The IPL comes back to India for its 3rd season. What a welcome it has already received. The media planners have their tongues wagging at the huge prospects that the IPL has to offer in terms of visibility. The advertisements aired by SET with Shane Warne doing a "Boy, did we miss you" with the electrifying sound of the indian crowd in the backdrop is a very good way of pulling back, connecting with the audience which had reduced by substantial margins as compared to the first season. The clear message being sent out is that we are back and we are going to give you the biggest treat ever this time around.
Though there is a lot of excitement surrounding the event there is a sense of it starting again from square one. There is the same feeling of apprehension in the air which was there during the first season. Tentative thoughts are floating regarding whether the event will be a success - the same situation as was during the first season. The advertising market players seem to be playing a wait and watch game even though they know that it is going to have a mind blowing viewership. The general public is not showing signs over-the-top interest about the event. Is T20 getting the tag of a gamblers paradise? Is it getting politicized? Are matches fixed ??
The ticket prizes are also starting to follow an upward direction going by the recent trend. on one hand they say everybody is gung-ho about the event and it is going to attract huge sponsorship on the other hand there is news about a below par response. The controversies surrounding cheer girls are a disappointing break in the excitement of the format. Is FUN going to be defined yet again? Whats in store for this season is purely a wait and watch game like it was for the first edition.
The auction has just started. After tearing apart any possible bowling attack in the world West Indian Kieron Pollard is being offered enough money to buy an IPL team for himself. Roach, Shane Bond also fetching huge sums. Damien Martyn the aussie veteran has gone away for a rather paltry sum.. Probably pretty justified. And now the big debate. No Paistani player has been picked by any of the franchise causing yet another controversy in the never ending list of indian cricket. The claim that they are the world champions and they feel humiliated for not being considered. Given the situation of the visa scenario for pak players the franchise owners may be probably justified in doing so. After all its their money which they dont want to go down the drain in any manner. The players should be a bit more responsible in handling this sensitive issue and not give out statements like we feel humiliated especially it being an INDIAN Premiere league. However the BCCI should also held responsible for keeping the pak players in the auction probable list inspite of doubts looming over the clearance of their legal documents. Hope every player player gets what he is worthy of. Just hope KKR turns things around and Mumbai Indians stop acting like chokers(kya kare Mumbai ko to support karna hi padta hain)
Leaving all the recent controversies and a fair bit of apprehension about its success I really wish it is a slam bang fest. That is what everybody wants it to be, that is what T20 is all about. I hope the glamour doesn't reduce, the music doesn't stop, the top players play their best game and make the event reach heights of EPL ... woah pretty superficial... long long way to go BCCI ... But if IPL ever reaches EPL levels nobodies going to complain...
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