New Delhi, October 20: Is the success of some of the more ‘modest’ teams in the Champions League (CL) a body blow for the high-finance, high-stakes and hyped-up Indian Premier League (IPL) model?
After having invested millions towards star-packed teams, owners of the three IPL outfits which eventually qualified for the CL will be feeling hard done by after watching their ‘galacticos’ eliminated early.
Not only has the inability of the Deccan Chargers, RCB and Delhi Daredevils to make the semifinals adversely dented TRP ratings and gate receipts, it has raised important questions about whether the IPL model has been exposed: Does the event deserve to be a benchmark for the club-based T20 format being touted as an important part of the game’s future?
“The fact is that the IPL teams failed to qualify for the semis because they played bad cricket, and that is it. Some of the teams from other countries have adjusted well to the conditions and played according to the situation,” South Africa’s legendary pacer Allan Donald told TOI.
But even accounting for the fickle nature of the Twenty20 game, the CL has made it amply clear that big bucks will not necessarily translate into cricketing glory. So, is the IPL overhyped and underdone? Is it actually the best T20 event around?
Some theories have been mooted about the premature demise of these three teams in the competition, like the lack of time available to gel together as a unit, or even the fatigue factor affecting star players coming off gruelling international engagements.
The success of the Australian teams can be explained on the basis of their rigorously streamlined first-class structure, but how does one explain the remarkable run of some less-fancied teams, which played with passion and wore their hearts on their sleeves?
Think Trinidad and Tobago and Cape Cobras, two teams which have outshone all the glitter of the IPL, a tournament which was supposed to showcase the best T20 skills.
Donald seems to agree. “In terms of popularity, IPL is really big, but skills-wise, it will take some time, I guess. On the other hand, you can’t blame the IPL teams solely. Some of the players got together as a team just two to three days before the tournament actually started,” he said.
Former Indian cricketer Chetan Chauhan also agrees that IPL isn’t the best T20 event in the world. “T20 is such a format that the best teams don’t necessarily win. As far as the Indian teams are concerned, they didn’t click as a unit here, “he added.
Could it even be that the Indian domestic players in the IPL teams are not at par with their foreign counterparts? Has enough not been done to groom bench strength in the quest for the megabucks-flaunting high-rollers?
“Yes, it’s obvious that some of the Indian players are not up to the mark. Players from some other countries looked much better in this event,” said another prominent ex-player who has watched all the CL action from the commentary box.
These are some disturbing thoughts for the IPL franchises to contemplate. Come next auction time, they will perhaps think thrice before dishing out the cash.
—Agencies