IPL cricket has generated a similar change in India. Franchise owners and patrons, hordes of players from every corner of the world, including groups of all ages and passionate supporters.
The patrons then were the royal maharajas and princes who wished to win each other back on the cricket field rather than the battlefield. Matches were fiercely fought through plans and strategies, as victory was not about financial returns but about one's reputation and pride.
This was the beginning of Indian cricket which has now become a huge entity.The game which the entire country is enjoying like never before. The teams of the past were well thought out teams consisting of local talented players and professionals. There may not have been an auction to buy them, however, players were recruited in a much more subtle and sophisticated manner. The cricketers were coaxed with kind words and encouragement.
There were also talent hunters scanning the length and breadth of India, similar to the present day IPL team, to identify, catch and recruit talented cricketers.Today's IPL scenario is the same as before.
The matter of concern are the owners of many IPL teams. In his enthusiasm he is now interfering wholeheartedly in cricket affairs and ground operations. An area with which they are not familiar. The earlier royals were no better than this. In both cases, the idea came forward that if one pays the price for one's prize catch, in this case, a cricketer, then the returns in the end should be tasty enough.The reason this attitude persists is that the franchise owners and partners of IPL teams are all successful business entrepreneurs. They believe that they have the worldly knowledge, foresight, intelligence and well-informed skills to create creative planning strategies to achieve maximum returns. This may be possible in an environment they are familiar with as a business, however the game of cricket is a different kind of game altogether with its uncertainties.
Every cricketer wants to score runs, take wickets and catch and field all the balls that come to him. Analysts may insist on bookworm theories of run scoring, strike and run rates, dot balls and other such ridiculous theories.These are best analyzed after the match as records that are kept in the locker room for later consideration. The batsman has a bat in his hand, while the bowler has a ball in his hand. The competition as to what happens next is an unwritten sequence that no one can predict.
It is known that there are only a few IPL franchise owners who leave the job of running the cricket to the cricketers and cricket professionals. Even more problems for players and coaches arise when there are multiple owners, and each of them has their own personal ideas for broadcasting.IPL franchise set-up needs more creative demarcation of the scope of operations otherwise complete disharmony will arise. Some IPL teams have struggled with this. Additionally, overcrowded support staff and specialized cricket coaches in every aspect of the game may be creating confusion in the minds of players, described as "too many cooks spoiling the broth". That's the right way to do it.
In the end, it is the sound of the cash counter clanging for which every one of them is grateful and hence everyone should take IPL as cricket entertainment and not serious cricket. The only hope is that the custodians and owners of the IP will realize it as a cricket asset that is a commercial enterprise with increasing valuations as returns are generated, and not a business that targets its returns from the cricket sector.As he says, “Winning and losing are part and parcel of the game and it is participation that counts.”
One feels sorry for the Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow and Punjab franchise owners who are yet to win an IPL title. Each of them has world-class players and a team that can beat the best. However, the uncertainties of the game of cricket and God's help have not blessed him yet. The two most successful IPL teams in the past, Mumbai Indians and Chenna Super Kings, have also failed to qualify for the knock-out stage.This really showcases the unpredictability of the T20 format with the added spice of an impact player. Kolkata Knight Riders have reached the final. A side, a gathering where the owners are not involved in cricketing matters. KKR is led by two legends of Indian cricket, Chandrakant Pandit and Gautam Gambhir. If KKR conducts IPL'24 then it is a success story.Tomorrow the battle royal between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will decide who will face KKR in the final.
Hyderabad won by one run in their last match in IPL '24. The match in Chennai should be exciting. Win or lose, franchise owners should be happy with the performance of their teams.
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, the IPL final will be an exciting stage where patrons, players and the crowd will be thrilled.Only the hand of God will decide the winner.
(Yajurvinder Singh is a former Indian cricketer. Views expressed are personal.)
The patrons then were the royal maharajas and princes who wished to win each other back on the cricket field rather than the battlefield. Matches were fiercely fought through plans and strategies, as victory was not about financial returns but about one's reputation and pride.
This was the beginning of Indian cricket which has now become a huge entity.The game which the entire country is enjoying like never before. The teams of the past were well thought out teams consisting of local talented players and professionals. There may not have been an auction to buy them, however, players were recruited in a much more subtle and sophisticated manner. The cricketers were coaxed with kind words and encouragement.
There were also talent hunters scanning the length and breadth of India, similar to the present day IPL team, to identify, catch and recruit talented cricketers.Today's IPL scenario is the same as before.
The matter of concern are the owners of many IPL teams. In his enthusiasm he is now interfering wholeheartedly in cricket affairs and ground operations. An area with which they are not familiar. The earlier royals were no better than this. In both cases, the idea came forward that if one pays the price for one's prize catch, in this case, a cricketer, then the returns in the end should be tasty enough.The reason this attitude persists is that the franchise owners and partners of IPL teams are all successful business entrepreneurs. They believe that they have the worldly knowledge, foresight, intelligence and well-informed skills to create creative planning strategies to achieve maximum returns. This may be possible in an environment they are familiar with as a business, however the game of cricket is a different kind of game altogether with its uncertainties.
Every cricketer wants to score runs, take wickets and catch and field all the balls that come to him. Analysts may insist on bookworm theories of run scoring, strike and run rates, dot balls and other such ridiculous theories.These are best analyzed after the match as records that are kept in the locker room for later consideration. The batsman has a bat in his hand, while the bowler has a ball in his hand. The competition as to what happens next is an unwritten sequence that no one can predict.
It is known that there are only a few IPL franchise owners who leave the job of running the cricket to the cricketers and cricket professionals. Even more problems for players and coaches arise when there are multiple owners, and each of them has their own personal ideas for broadcasting.IPL franchise set-up needs more creative demarcation of the scope of operations otherwise complete disharmony will arise. Some IPL teams have struggled with this. Additionally, overcrowded support staff and specialized cricket coaches in every aspect of the game may be creating confusion in the minds of players, described as "too many cooks spoiling the broth". That's the right way to do it.
In the end, it is the sound of the cash counter clanging for which every one of them is grateful and hence everyone should take IPL as cricket entertainment and not serious cricket. The only hope is that the custodians and owners of the IP will realize it as a cricket asset that is a commercial enterprise with increasing valuations as returns are generated, and not a business that targets its returns from the cricket sector.As he says, “Winning and losing are part and parcel of the game and it is participation that counts.”
One feels sorry for the Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow and Punjab franchise owners who are yet to win an IPL title. Each of them has world-class players and a team that can beat the best. However, the uncertainties of the game of cricket and God's help have not blessed him yet. The two most successful IPL teams in the past, Mumbai Indians and Chenna Super Kings, have also failed to qualify for the knock-out stage.This really showcases the unpredictability of the T20 format with the added spice of an impact player. Kolkata Knight Riders have reached the final. A side, a gathering where the owners are not involved in cricketing matters. KKR is led by two legends of Indian cricket, Chandrakant Pandit and Gautam Gambhir. If KKR conducts IPL'24 then it is a success story.Tomorrow the battle royal between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will decide who will face KKR in the final.
Hyderabad won by one run in their last match in IPL '24. The match in Chennai should be exciting. Win or lose, franchise owners should be happy with the performance of their teams.
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, the IPL final will be an exciting stage where patrons, players and the crowd will be thrilled.Only the hand of God will decide the winner.
(Yajurvinder Singh is a former Indian cricketer. Views expressed are personal.)
