Sri Lankan Batsman Kumar Sangakkara spoke to Telegraph Uk about his take on IPL and the current progress of his team and tournament. He said - One week into the Indian Premier League, I am convinced that, whether Twenty20’s detractors like it or not, this tournament is going to be a resounding success. The marriage of high-octane cricket and all the glitz and glamour of Bollywood, the two biggest brands in India, is perfect.
Administrators spend years planning similarly big events, like the World Cup, but this £1 billion mega event - a competition that has seen an estimated 400,000 fans go through the turnstiles in only eight days - was transformed from a concept on paper to a tournament in only six months - Kumar added.
Like all the franchises, our team, the Punjab Kings XI, has had some teething problems. Our playing kit has been manufactured three times, our travel schedule has been a complete mystery and media scheduling is haphazard. But there is a great sense of team-building and a growing camaraderie.
From a player’s perspective it’s been like freshers’ week at college, with all the new faces. One minute you are playing international cricket with team-mates you’ve known for years and then, suddenly, you’re grappling with the names of the other squad members. Opponents like Brett Lee, previously an adversary, is now strumming his guitar in your hotel room. And last week I had the novel experience of Prieta Zinta, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars and the owner of the Punjab Kings XI, doing my make-up before a photoshoot.
The most refreshing part, though, has been the quality of the cricket. There have been some spectacular performances, especially from the batsmen with superb hundreds from Brendon McCullum, Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds. The poor bowlers have largely been bashed around the park, but there have been some top-class performances too from the likes of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan.
The run chases have been gripping. The Rajasthan Royals’ chase against the Deccan Chargers on Thursday, as Warne biffed his way past the 215-run target in the final over, was incredible. And Warne being carried back to the dug-out like an all-conquering gladiator will have gone a long way to allaying fears that the teams might not gel.
Who would have thought two years ago that you could seriously consider chasing down totals in excess of 200 in only 20 overs? In this tournament, though, you are always in with a shout, even when the run rate ticks past 15 an over. The good pitches, short boundaries and fast outfields are a nightmare for the bowlers, who must now adapt their games to be more effective.
As an international player you are used to performing under pressure and giving your all for your country, but the buzz playing here seems to be fuelling these astonishing performances. The large price tag on your head creates a new kind of pressure, and lots of pride sees the players pushing each other a little harder.
The intermingling of players from all around the world has been fun, and lots of new friendships are being forged. Old perceptions crumble as you start understanding new things about personalities you knew previously only as adversaries. This will fuel even greater competitiveness but the friendships should also help iron out a lot of the friction that has hampered the international game.
I know some people have big fears that the rise of Twenty20 cricket and tournaments like the IPL will endanger Test cricket, but I’m convinced such concerns are overblown. The game’s different formats can co-exist if administered properly. In fact, I anticipate Test cricket will get more entertaining as a result of the skills developed in Twenty20.
The key, however, is that administrators accept that this format is here to stay. Rather than fade away, the IPL is likely to grow bigger and more lucrative. Sir Allen Stanford’s claim that cricket will outgrow football may seem unlikely, but India’s huge population, growing economy and insatiable appetite could easily lift the IPL alongside the likes of the English Premier League and American baseball.
Immediately after the auctions there were genuine doubts that the enormous sums of money being spent on the franchises and players simply did not add up. However, those fears are fast receding - sponsorship is flowing in and tickets are mostly selling very well.
The IPL’s financial attraction means cricket boards will have to adapt quickly to ensure the safety of international cricket. The lack of uniformity in player wages around the world will lead to players retiring early from the international game. Right now, some players will have to play 10 years of international cricket to earn the same as one year of IPL.
It is different in England and Australia where the players are already well-paid. But in other countries, cricket boards need to make sure that players are not forced into making financial choices. Either wages must increase significantly or an IPL window must be added to the international calendar. If the administrators are pragmatic, everyone wins.
Kumar Sangakkara is playing for IPL Mohali - Kings XI Punjab was awared the man of the match in the just concluded game between his team and Mumbai Indians for a brilliant innings.
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