12 Years of IPL! The Indian Premier League, which has been “Postponed indefinitely” in its 13th year, was inaugurated on this day 12 years ago. The annual cricketing bonanza has had a huge impact on the game, its players and the viewers. From uniting cricketers to slashing Test cricket; we look at How IPL has impacted cricket.
“The IPL has taken the game to virtually every house in the world.” Sachin Tendulkar said back in 2008 as the first edition of Indian Premier League unfolded. Yes, he was right. This T20 league has not only revolutionized the game of cricket but also changed the viewers’ views.
Once upon a time, all a fan wanted was to see his favorite nation emerging on top. However, now, that’s no way enough. People follow the franchises as passionately. From the very first edition, IPL provided world cricket a different and spicy environment to follow the gentlemen’s game. It not only attracted a mammoth fan-base but pulled off vast interest amongst cricketers around the globe.
Uniting Cricketers All-around The World
Had you ever imagined seeing Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh playing together? Yes, maybe you wouldn’t have ever but thanks to IPL, they actually did. Pertinently, didn’t Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan, the two brothers, locked horns with each other? That’s the beauty of Indian Premier League.
It has brought forward an alternate version of cricket to fans, where they see all the best players playing together and against each other.
The tournament has brought the players around the world to respect each other which has resulted in increased camaraderie among the players.
Shaping Careers Of Young Cricketers
How many times have you heard a budding cricketer, even from outside India, expressing the will to play in the IPL? That’s how this platform has influenced cricket and cricketers. No, it’s not just the money. With the best in business competing, promising players know well that a couple of good outings in IPL can shape up their careers. And without a shade of doubt, it has.
Talking specifically about Indian cricket, didn’t IPL give India its current best bowler in Jasprit Bumrah? No, he’s not the only one, there are several other stars, this league unveiled in these years.
Enhancing Cricketers’ Financial Status
Yes, there’s absolutely no doubt that IPL revolutionised the financial status of cricketers. Gone are the days, when parents would think a 100 times before allowing their kids to take that kit and hit the ground. There’s much less fear of ‘landing in nowhere’ now. Since not all get an opportunity to play internationally, with IPL’s introduction, players think if not there, they could at least finish playing in the IPL.
However, lately, the competition has become quite tough even in the IPL. Franchises don’t pick a player unless he is above par.
Taking T20 Cricket To Next Level
When the IPL came into existence, T20 cricket was a new thing. 12 years on, the shortest-version has become the most popular format of cricket. IPL even motivated many nations to introduce their own T20 leagues, hence giving cricketers more opportunities to play.
Having become a cricketing festival, this franchise-based league unveiled how even domestic cricket could equally excite the fans.
Sky-rocketing Viewership
The IPl, which was initially seen as gimmicky, has struck a chord with players and viewers, which has increased year on year.
The Dark Side
No, it’s just about good things, IPL has a dark side as well. With a lot of money and fame involved, cricketers find more interest in playing this league than playing for their countries, especially in the longer-version of the game.
Subsequently, fans too aren’t finding Test cricket exciting enough after the franchise T20 leagues took over, which surely isn’t a good thing for cricket.
Likewise, IPL has largely influenced the selection criteria, particularly in the Indian cricket. Players are mostly picked for national sides after impressive performances in this league. This is largely affecting domestic cricket. Many former and current cricketers have expressed dissatisfaction with selection being done on basis of IPL performances and not the Ranji or other domestic tournaments.
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