So yet another season of Cricketing fever in India came to an end on 27th May, 2018. Chennai Super Kings clinching yet another title under the leadership of one of the greatest captain of all times, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It was such a delight see him play with so much freedom this season and being so expressive about his emotions. It took us back to the good old days when “Mahi Maar Raha Hai” was buzzing all around.
IPL for me has truly been an Impact League. You will find many such articles talking about the success of IPL in the cricketing context but I am here to talk about something much more holistic in nature. So lets see how IPL has managed to create its magic in almost every possible sector.
Okay, lets begin with the obvious and discuss the cricketing success.
It has truly been the best possible platform for youngsters to perform and create an identity for themselves. They are able to experience the atmosphere of jam packed stadiums which they are (unfortunately) not able to find during their Domestic Career tournaments like Ranji Trophy. But its not a happy news completely as this gift comes along with testing times for these players as they have soak in the pressure of the expectations of the crowd and the franchise they belong to as well as keep reinventing themselves to stand out and perform in an extraordinary manner to catch the attention of selectors so that they are able to make progress with their cricketing career. It is a beautiful opportunity for them to make it to the national side and at the same time, become a IPL sensation season after season. It provides these players to also understand how international cricket operates and play along with international players who have already proved their caliber on a large scale and over so many years. The conceptualization of this platform was based on the give and take relationship between players who are already established and the ones who wish to establish and make their mark at the international level. Thus, these players are able to adapt to not just conditions but also to players and face different styles of execution. Players in India are especially benefited as a lad coming from a B tier town is now able to feel the emotions of playing on the center stage. I am happy to see the transformation it brings to these youngsters and acts as a flag bearer for the bright future of the Indian Cricket.
The most amazing part of this experience is that these youngsters are able to get the much needed guidance from the most experienced and famous personalities of World cricket. Its not just Sachin Tendulkar or VVS Laxman helping them out (although they are enough to provide everything they need) but also foreign greats like Ricky Pointing or Mutthiah Muralitharan providing them tips and tricks that they used to find success and survive fiercely in this competitive world.
This is also a blessing in disguise for us because we are able to see these wonderful people still being associated with the game so that we fans can still stay connected and witness at least their mindful suggestions being executed if not the treat of their physical abilities anymore.
Also, its so good to see foreign players gaining so much praise on Indian soil. Players like Rashid Khan or ABD have made their special place in the hearts of billion Indians. There have been so many players throughout these years of IPL that have made their impact felt in the minds and hearts of the Indian Cricketing Fans. These fans have transformed themselves from being Indian Cricket Fans to World Cricket Fans. They have started respecting and understanding the skill set of the Foreign youth especially and have started encouraging them to play well while ensuring their continued support for them wherever they go. This has resulted in a tremendous increase in the viewership of the game as the support has become limitless and beyond the boundaries of National identity.
All the credit goes to the fanatic fans out there who continue to shower their love for this kind of cricket to grow better and better every season. Crazy fans have emerged who are spotted every season to showcase their support in such a unique and surprising manner. Many Cartoonist and Design/Video Artists have also emerged and are able to utilize the platform to put up their creations in front of the world. All of this creative and exciting work has made the game even more enjoyable. With so much of newness flowing in every season, a build up is always created months before the tournament begins. All of these people have contributed on such a large scale for engaging the audience to look beyond the games being played. Fans come dressed up in comical manner and also some duplicate their cricketing idols. There are some who are so very religious about the game and have showed up every single game (MSD fan and Sachin fan). These fans just do not keep quiet and watch the match like any other match. They shout their tag lines, theme songs, supporting praises and dance to the beats holding the flags of their supporting teams throughout the game. I have been lucky quite a number of times now to be part of this experience live in stadiums and I look forward to being there for years to come.
IPL has not just been about the fans or cricket. It has also brought in great initiatives and efforts which are addressing issues that continue to trouble our nation every year. These franchises have become these big attracting brands for people to get associated with to channelize their action towards resolving issues and working towards the betterment of the society. Initiatives like the “Go Green Day” by Royal Challengers Bangalore or ESA by Mumbai Indian are massive scale ventures to bring about change. They have not just spoken but have put words into actions and have changed lives of many. They have encouraged other people to work in the same manner to collectively address these problems and come up with their own innovative ways of developing larger impact ventures. Bollywood Celebs and other famous personalities are promoting and encouraging people with new ideas and through this platform, they are able to find the right set of people to grow and get associated with community working on these projects.
As I said earlier, IPL has spread like wild fire. Cascading effect can been easily seen. During the Qualifier 1 of this season’s IPL, Women’s cricket was encouraged with the famous women cricketers mixing up and forming teams to play a T20 match under the brand “IPL”. Also, IPL managed to inspire other sports like Pro Kabbadi League and Badminton premier League to adopt the IPL Celebration model to bring in growth in their following. Sports encouragement has been question every now and then in India and its time that through such initiatives, sports athletes are given the right kind of treatment and exposure they need to up their game.
Overall, IPL has become the right place for other brands to come up and show the value they would like to provide. Many startups are now able to fetch the recognition they deserve.Tourism Industry has boomed up tremendously and initiatives associated with the game like Fan Parks being setup have opened up cities to make their presence felt on the global map. IPL for me is a joyous ride wherein I am able to witness the game like never before and see exciting prospects come up so well. It has truly been a thrilling experience and fans like me will always want to see more. I hope that the negative vibes around the games are curbed down and positives are uplifted. Great League! Lets hope for wonderful future ahead.
