IPL 2013 preview: What to look forward to

The sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is upon us, and there is expectedly a general thrill in the air as the country awaits its commencement. The cricket-crazy audiences of the world are anxiously waiting to be submerged into this mad milieu of cricketainment that the IPL so richly provides. What bodes well for the IPL this season is the rich vein of form that the Indian cricket team is currently in, what with its successful annihilation of the Aussies in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar series.

With India’s tops stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, R. Ashwin, among others in top form and brimming with confidence, fans can expect some superlative performances from their heroes, with the venues throughout the season expected to be choc-a-bloc with frenzied crowds. Like always, it will be difficult to foretell any winners or favourites, as this format hardly allows for such predictions.

When the initial season of the IPL kicked off in 2008, not many in the country knew what to expect or whom to show their loyalties towards. It was confusing for them to have this division in support for the players they always cheered for while in national colours. As the seasons passed by, each IPL team started growing its own loyal fan base, divided across the length and breadth of the country. As the 6^th edition is about to get underway, this trend is set to grow only stronger.

There will be the usual top players that the fans will root for, besides their Indian heroes; the likes of Chris Gayle, Adam Gilchrist, AB de Villiers, Kieron Pollard, Brett Lee, and now even Ricky Ponting, are sure to draw crowds and set the hearts racing. However, there are some whose absence is surely to be missed; Kevin Pietersen, Jesse Ryder, and Michael Clarke are some of those who will be missing the IPL due to injury, and their absence will be difficult to fill for their teams and the fans alike.

But on the positive side, the IPL is also exciting to watch, as it provides opportunities for some young and unknown Indian talents to emerge. These players get an opportunity to rub shoulders with stars of international stature, and thus, like every other year, some local heroes might very well emerge. That is not to say that these stars should immediately be considered for the national colours, but to just see some young Indian blood like Unmukt Chand and Harmeet Singh, and some other unknown faces doing well in a tournament of this scale is exciting enough.

The IPL though is never short of controversies. We have had plenty of controversies in each season, which have riddled the IPL and has made the paparazzi go bonkers. From slap-gate to sleaze, the IPL has seen everything, and this year is expected to be no different. To make matters worse, the IPL this time has gotten into a controversy even before it has begun. Politics have led to a decision to have Sri Lankan players barred from playing in Chennai. That means that the Chennai crowd will miss out on watching the likes of Lasith Malinga, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. It remains to be seen how this decision actually affects the teams and their prospects in the tournament, but it is undeniable that such issues leave a bad taste in the mouth, both for the fans and the players. It speaks a lot of the way things are controlled in our country.

Despite all this, however, there are plenty of exciting things to look forward to in the coming 6 weeks. It is that time of the year again when people can just sit back, relax and get submerged into the festival-like atmosphere that the IPL so richly provides. There are many who always try to belittle the IPL and look down upon it, but in my view there is much more to the IPL than controversies and glamour, which it is popularly ridiculed for. The IPL also brings new fans to the game, those who do not have the time or the patience to follow the other versions of the game. Many just love the whole feel of three-hour cricketainment, and are willing to follow it religiously.

There is no denying that the IPL is now a globally famous tournament, and there many foreign stars who love to cash in on the experience they get from playing here. The cricket played out is hard-fought, and requires skills of a different kind. It also provides a rare opportunity for players from different countries to mix and play against each other. Thus, ideas are shared amongst different countrymen, and so are valuable experiences learnt. That is something that no coaching manual can provide any cricketer. One might criticize the IPL, but one has to appreciate it where it is due.

However, one thing that I have observed over the years is a bit of jingoism creeping in amongst the local fans. Some people get so involved in their team’s prospects that they start abusing other players from opposing teams vociferously; even if they are the very same Indian players that represent the national team. One should not forget that the IPL is after all a sport, and that too a domestic tournament. It is not healthy to get into overdrive in support of a team, and in turn abuse and spew hatred towards other Indian stars, just because they represent the opposing team. Fans should support their favourite teams and beloved players, but they should also tread cautiously against overdoing that part, and not let all of it go to their head. The IPL should, at the end of the day, be seen as entertainment; something that allows you to relax and revel in all the razzmatazz.

For now though, let us just immerse ourselves in this cricket festival which is sure to take the world by storm in the coming few weeks. Like they say – Let the magic begin.