IPL: Beyond Cricket

With 24^th May IPL would have completed 8 years. It is widely accepted that even BCCI would not have dreamt that IPL would become an insurmountable giant in 8 years when it was launched against the rebel Indian Cricket League which, has lost its relevance today. The T20 championship has brought a lot of opportunities and threats not just on the cricket field but off field too.

Gainers and losers:

The IPL has helped many sectors which revolve around cricket. The media has grown a lot due to the IPL, since they gain a lot by the advertisement revenue and some channels in television and FM conduct special programs on IPL. It has definitely boosted the revenue for the cricket grounds which do not earn much by conducting first class cricket matches.

Hawkers who usually struggle to make ends meet cash in on this opportunity to make a decent living in these two months by selling sports merchandise of the franchises. Even musicians and dancers have a greater audience to entertain due to the high penetration of this league.

But, the biggest gainer is the BCCI. A lot of revenue is being generated from this money spinner which has given it more power and authority.

The biggest losers are the cinema industry and the restaurants. With IPL, entertainment is mostly guaranteed with several matches going down the wire and it can be enjoyed when you are in your home. This has worked out against movies as it requires transportation expenses and the question of satisfaction. Even stars find it difficult to release their movies in spite of it being summer holidays. Restaurants, though few have managed to set up IPL broadcasting in their hotels not all are financially strong to do that and the small ones have necessarily taken a hit.

Soft diplomacy:

The foreigners who are engaged in IPL are not only the players who play in the league but also the coaches, technicians, physical trainers, umpires, commentators, media who work for IPL. At least a few of them tend to bring their family along. Here, soft diplomacy works very well for India. Off the field they visit cultural centers, interact with many Indians, appreciate its diversity and in their homeland the goodwill gets passed on. Domestic players interact with many talented foreigners which in turn improves their game.

The other side:

Though the media has gained by IPL the fact that there is too much of focus on IPL cannot be denied. Regionalism has not been promoted by IPL since fans support their teams not only based on region but also their favorite players. But on the other hand this has led to infighting within people of the same region, with me having experienced hilarious but sometimes violent fights between supporters of CSK and MI during my hostel days. It also has its share of verbal exchanges on the social media too.

As with any sport match and spot fixing allegations has plagued IPL yet the last version has not appeared in news for the wrong reasons so far. It is for the BCCI to handle such situations and make sure that they are prevented.

The revenue generated is the million dollar question. The BCCI can donate a share to other sports which are still struggling to find their mark in India. It would sound like a dumb suggestion if we don’t realize that the revenue generated by any sector in the country is to be invested in the weaker ones to make them strong. The second version of the Badminton league is not in sight, even though the first version enjoyed reasonable success. The sponsors are also keen only with IPL because only cricket sells in India.

If the BCCI is focused only on cricked then it must invest money for breaking the monotony of pitches in the subcontinent. It could also take measures to develop the sport in the North-east which doesn’t have a representation in the Indian cricket team.

Is it good for Indian players? :

Staying fit when you are off season is very essential for any player. But participation in the IPL could be counter-productive for established players (not for uncapped players) in the Indian cricket team since they don’t have a break. Moreover, playing in foreign leagues or in county cricket could give the leading players a better experience than playing in the Indian subcontinent.

Whether positive or negative, IPL has definitely made its impact felt way beyond the 22 yards, be it the hawker who is trying to sell a T-shirt for a hundred rupees standing outside the stadium or the billionaire who has bet a few lakh rupees on the next over lying in his five-star hotel. IPL is here to stay.