Loss of lives is heartbreaking indeed!

All that those people outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium wanted was a glimpse of the players who had given them so much joy over the years, especially in the last two months

What a tragedy? The loss of lives due to a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium is heartbreaking indeed. All that those people wanted was a glimpse of the players who had given them so much joy and happiness over the years, especially in the last two months. The IPL Trophy, which they kept hoping would be theirs every year but never did, was finally coming to them after a wait of 18 years. It was totally understandable for their joy to know no bounds and they wanted to show it to their heroes. Maybe even see them up close, maybe even touch them, maybe even get a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before and perhaps still are and want to see them and have a brief hello and then perhaps a photo with them? Instead, for some to have been crushed to death and many still injured and in hospital was truly a tragic turn of events. There is no point blaming anyone. That’s futile as the lives can’t be brought back and some injuries may never heal properly especially the mental ones.

If RCB had won the Trophy in the first few years, there would not have been this outpouring of emotion as happened after the long wait of 18 years. Other teams have won but their celebrations have been a lot less frenetic maybe because their fans didn’t have to wait this long. The slogan ‘Ee saala cup naamde’ seemed to be like a millstone around the necks of the team. This year, when that slogan was barely heard, the team played some superb cricket, most of it away from their fans. They won every single game they played away, which is a new record in the IPL. No wonder the home fans wanted to give them a special ovation. Heartfelt condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Prayers of the fans can change fortunes, and there’s no doubt that the prayers of their loved ones made a contribution to bringing that elusive Cup to Bengaluru.

IPL demands quality players

This year’s IPL proved once again that relying on the performances of the state T20 leagues is not the way to go into the auction. It’s far better to go by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy deeds as these games are a lot more competitive than those in the state T20 leagues. Also, don’t go overboard with what one sees in the Under-19 tournaments. The level of competition there, is way below that in the IPL and so many of the youngsters not used to so much money lose the motivation and are quite content just to be around rather than perform. 

What is needed is to see when the batting and bowling performances came. What was the situation when the batters scored and the bowlers took the wickets for, at the end of the day, in the IPL it is going to be totally different. Here’s where temperament will come into play. The runs and the wickets have to come when it matters. 

Some will justify scoring 15 in five deliveries as it’s a strike rate of 300 but maybe it was important for the side that they batted another 15 deliveries and got 40 and took the team to a win. Hitting a six off the first ball one faces and getting out the next ball does give a strike rate of 300 but how does that help the side? Many of the so-called six hitters in the state T20 leagues came a cropper in the IPL and were unable to take their teams to a win.

Last year, anybody who came off a 15 yard run up was being snapped up for crores as picking fast bowlers was the flavour of the auction then. At the next auction, don’t be surprised if leg-spinners, both right and left-handed, and so-called mystery bowlers go for huge amounts. It’s pretty much like in the film industry where if one movie is hugely successful then many more think that’s the formula and then find out that they have lost the plot. At the IPL, thanks to the sharing of central revenue, the franchises don’t lose much with an impulsive buy, if they lose anything at all. Unless the performances are assessed by seeing in what match situation they came in, there will continue to be tens of dud buys every auction.

That said, this year thanks to some very good pitches where the ball came nicely on to the bat at just about every venue, we saw several scores over 200. Kudos to the curators and the ground staff who created the perfect environment for what the crowds come to see, the ball disappearing into the stands.

Heroes behind the scenes

The TV coverage too just gets better and better with the camera guys and technicians doing a superb job in trying conditions. Well done to them and all those real but unseen heroes in the broadcast control room. Without them the crores who tuned in would not have got to see this year’s IPL in all its glory. Not to forget our brave armed forces because of whom the tournament could restart after a short break. Also to all the overseas players, support staff and commentators and broadcast crew who returned and showed solidarity with India. 

The IPL is now an adult and is getting more and more attractive too.

Professional Management Group

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