Glorifying India's God like game beneath strong undercurrents


Did I waste my time while I laughed, cried, screamed, shouted and tweeted my way in exhilaration, as I watched the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 season 3 cricket matches this year?? This is indeed the question I ask myself umpteen numbers of times, since the rotten affair of the IPL has been brought to light by the media and by the governing council of cricket in India.

And why only accuse the 58 matches this year (minus two matches which I ignored after the IPL scam broke out) for killing our time over doctored matches and inadvertently contributing towards filling deep pockets of the governing body. In fact, we have been duped for not realising this way back in year 2008 when IPL was baptized as a new “fatafat” (quick) cricket format. This was in fact the same year when planet earth was hit by recession and every business, investors, public sector companies, consumers, and those doing something for a living, was feeling the pinch of the recession....except, IPL Cricket which was and is still believed to be inimitably "recession proof".

The invincible T20 format
IPL cricket take-off in the year 2008 was unforgettably the biggest billion dollar creative project commissioned by flamboyant Mr. Lalit Modi, whose daring marketing and branding techniques and out-of-the-box thinking, made the T20 format the world’s best cricketing set-up ever made in history. Each of the eight teams competing in IPL are composed of high profile cricketers from different nations, thus making this the world’s first “Cosmopolitan” game ever.

Glorifying sophisticated thugs
In a span of just 3yrs, IPL came to be known as a game which entertained its spectators both on the grounds and off the grounds with its grandiosity and lavishness…a game of sports and entertainment. Until of course this month when a series of tweets between Lalit Modi and a prospective candidate of the newly endorsed Kochi team, opened up the Pandora’s box...exposing the “can of worms”.

Eventually, the cricket format which earned good name, was now branded as a game of slush money, kickbacks and match-fixing. Allegedly, kickbacks in crores were earned by commissioner & imposter, Lalit Modi, and also by a few team owners and officials who were hand-in gloves with the IPL chief.

Don’t loose our dinosaur
IPL T20 cricket is a milking cash cow for the Indian government...bringing in the monies that the governing authorities need to realise its infrastructural, health, and educational promises made to the people of this country. After the “Braking exposé” of all the sham-scam's in IPL management three years from its inception, there are plans of putting the entire billion dollar project to rest. However, the question to ask here is ….Should we really suspend a project which displayed the highest earnings on our balance sheet? Or should we crackdown and remove the filth in the system in the first place.

If you ask me, I believe we should clean up the system firsthand by amputating the rotten arm of the IPL and retain the good arm before season IV takes off next year. In chorus, we need to get people with an energetic and positive mindset to handle IPL affairs. In fact, flamboyancy to some extent is mandatory to give this game an entertaining zing.

And when the God of cricket and master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar himself says that, “IPL will overcome current crisis,"...we should seriously take this demigod's conviction to save this God like game of IPL. Aaii Laa ;-)

Thanks for visiting my blog. Do write to me with your reactions, opinions or critical comments at simplymearl@live.com or leave your inputs in the comments tab below.

Before I sign out, as I always say take very good care of yourself and God Bless!

Comments

ARUN said…
Hello Mearl,

Great insight into the split perspective of watching an IPL match, quite debatable though when it comes to some of your views on match fixing and scripted games.

Tell me given a choice, who wouldn’t want to have a great evening of fun at an IPL venue after a monotonous day at work, something which would take u on a joy ride !!!!!!!!, even movies are well tuned to meet the demands of the audience failing which results in a damp squib.

IPL has surpassed all expectations of the audience and even the media, transcending age, gender and IQ levels. Am not of the opinion that the games should be rigged and probably they are not, given the fact that the pros who take part in the games stand the risk of losing out on reputation and employment.

This dip in popularity is explained by the law of averages which applies mostly to cricket. It was only expected that something crazy should bring the popularity down which was sky rocketing in a couple of years.

Do u think it matters much to a common man if an IPL team owner bribes the Chairman to get things going. We could always protest if it comes to light that taxes have been evaded which has a direct impact on economy.

Let’s look at the global impact this tourney has made in showcasing India as a hub in cricket and entertainment, not to discard the exposure and employment for the players and the support staff.

Sachin has predicted that the IPL would survive this crisis though his sinister act of preserving Pollard in the final till the 18th remains largely questionable?????? Even the god of cricket would not have the guts to admit that……………leaving it to you discretion……….

Arun
Mearl Colaco said…
Hey Arun,

Thanks for your inputs. T20 a game of sports and entertainment or all about slush money, kickbacks and match fixing.

To answer that, it is more about the dirt and filth. It does matter because it is the public's money that is squandered with....we cannot allow this to happen. Infact this defect in T20 should be exposed according to me. Rather pump citizen’s money into other games such as Football, Badminton, Rugby, and Hockey.

To a common man, yeah probably as long as their getting their share of entertainment...there no point in whining. But in my opinion, it is something that needs to be tackled with…since it reflects and talks about our system.

Regards,
Mearl Colaco

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