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From a cricketing point of view though, few of the Pakistan players will be missed; either for reasons of form or, worse, for attitude. One is part of life, the other inadmissible. Rajasthan Royals will be worst hit for theirs was a frugal model that relied on key players delivering. And nobody delivered for them better than Sohail Tanvir. And Kolkata Knight Riders will miss Umar Gul who carried an inexperienced attack and was more valuable than Shoaib Akhtar who was really a box-office choice. The only other player who played consistently enough was Shahid Afridi who should have been one of the stars of the IPL but who, for various reasons, will not be missed by the Deccan Chargers.
Pakistan’s exit will mean a greater opportunity for the genial Sri Lankans but also for New Zealanders and South Africans. Nobody has greater experience of playing T20 cricket than the Proteas but franchises will expect a humbler approach from them. Everybody was learning in the first year but a lot of players will discover that things will be very different henceforth. Serious money is being paid, not gifted, and attitude will count for a lot. Those who turn up for the purse rather than for the cricket might have a surprise in store.
It baffles me that in some places the IPL is still being seen as a financial rather than as a cricketing phenomenon. As recent events in the world have taught us financial products with little to back them deliver a lot of promise, a lot of pain and eventually go bust. The IPL is about cricket and as it settles down and acquires a learning curve of its own, will reward cricketers who deliver returns on their investment. This is not a large moneypot into which you dip your hands and run away with the booty. This is serious stuff and some observers around the world are in denial about it. This is not a poor little rich kid seeking its place in the world by throwing money at anyone who knocks at its doors.
The money in Indian cricket has not been earned by thuggery and its colour is the same as that from other respectable enterprises around the world. It amused me no end that last year it was pooh-poohed by players who thought this was another form of beach and beer cricket. The auction was ridiculed and it still is but one of the great advantages of sitting on a distant couch is that you don’t always have to present an alternative. In course of time the auction will cease to be important but in the first year it was essential. Already there are fewer players up for grabs since teams are more or less settled and we will slowly move towards a trading system as exists in the more established football leagues. Just as those who ridiculed Kerry Packer were the ones who looked stupid in the end, those that choose to ignore, or choose not to understand, the Indian consumer and Indian markets will become irrelevant. Those that close their eyes can only see darkness.
Teams in this year’s IPL are being picked very differently from last year. True the megastars are in demand but there are a lot of places available for the hard working value for money players. In the years ahead those that come seeking opportunity will do much better than those who ride in prospecting for gold.
(Commentator Harsha Bhogle is an adviser with the Mumbai Indians)
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Totally agree. IPL 2008 proved that no matter how highly paid a player is, he should be disqualified for wrong doings.The quality of this competition is provided in large part by the international players who share their ideas with their lesser known teammates who play in the Indian domestic scene.I remember your piece last year that spoke about how bowlers are the real gainers in the IPL.All established cricketers have stated that Test cricket is their highest passion and if we are going to disagree with whatever cricketers say, the world will be full of disbelievers.Your one opinion that I don't agree with is the idea of franchisee system for Test and ODI cricket. You said there is a need for more accountability. But in a non-franchisee system,the players and the team management hold themselves accountable and I feel that is more than enough.Keep up the good work, harsha. Give us more insights about your stint with the Mumbai Indians.
IPL is a wonderful cricketing entertainment package. But having said that, portraying IPL as the cricketing world's new messiah is akin to Bollywood stars pursuing 'meaningful' cinema, eyeing national awards. IPL is in fact all about the money. The kind of money that is being thrown at it is obscene. Kudos to the marketing geniuses at BCCI. But then IPL cannot be compared to the Football clubs anywhere. Though Ronalidino, Kaka, Pato play for the Brazilian team during world-cups once in 4 years, they play together at AC Milan for most of the year. In contrast IPL runs only for 3-4 weeks. Cricketing fans have country affiliations whereas Football is primarily club based. IPL is just a frilly money making venture for the BCCI, post-season no body is gonna care for the clubs, the fans would go on to happily cheer for their country, case in point - Hayden's treatment post Monkey-Gate. People painting lofty ideals for IPL are missing the woods for the trees.
Well those who are talking of money driving the game are being plain hypocratical and adopting a holier than thou attitude. IPL has given many inovations, like the franchise model, player acuction etc and is a well thought out quality enterprise, and most importantly it delivered great competition amongst the teams with some great matches, the same cannot be said about the ICL, which was a hasitily arranged show, and a lacklustre one overall. ICL is also about money only, in fact it is one man's inability to win TV contracts that had spurred ICL. For those who say IPL is a copy of ICL, i think they are stretching things a bit far, there is no comparison infact the ICL is copying some of IPL's innovation by trying to sell some of their teams to movie satrs like mithun. I think a lot of people and boards have been overwhelmed by IPL's success and its sheer ability to deliver and are just picking holes where none exist.
IPL has brought cricket viewers back in front of the TV. Whether it is a financial or sporting phenomenon can be gauged from the fact that people enjoy the IPL games, players strive to perform maximum to their abilities, it is serious cricket and even those who had little or no interest in cricket make it a point to watch and enjoy the matches. Whant moew can we expect from a new concept in cricket which is not even a year old.
Harsha, this was really well written. Conveyed the message to those who needlessly criticize IPL, and who cannot deal with the changes of today's world. I've read the comments below, but I do place enough trust in you to believe that you love test cricket as much as or more than those who wrote them or more then me. And so when you defend the idea of IPL, I believe you are defending more than just the concept of IPL or Twenty20. I believe you are defending the Indian Enterprise. Sadly there are a number of people who don't seem to have come to term with the idea f a successful Indian Enterprise. But as you said, if people don't change their mindset, they risk getting irrelevant. Well said and keep going.
have the greatest respect for you harsha, but don't quite agree with your ipl assessment. a lot of the team owners/franchisees don't seem to display sense when bidding for players. else how can one explain the ridiculous over-pricing of some, and the equally ridiculous under-pricing for others? and what of players like shakib al hasan, who wasn't even bought?makes one wonder if the buyers really know their cricket and if they don't, then well, the ipl is not all about cricketing merit, and is as much a financial thing as a cricketing one.
Defend whatever you can but please, do not say that the IPL is a sporting rather than a financial phenomenon. It is like saying that Bollywood only cares for the art of Cinema and not for the riches it brings in!I think you can compare it only to a corporate house wherein you get paid serious money but only as long as you perform. No sympathy and no passengers once you stop delivering. I dont know how to react to that... where is the joy of performing? A sport should pay for the livelihood of those practising it but should not be judged to harshly. I really dont know what to think of this.
If Pramod has a e-mail address or postal address can the make it available to all so that people can send Valentine cards and Valentine greetings to him.
Hi Harsha, Its nice to see you going ga ga over the IPL. After all you want to show some loyalty towards your team. I accept there is quality in IPL, but you shouldnt forget that ICL is doing the same. ICL too has quality. They started this concept and Modi stole it though he may say he thought about this in the 90s itself. So from when did you become a Modi chamcha!. Shame on you Harsha and then we have a great joker as the National selection committee chairman.