IPL - Change in Guard

The IPL fanfare has begun and somehow to me it hasn't been the same as last year. Change in venue is not the issue but the fact that what was meant to be a fun (but money filled event) has turned out to be very very very commercial.

The commercial aspect has been a part of this huge event but not the way its being done this time. The fact the teams are winning to garner publicity even if it means negative methods is catching on real fast. KKR leading the way for this. In the process they have forgotten to win!!! I thought SRK wanted to go to Kolkatta in an open bus with the streets filled with cheering fans, that aint gonna happen until players start letting their bat and ball speak instead of testing their vocal chords..

The next team that seems to be perennially in the limelight (for losing!!) are the Royal Challengers. I actually feel sorry for Vijay Mallaya, because he pins his hopes on a losing cause (be it cricket or F1!) but his spirit is certainly the Winner here.

Chennai Superkings, boy are they drawing flak from even people who hardly follow the game. Why bother calling it the Chennai Superkings when you have just two players from Chennai playing. Maybe another rule can be imposed in the team composition from next year, that being the inclusion of minimum 5 domestic players who havent represented the country. After all this is a 'domestic tournament'!!!!

Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty seem to be getting a hang of this game quite alright although its quite funny to see some of their reactions. :)

The one team which is going about its work professionally are the Deccan Chargers. Its not easy going from the bottom right to the top. It comes only with commitment and hardwork. One of the reasons I thnk they seem tobe doing well is because all the BIG BIG names that they had last year are absent this tiime and thats lending the right balance to the team. Gilchrist is leading a pack of ordinary cricketers who will listen to what he has to say, whereas last year VVS had all high profile players who were very big in their league, which meant that getting theor attention to perform for the team was going to be a daunting task, make that impossible.

Delhi daredevils have also been going about their job quietly and I guess there is a thing or two to learn from that.

These views of mine come from being a true fan of the game. The vagaries and eccentricities that this game offers is incomparable and so my emotions run high when I feel tat things are going amock with the game I love.....