Last two of season 1 prevail as top two of season 2 as the lights dim, music is turned off and spectators descend the stairs with a sense of satisfaction mixed with feelings of joy and sadness. In spite of being miles away from the fanaticism of Indian sport lovers, this seasons IPL continued to capture the world audience by its quick, colorful, loud and glamorous version of the old gentleman's game. In the backdrops of will it, won't it-the IPL stood its ground and with its chairman's determination we were able to experience a sporting extravaganza.
People expected a certain disconnect when the IPL was shifted to South Africa after constant failures in negotiations on security with the home ministry, which had the responsibility to conduct a safe and smooth general election. Reluctant at first to stage the home groomed event anywhere else apart from its own backyard, the organizers tried their best to work around the home ministries request, until a fortnight before D-day there was a sudden decision to play the tournament in the Proteus backyard. To look at it now the decision was worth the risk.
After all the shenanigans and ruckus, the spotlight was back on the players and the game. Experts had their money on Delhi Daredevils to carve their name on the trophy followed by Chennai and the defending champs Rajasthan. In all their discussions two teams were blind sighted as contenders, as a reflection of their previous performance. The Deccan Chargers which were pitched as front runner in season 1 on paper and Bangalore RC's who were always considered a test team from the start. In 2009 fortunes changes for BRC by a millions dollars increasing the hopes and expectations from Malleshwaram to Whitefiled to Jayanagar. The DC's drafted a change in their fortunes with new colors and a new leader to ignite a sense of regional patriotism spreading from Hitech city to Charminar.
People expected a certain disconnect when the IPL was shifted to South Africa after constant failures in negotiations on security with the home ministry, which had the responsibility to conduct a safe and smooth general election. Reluctant at first to stage the home groomed event anywhere else apart from its own backyard, the organizers tried their best to work around the home ministries request, until a fortnight before D-day there was a sudden decision to play the tournament in the Proteus backyard. To look at it now the decision was worth the risk.
After all the shenanigans and ruckus, the spotlight was back on the players and the game. Experts had their money on Delhi Daredevils to carve their name on the trophy followed by Chennai and the defending champs Rajasthan. In all their discussions two teams were blind sighted as contenders, as a reflection of their previous performance. The Deccan Chargers which were pitched as front runner in season 1 on paper and Bangalore RC's who were always considered a test team from the start. In 2009 fortunes changes for BRC by a millions dollars increasing the hopes and expectations from Malleshwaram to Whitefiled to Jayanagar. The DC's drafted a change in their fortunes with new colors and a new leader to ignite a sense of regional patriotism spreading from Hitech city to Charminar.
With the call of "play ball", the two underdogs surprised the world audience by defeating the defending champions and a formidable side convincingly making a clear statement to its critics. This fortune was short lived for the BRC's as they got back to their old habits, but the DC's marched forward under an able and dynamic captain. As the tournament progressed, Bangalore lost their plot and slumped at the bottom half of the table until a change of guard from the flamboyant and rash Englishman to the more subdued, reliable and veteran Indian. Bangalore started to win not only matches but also the hope of thousands of Bangalorians, who had continued to cheers for their team in their hardest times. On the parallel the fortunes for the DC's derailed by overconfidence and complacency. It took flawed performances by other teams to open a path towards a semis birth. On the last round robin game, it was a contest between the two underdogs who had flirted with their fortunes throughout the series. A contest to determine who would play the mighty Delhi and the talented Chennai contingents in the semi-finals.
As the final four took shape, it was predicted to be a contest between north (Delhi) and south (Bangalore/Chennai), a divide invisible of its existence to the eye but deeply rooted in many Indians on either side of the geography. But what came out of those two days of fierce contest was pleasingly surprising and a reminder to critics to never count anyone off. A contest between the underdogs who were fighting for recognitions, acceptance and supremacy. A rivalry only seen for now to prove info tech and bio tech dominance had poured onto a cricket field miles away. What was for the winners?-A team set to prove they had the capabilities to win not only on papers but also on the field and the other set to remove a tag of a lazy test match side.
What came out of the finals had little significance to what was seen on that day. Two champions in their own respect ; a Aussie war horse and the Indian Jumbo had led teams down and out to the top two spot. Their recipe of hard work, determination, passion and a tea spoon of luck created the perfect blend to sum up the tournament. They managed to prove that age is temporary but class is permanent. Whoever said that T20 was meant for the young has to see what we saw in IPL2 and eat his own words to hail the brilliance and talent of these fine men.
At the close of season two, India has witnessed another famous rags to riches story in a different form to converse about for many coming weeks. Will SRK's KKR turn their fortune in season 3 inspiring me to write another blog is a thing we will have to wait for an year!!!
Excellent analysis....and do you still have doubts if you are ready for MBA?
ReplyDeleteOne more thing... What I like about IPL is, it gives recongition to unknown players.
Players like Jakati, Pandey and Dhaval Kulkarni who might not have got chance to play above Ranji level are getting excellent opportunity to play with and against some experienced international players. and thats no less than rags to riches..so to say..
Thank you Doc,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that this format and tournament gives the 11 minus billion population of India to show their skills amongest the best and try their hand to represent the country in future. We already saw Kamran Khan's Rags to Riches story coming true and making a mark for himself.
I am sure this will help Indian Cricket on the long run for many years to comes as long as we stick to its core intension.
Great blog Abhi. What is also interesting to see is the fact that the IPL2 has groomed Indias World T20 probables very well. For people like Ravindra Jadeja, Ojha, Praveen Kumar, R.P.Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma it has been a great event of learning experience and they are surely ready to take on the world as defending champions come this June in England.
ReplyDelete"Their recipe of hard work, determination, passion and a tea spoon of luck created the perfect blend to sum up the tournament". Loved this.........awesome writing Abhi......keep it up......but wht I felt is from starting till end it was so unpredictable that who will win this IPL trophy. NO doubt it was so clear that SRK's KKR after the first round robin made it clear that they were not going to make it for Semi's but other than that all the other teams ....they all gave their bst to make it to semi's.....esp last slog overs of all the matches of second round found to be so close...I remember two matches one was b/w KNITE RIDERS and DECCAN charger in which DC scored 23 runs for victory in last over and other one was b/w MUMBAI INDIANS and RAJASTHAN ROYALS which turned out to be one of the best matches ever coz both the teams dismissed 3 wickets in the last over with the only difference that 3 wickets taken by RAJASTHANI squad turn match in their favor. Such examples and captainship clearly showed that each team gave their 100% but only those remained till final who did not loose their patience till the 20th over......Deccan proved to be the bst and they won.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Pradeep. To argue on your point, I agree the except one team all the others had a good probability to win. But what I tried pointing out and saw is there were two teams to whom no one gave any standing to win but those two very teams made their way to the top. They were led by not a young and fresh minded captain( treated as a perfect recipe to win) but veteran talented and world class players. Who sardonically were not selected for their own national team for their age. At the end two things were proved in this tournament, age has nothing to do with how well you perform but its your talent which detrmines it. Also never count anyone out when they have the fire power in their belly and desire to prove their ability and urge to reach supremacy.
ReplyDeleteI pay due regards to the remiaining teams who fought for the top spot, but I felt there was something unique in these two teams when compared to last season.