IPL 2010

Well, I've been meaning to start blogging for a long time(a year actually) and I'm glad that I got down to it finally! Thought I'd just pen a few thoughts on the just concluded IPL....I know its a bit late but here goes!

Cricket has been one of my favorite sports for as long as I can remember....but lately havent had a chance to watch India's games as much as I used to....there used be a time when I wud sit in front of the TV and watch Test cricket for pretty much the entire 3 sessions. I missed most of its evolution into the slam bang mini-est(if thats even a word) format; atleast for now because I wouldnt be surprised if they bring a 10 over version. So far the IPL is the only time when I watch 20-20 cricket and I love the experience....the fact that CSK have been the most consistent team have helped matters but still I am just hooked on to it. Who'd ever thought I would be cheering Haydos when he walked to the crease rather than cringing at his very entry!

The whole of last month started with the ritual of getting up, opening cricinfo on the lappy to check the score and last but not the least, updating my status message on facebook(only when results were favourable to CSK!). It went to a point where I joined the grp that was attending "Funeral-Mumbai Indians" . Initially I was shocked at the title then as my friend said "oru gethu kamikanum la!" and it was that!All the while I was praying for a good result for the CSK so that I wouldnt look like a fool...my backup plan was to just channel the thoughts of my better half who said that watching these matches were a waste of time as it all depended on how many C's transferred hands! If the Mumbai Indians won I would have supported his theory. As it was, we won and my dear friend actually shared my husbands sentiments saying that the odds of an upset victory at an away ground would have generated a lot of money in the betting process itself(she was supporting Mumbai! as was the rest of the country) Even in Chennai many fans were torn at having to choose between Sachin and CSK

When the auctions first started I was ashamed to see that we had no icon player from the state....unless you could play super seniors like K Srikkant...ironically the only iconic Tamil player right now plays for Sri Lanka(hope this statement doesnt generate controversy!) and we atleast managed to rope him in. This year though....it has been nice to see players like Ashwin, Vijay and Badrinath. It helped that Balaji was sidelined as he would have been a player who could have lost it all.

I had been thinking that Ganguly was the best captain that India ever saw but have been proved wrong. Dhoni has outclassed every other Indian captain that I have seen atleast. Loved the punch he gave his jaw at Dharmasala but he has just been phenomenal when it comes to playing it cool even after he finished victorious in the final. His team has been the one with least publicity, not so great in form players this year, and not marred by controversies such as mysterious bloggers, ideological fights between coaches, captains and franchise owners, tweets adn sulking former captains and my favourite- an incident when a player got slapped!Instead it has been the team that enjoyed playing as a bunch. Lets not forget that this is a team owned by one of the biggest bureaucrats(ok I had to look up the spelling!) of Indian cricket who happens to be the luckiest businessman in all 3 editions.

As for the difference that IPL made....the game has added even more entertainment that it usually does when played in India....I love the team songs, the sight of Siva Mani banging his drums for CSK and best of all I love the zoozoos. Admittedly each concept for the IPL is a copy from other countries..examples being the IPL itself being mirrored to the EPL, cheerleaders from Australia/America. I know lots of people who would watch it for them.

Its not a surprise to hear that there's a lot of tamasha off the field revolving around Lalit Modi but I would be sad to see him go. Hope it all gets sorted out but once again I was coolly reminded by my better half that this is just an eyewash...as for me, I just want to see the IPL bigger and better than ever next year! If anything it has revived my interest for the game, I still jump for joy when the team I support wins(which happens very rarely).

I think this is enough for now.... and people please feel free to post your comments!Dad...please dont use the term verbal diarrhoea!Should be back with more !