It’s hard to believe that the Indian Premier League is 10 years old and still going strong. Despite initial misgivings about its future, not only has it become the world’s leading Twenty20 cricket brand, it has also encouraged other cricketing nations to launch their own successful tournaments along similar lines.
When the first edition was inaugurated in 2008, it forced professional sports leagues across the world to sit up and take notice. The glitz and glamour and not to mention the money involved left many shell-shocked. Indeed many wondered whether a sport like cricket that was only played seriously in a handful of countries would be able to sustain the momentum.
Although a fixing scandal in 2013 somewhat dented its image, it still attracts the best of talent and pays cricketers the kind of money that was thought impossible in the past. And as the 10th edition began yesterday with the all too familiar routine of fireworks, song, dance and professional cheerleaders from abroad, not to mention some riveting cricket and a packed audience, it was evidence enough the tournament’s future is secure.
Over the next six weeks, top cricketers from across the globe will share the limelight with some of Bollywood’s top stars who have become team owners and some of India’s richest executives, who have stakes in the team franchises.
Steve Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell will lead their respective franchises in the tournament, setting aside any lingering acrimony after the recent Test series between India and Australia.
The cash-rich tournament ran into trouble in 2013, when a corruption scandal resulted in the suspension of the Chennai and Rajasthan franchises for two seasons and bans on three players.
The Western Indian cities of Pune and Rajkot were then inducted as home to two new franchises for two years, ending after the current season.
The England and Wales cricket Board is also warming up to the tournament after its initial apprehension. England has recently moved closer to launching a new city-based Twenty20 tournament of its own by 2020 to rival the IPL and Australia’s Big Bash League, and the Pakistan Super League has also had two successful editions.
An unprecedented eight English players have signed up for the eight-team IPL for the 2017 season, with Ben Stokes joining Pune for a staggering 145mn rupees ($2.23mn) for one season, while Twenty20 teammate Tymal Mills was snapped up for 120mn rupees by Bangalore.
While the likes of Stokes and Mills will add sheen to the upcoming edition, the tournament has been hit by injuries following India’s long 13-Test home season.
Bangalore will be without captain Virat Kohli for at least the initial phase while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and paceman Umesh Yadav will miss the start of the tournament for Gujarat and Kolkata respectively.
Over the years several records that were once thought impossible were set, and not just on the field. Struggling cricketers whose ultimate dream was to earn a spot in their state team in order to earn a livelihood, became overnight millionaires after being picked by cash-rich franchises. Many established international players controversially gave up their Test careers to secure their future.
The IPL will continue to do that. If anything, the future only appears brighter, the only sore point being the absence of Pakistani players because of unending political tensions between the two nations. One can only hope this unfortunate situation is resolved at the earliest.
