It has been labelled a gentleman's game, but cricket has evolved drastically since the first one-day international was played in 1971.

Breathing life into cricket

It has been labelled a gentleman's game, but cricket has evolved drastically since the first one-day international was played in 1971.

The introduction of day-night matches made it exciting and drew a wide audience. Now, the game has reached its peak with the razzmatazz of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and proved that cricket is no longer a monopoly of the men.

Actors Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla, Shilpa Shetty and businesswoman Nita Ambani not only own high-profile teams in the IPL but also manage some of the biggest names to play the game.

The IPL, apart from being wholesome entertainment, has shown that women don't have to play second fiddle to men.

Women are also hosting pre-and post match shows on television something that was assumed to be a male territory.

IPL is wholesome entertainment and keeps women engrossed. Even if Mandira is missing, the glamour quotient is high

The functioning of such successful ladies, the sight of superstars like Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut at stadiums and the quality of cricket has attracted a fair share of women audiences during the tournament.

In fact, statistics indicate 38 per cent women tuned in for the inaugural IPL 3 game compared to 34 per cent in 2009.

On the other hand, 62 per cent men watched the first match on television a four per cent drop from last year. The women are slowly but surely beating men in the viewership battle.

The IPL is wholesome entertainment and keeps women engrossed. So, even if Mandira Bedi is missing in action, the glamour quotient is intact with Preity jumping with joy, Shilpa flaunting her pearls and Deepika chatting with Vijay Mallya's son.

What's more, Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga provide enough opportunities to Mrs Ambani to wave the Mumbai Indians flag.
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The tournament has dismissed the notion that only saas bahu serials, singing, dancing and marriage reality shows and laughter challenges can woo women audiences.

Cricket has indeed come of age. Siddhartha Mukherjee of TAM, which has researched the IPL data, says, "The IPL is all-round entertainment with film stars, cheerleaders and also some great cricket."

He adds that whether it is Akshay Kumar rappelling across Ferozeshah Kotla, cheerleaders flaunting their moves or Muttiah Muralitharan playing in the same team as Dhoni, people like the mix of visual delights. Women have brought life and emotions into the game.

But one finds it ironical that no woman assumes a key position in the BCCI. The day, however, is not far away. The fairer sex is in cricket to stay and probably even rule the roost.

Aditya Anand is City Editor, MiD DAY

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