With Chennai Super Kings hosting the match yesterday, all the 8 franchises have hosted one game apiece. The response has been electrifying - the stadiums have been jampacked and the action in the middle riveting. The IPL as of today is successful and is already generating many debates across continents whether it is going to positively influence cricket or will sound the deathknell for Test Cricket and One-Day Internationals. The opinion is divided. The crazy mixture of cricket superstars and Bollywood stars has been eclectic. With the exception of mismanagement at the Eden Gardens, Kolkatta, the organization has been from good to excellent. Hyderabad which has seen about 7-8 such matches thanks to ICL is still to warm up fully to IPL. It is hosting its second home tie today and Deccan Chargers will be hoping a better response from its team as well as from the crowds. Though around 30-35,000 spectators saw the first match, the capacity at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium is much more.
In the last 8 matches the teams which seem likely to proceed a long way are Chennai Super Kings, Kolkatta Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils. But we will be foolish to discount the other teams at such an early stage when all the teams have to play another 12 matches each.
My favourite is obviously Deccan Chargers as I am from Hyderabad but I feel Rajasthan Royal may be the surprise team after being termed the weakest.
Except for the vulgar display by the cheergirls, the IPL seems good. It is unearthing some good talent for India like Abhishek Nayar, Dinesh Salunkhe, Ravindra Jadeja, Amarnath and also reconfirming the class of players like Suresh Raina, Badrinath and Rohit Sharma.
It is great opportunity for upcoming players to share the dressing room with stalwarts of the game and learn from them.
Keep watching and enjoying IPL except change channels whenever those scantily clad cheergirls come on view.
No comments:
Post a Comment