Batmen return for the Indian Premier League

The debate whether Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest of all time won’t remain topical. Discussions on which is the best Test team in the world will probably fizzle out. That Pakistan’s Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf have been indefinitely banned won’t matter in this part of the world, at least for the next 45 days.

Unless it is the Indian Premier League (IPL), cricket won’t grab eyeballs for most of March and April. The buzz has been unmistakable.

Since no Pakistan cricketer was bought at the player auction in January, the IPL has been in the news. Bollywood star and Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan suddenly felt humiliated that none of the teams spent a penny on a Pakistan player. It created the expected hullabaloo with everyone having a say even as hardliners flexed their muscles. That storm blew over. The ‘lunatic fringes’ is what Rajasthan Royals owner Shilpa Shetty called these disruptive forces.

They were at it again when threats were issued subtly stating that Australians were not welcome in Mumbai following the attacks on Indians Down Under.

A heightened terror threat, more so since the blasts in Pune, had players associations threatening a pull out. Some like England and Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Ravi Bopara gave the impression that he wouldn’t play, by saying ‘cricket is not worth dying for.’ In the end, the lure of big bucks combined with the assurance of fool proof security and a veiled threat, to those who developed cold feet, that ran like ‘come or you will be black listed’ has ensured a healthy foreign flavour.

Matthew Hayden is someone who never had second thoughts of travelling for the IPL III. He also brings with him the mongoose bat, one with a near-full sweet spot that should even power edges into the stands.

Hayden and his revolutionary bat will be seen on Sunday. The action starts at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday when champions Deccan Chargers play unpredictable Kolkata Knight Riders. This season should be the most anticipated simply because IPL II was relocated to South Africa last year leaving Indian fans distraught.

This season, those who can’t make it to the stadium can catch live commentary on radio and watch videos on the mobile phone and in theatres; of course all at the price like everything else in the IPL.

In financial terms, the IPL has grown into a giant. Base price of teams were $50 million going into the first season. Now, bidding for each of the two new teams start at $225 million. However, how much a new IPL team commands in the market will be known only on March 21 when the re-bidding process is complete. That bank guarantees have been revised to affordable levels could mean more bidders and more moolah.

In cricketing terms it is hard to judge the IPL’s success. True to the nature of the Twenty20 format, it remains unpredictable and thus an unreliable yardstick to measure talent. New finds have proved to be shooting stars, who haven’t been able to translate their IPL success into consistent ODI performances. India bombed at the World Twenty20 and no IPL side reached the semifinals of the Champions League. Without doubt batting technique has been compromised though fielding and fitness levels are on the rise.

Has the IPL thrown up talent worthy of staking claim to form the next generation of Indian Test cricketers? Now, that is another cricketing debate. It’ll find no takers once the lights come on, the film stars strut around, the players entertain and the cheerleaders do their jig.