What a cricketing season it has been! The IPL, India’s very own domestic T20 tournament, in its second season continued making giant strides not only in India also all around the world. At the start of the season, a finale between Deccan and RCB seemed like a reverie. But the teams that ended of at the bottom two of the table last year were able to make it to the finals and clash to take home the dazzling trophy. And finally it was Ghilchrist’s men who won the battle of the titans. T20 is an improvement on the one-day format: modern equivalent of a carnival. It makes for great entertainment and rakes in money. Well, doomsayers argued that T20 would be harmful for bowlers, especially spinners. IPL-2 proved otherwise and quality spinners turned out to be a handful for batsmen. The success of IPL has captivated the thoughts of cricketing bodies of several countries on starting their version of IPL. It seems India has been successfully able to hijack the shorter version of the game from its native place, England.
England reminds me of the next T20 extravaganza, the T20 World Cup, starting on 5th of June. More of a home coming for T20. 12 teams will muster in England to be the world champions in the ephemeral version of cricket. The organizers will be hoping cricket to regain some of its popularity lost to football. But what matters most is the defending champions, India, embarking their campaign as the favourites. With its players in murderous mood, India is most likely to be the champion again. Hopefully India gets to defend its crown-won in South Africa in September 2007-at a flood-lit Lord’s ground on June 21, 2009. That will be first time in its 200 plus cricketing history, Lord’s will see cricket played consistently past 9 p.m. local time.
England reminds me of the next T20 extravaganza, the T20 World Cup, starting on 5th of June. More of a home coming for T20. 12 teams will muster in England to be the world champions in the ephemeral version of cricket. The organizers will be hoping cricket to regain some of its popularity lost to football. But what matters most is the defending champions, India, embarking their campaign as the favourites. With its players in murderous mood, India is most likely to be the champion again. Hopefully India gets to defend its crown-won in South Africa in September 2007-at a flood-lit Lord’s ground on June 21, 2009. That will be first time in its 200 plus cricketing history, Lord’s will see cricket played consistently past 9 p.m. local time.
No comments:
Post a Comment