The Indian Premier League has been around for quite sometime, and every season it manages to dish out entertainment like never before. The Indian Premier League is one of the most talked-about events not just in India, but all through the globe, thanks to the participation of international players as well.
Cricket’s love affair with glamour and entertainment became a registered relationship when the IPL hit living rooms in 2008, and from then on, every year, March and April would mean business time for a lot of people. For spectators of course, there was a host of things to be done — following the match, keeping predictions accurate, participating in fantasy leagues et all.
Obviously, as big as the league was, controversies never left it. They stood by its side, like the other woman, threatening to strain IPL’s relationship with its loving fans. From players slapping and boo-hoo-ing, to the post match hush hush scandals, the Indian Premier League saw everything that no league has ever seen, maybe.
Yet, it stood strong, for 8 seasons, refusing to bow down to any cyclone that came its way.
However, there was something that would shake its foundation. As soon as the whole match fixing saga unfolded, the list of names involved in a scary scandal kept swelling. No one was spared — not even cricket kingdom’s undisputed ruler, N Srinivasan.
The cookie crumbled. And slowly, things looked grim. Season 8 pulled through. Season 9, we don’t know.
First, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals faced the axe. It means, these players are in limbo and only God knows how many of them will continue playing for IPL and how many of them had their swansong even before they realised.
Then, PepsiCo decided to withdraw from the IPL as its title sponsors. Apparently it couldn’t handle the ‘disrepute’ it brought to the game. Then Sundar Raman, the COO stepped down. The IPL was losing its sheen fast.
Losing, or lost?
This edition of the Indian Premier League won’t be the same. If at all it happens, that is.