'The IPL has become a party of sorts'

LOSING SHEEN

Despite all the controversies, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has successfully entered the fifth season and the organisers don’t think twice before claiming that the IPL is only getting bigger.

But the ordinary people think otherwise. There are among the IPL fans, those who don’t go to the matches but follow it on television and there are some people whose loyalties lie with all teams because their favourite cricketers are scattered across.

And there is yet another lot that believes that the IPL is losing its sheen. With long gaps between matches that are held in the City, one wonders whether people follow the IPL on television or simply come for a match to have a good time.

One spots a lot of empty seats during every IPL match in the City. So does this mean that people are losing interest in the game? 

Metrolife spoke to a cross-section of Bangaloreans who had different things to say about following the IPL, whether on  television or at the stadium.

Harish, a pilot, points out that the concept of the IPL has changed over the years.

“Initially, the concept was new and everyone wanted to be a part of it. But now with cricket being there throughout the year, people go to the stadium not for the game but for the experience as well,” he observes.

Those who used to follow the IPL in the last few seasons seem to have lost interest this season.

   With the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) travelling to other cities for matches, there are no matches here in the City. With a good one week gap between each match in the City, one wonders if people will actually tune in to the television to follow all the action?

Vicky Chenery, a social worker, doubts that she will be following the IPL on television. She says, “The real fun lies in watching a match in the stadium. The screaming, the sixes, the food and the infectious energy makes watching a live match worth it.

But when there is no match in the City, I don’t really bother to see how the team is performing elsewhere.”

So does that mean the IPL is slowly turning into one big party instead of serious cricket? “In a way yes, the IPL has become a party of sorts, with most people coming together for three hours just to have a good time,” notes Viren Khana, a professional.

There is also a sizeable number of IPL fans who have pledged their loyalties across all the teams.

They reason that their favourite players are across all the teams. Arun, a banking consultant, observes that he has been an RCB supporter for the last three years. “But now players are scattered across different teams. I have also begun to support Rajasthan, the obvious reason being Rahul Dravid,” he says.

Sandeep B Rao, a senior project manager of an IT company, says he has two favourite teams this year — Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils.

“The Pune Warriors has all unsung heroes like Mathews, Smith, Rahul and Ryder... just to mention a few. And the Delhi team has an excellent batting line-up supported by a deadly pace attack,” he points out.

Basavaraj, a finance and accounts manager in an IT company, says he supports RCB and Mumbai Heroes.

“RCB is the home team and I support Mumbai Heroes for the sheer presence of Sachin Tendulkar and new players like Rohit Sharma and the exciting
Pollard,” he says.