IPL 2011: Law of diminishing returns?

The Indian Premier League is the new fashion statement in the game of cricket. Not only has it commercialized the sport, the IPL, has redefined businesses altogether. Since 2008, its impact on the Indian market has been colossal. Money flowing into the hands of BCCI and the B industry surviving the drought, opportunities increasing by leaps and bounds for the local companies, beating the MNCs in the run, and the TRP's snatched away from the burdened family dramas-the facts say it all. With its fourth season in progress, and an outstanding $4 billion at stake, who would have imagined that this new generation fast-track game will lose its ground to a single ODI match that created history.

India crowned as the world champions was a sempiternal moment for every Indian. I felt happy, and more than that, content. Finally, we had the trophy. It was the satisfaction of a hungry stomach fed with the most delicious food. A funny comparison though, but was justified when the full stomach was served with more food. I felt the same when the IPL started. It was difficult to take in more.

Since the first day of this year's IPL, I have not been very enthusiastic about it. My attitude towards it won't harm the game in any way, but as a cricket fan, it is disastrous. The most I know about this year's IPL is that there are 10 teams, and I support Chennai Super Kings. I never bothered to know the players playing in each team, or the schedule of the tournament (though I managed to keep a track of my team's performance). I was disappointed with myself, on being so unjust towards the one thing I am passionate about, and then I realized that it was not me but the economics that was responsible. 

IPL though has proven to be a profitable venture, has failed to hold its stand in the heart of Indian public this year. Its not the love for the game that has been lost somewhere, its just too much cricket out there. It looks like IPL has become that factor of the cricket business which might tend to reduce the profits for the owners, as well as the sponsors. An article in Cricinfo states that IPL 2011 has not been able to capture enough attention as before, and its viewer ratings are going down the slope. I have noticed people tweeting and commenting on facebook about their lack of interest in IPL. The main culprit certainly is the cricket overflow, but that is not all. There are few other reasons which I think are also responsible for the downplay of the IPL.

The New face: The reshuffling, overturning, and trading of new players in the teams has left the audience in confusion. Yuvraj, the hearthrob and the apple of the Punjab Kings XI is now the Captain of Pune Warriors. The silent storm Gambhir of Delhi is now leading Kolkata. The single personality to stir the whole of Bengal, Ganguly, is kicked out of his home team. These are just a couple to mention. The introduction of several local players, and calling in new international players have made the teams less familiar to the people. It is a good thing to try out, for the benefit of all teams perhaps, but for this season's business, might not help.

The Complex fixtures: The format of this year's IPL will kill your nerves. I read about it several times and still feel perplexed. Too many games, teams divided into two groups, groups invisible as such on the chart, and the pattern of home and away games, it has just spilled over the mess already there. 

Though the IPL has managed to prevent multiplexes from gathering audience, but it has failed to tempt either. The cricket fans have got what they wanted, and are pleased about it. But the stifling atmosphere caused by too many games stacked together is making it lose all the charm. After the World cup victory, MS Dhoni said in his interview, that it all began with the 1983 World Cup which instilled the passion for this game among people and strive so hard for winning it. Now that the Cup is ours, people would look forward to different things and other sports would probably gain attention. That day I thought, what crap. Today I think, he was right.