Peripherals shed, IPL is focused heavily on cricket
THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE TODAY IS MORE CRICKET THAN COMMERCE, HAVING DISCARDED THE PERIPHERALS IT NEVER NEEDED. THERE IS LESS NOISE NOW. THE NOTORIOUS AFTER PARTIES ARE GONE AS WELL.
ues to create a flutter, waving imperiously from his corner box at Eden Gardens, but the days of celebrities exchanging high fives and hugging players near the boundary are past. There is all round understanding that IPL is about players and brands, fan loyalty and engagement.
RUSSELL MANIA
Cricket remains the core, and this season saw power-hitting reach an altogether new high. Andre Russell muscled the ball with astonishing ease, scoring at a strike rate of 204, which was achieved by smashing every third ball to the boundary. Death overs were carnage in most matches, and such was the domination of bat over ball that even Ishant Sharma finished a game by hitting a last-ball six.
In the middle of this madness, leg-spinners held their own. If 40-year-old Imran Tahir was an absolute star, so was Rahul Chahar, age 19. Rashid Khan is still a mystery for most batsmen and Shreyas Gopal/amit Mishra/ Piyush Chawla were attacking options for captains.
IPL again pushed exciting young Indian talent to the fore, none more impressive than KKR’S Shubman Gill. Clearly, he is one for the future given his sound technique, match awareness and calm presence in the middle. Riyan Garg, a 17-yearold school kid, showed plenty of skill and composure in pressure situations. While new talent came through, IPL was harsh on some who were heroes yesterday. Yuvraj, Raina, Rayudu and Yusuf Pathan have all had better IPLS and going forward could switch to more rewarding roles in team dugouts or TV studios.