Runs and razzmatazz make IPL summer’s most-awaited event
Sunday, April 21, 2024
In the torrid summer months, India celebrates a festival like no other in the country. It brings together people from diverse backgrounds, regions, and cultures, providing moments of joy and pride. It is the Indian Premier League (IPL).
India winning the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup catalysed initial ideas of organising a similar format of franchise cricket league. The IPL began in 2008. Since then, it has managed to establish itself as the most revered and exclusive cricket league in the world. Various other cricket boards have made keen eorts to host such leagues in their countries, but they are not nearly as lionised as the IPL, which is capable of drawing the biggest international cricket players and disrupting the international cricket schedule for two months.
While the IPL has redened cricket in myriad ways, nurtured lucrative strides for the economy, provided a platform for young cricket talent, propagated deeper friendship among cricketers, and boosted the passion for the sport, it has impacted the lives of the general public in yet more unique and signicant ways.
When the IPL starts, it rules. All the newspapers get busy with the build-up, discussion, and analysis of matches, which progressively keep getting more and more captivating as records are made and broken. The massive turnout at stadiums, the disciplined coordination of applause by thousands, the exceptionally loud shout-outs, the tattoos on cheeks, the shining eyes, and the broad smiles provide an obvious justication for the nomenclature of the IPL as a festival.
Regional loyalties instigate such intense emotional bond with teams that cricket becomes the easiest subject of conversation and the most common bone of contention at school, college, work, and even among family members.
Wearing jerseys or the colours of a favourite team and planning an evening with good food are very normal rituals. People are so deeply attached to the teams they support that match days become extra-special occasions. They not only clear their calendars to watch the game but also dedicate the entire day’s plans to that.
Sports channels run pre-match shows and highlights all day, while platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are ooded with posts.
The IPL has turned many non-enthusiasts into fans of the game. Even those who are still not so interested in cricket and do not follow the sport with ardent passion tend not to mind the loud buzz because of the glory that drapes this tournament. While nail-biting moments with bat and ball are sucient to entice people into enjoying the game,
ILLUSTRATION: SATHEESH VELLINEZHI performances by renowned musicians and dancers at the opening ceremony and the regular presence of celebrities in the stadium lend an extra charm.
The tournament oers much more than entertainment.
As part of their Education and Sports for All initiative, Mumbai Indians, each season, provide an opportunity to around 18,000 children to watch a live game, while Rajasthan Royals have taken up initiatives to make cricket matches carbon neutral and to support women-led development in Rajasthan. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have unveiled a special green jersey to display their commitment to environmental protection, while Delhi Capitals’ players wear special rainbow jerseys to celebrate national diversity. Lucknow Super
Giants wear red jerseys to pay tribute to the legacy of a famous Indian football club and Gujarat Titans wear lavender jerseys to raise awareness of cancer.
With increasing pollution and global warming, the temperatures keep soaring. Summers are becoming intolerable, yet India does not wait as much for any other season, because, with summer, comes the IPL.
In the name of tourism, virgin forests in the hills are destroyed indiscriminately. (‘The hills are (barely) alive’; Apr. 14) Concrete buildings have come up on mountain slopes, causing intensive damage to nature. Udhagamandalam town has become a concrete jungle. Kodaikanal and Yercaud are no exception. Tourism development has come at the cost of destruction of nature, and needs to be regulated. Sravana Ramachandran
ananyamehta120906@gmail.com
The cover story holds up a mirror to the bad maintenance of mountains in the country. From the prism of economics, governments have to allocate adequate resources for the upkeep of infrastructure in hill stations and, of course, tirelessly work to keep them clean, free from traic hassles and tourist-friendly. We can draw lessons from the U.P. government, which made monumental eorts to clean the Ganges.
S. Ramakrishnasayee
Tourism carrying capacity may be viewed as an important consideration in the sustainability discussion. Of late, sustainability and its associated concepts have come to dominate planning on the management of tourism and its impacts. But carrying capacity analysis is still an important tool to know future impact in the tourism sector.
K.M.K. Murthy
It is true that many otherwise first-rate writers become victims of establishment politics and
My vote is for those who promise and implement environment-friendly deeds. (‘Green humour’; Apr. 14) I appeal to all to follow me, and I appeal to the EC to disqualify those who fail to implement election promises.
M.V. Nagavender Rao
Vacations in the 80s used to begin with a second-class rail journey. (‘Charm of the 80s vacation’; Apr. 14) This was followed by playing with cousins, eating delicacies prepared by your grandmother, accompanying your grandfather to the library, reading school textbooks for the next year, and going to bed at 9 p.m., after grandmother had served
Today’s children know nothing of this.
K. Pradeep
The article brought back memories of vacations of yore when distractions were less, vacation spots were almost pollution-free, and a holiday, even with family in tow, did not leave a gaping hole in your purse. Much water has flowed under the bridge since then and in the hustle and bustle of today’s world, vacations are clipped short and devoid of the erstwhile charm.
C.V. Aravind www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page
More can be done to retain skilled talent in the country Santosh Balakrishnan
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Richa Joshi Pant
Final resting places oer peace and insights into life Mohammed Ramees
Rather than only celebrating successes, we would do well to discuss setbacks
Sanchita Srivastava
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