Yuvraj Singh all packed such a punch, rivals knew no total would be enough. The IPL inspired the Big Bash League in Australia and the Caribbean Premier League. Gayle and Kevin Pietersen made the itinerant T20 basher a fashionable addition to cricket’s lexicon.
As IPL enters the 10th edition, loyalties have already been reshaped. Playing home matches away --- Dharamsala, Raipur, Ranchi, Kanpur and Indore --didn’t hurt fan interest one bit.