IPL voted out

The IPL matches will now be played overseas and not on home grounds. Are you disappointed?

Debolina Ghosh, 17 yrs, school student: No, since I’m not a big fan of cricket.

B. Anand, 23 yrs, MBA student: Slightly disappointed as I’ll be unable to cheer the team on in person. But I will keenly follow the matches on television. IPL is the pride of Indian cricket as it’s one of the first events of such stature to be organised in India. The first season was a big hit and the response of sponsors and fans was really good.

Sumit Sen, 28 yrs, Executive Director: Not really. I was planning to follow the matches on TV, rather than go to Eden Gardens.

Francis Gomes, 30 yrs, Assistant Bank Manager: It is a big disappointment as I was looking forward to going to the stadium to cheer the Kolkata Knight Riders.


Is it possible to hold the General Elections and the IPL matches simultaneously in India?

Debolina Ghosh: I don’t think the police could do justice if they did try to provide security to both.

B. Anand: The General Elections and the IPL cannot be held together. It’s better to play safe and organise any one methodically rather than put our fingers in too many pies.

Sumit Sen: It could have been managed. But since the government failed to promise security round the clock, had any mishap happened, the world would condemn the situation and perhaps ban international cricket matches in India in the future, as is the case in Pakistan now.

Francis Gomes: No.


Is this decision a question of political will rather than actually a concern for security?

Debolina Ghosh: I think, for a change, politicians are actually concerned about the welfare of the players and the public.

B. Anand: India is a country with politics ingrained in its very nature. So each decision tends to be weighed in the light of politics, and is influenced by it.

Sumit Sen: Maybe the politicians were considering only the elections, but this decision is correct as far as the IPL is concerned. Besides, for an event this big, the government cannot take chances with the lives of not just cricketers but also the fans coming to cheer for their teams.

Francis Gomes: It’s for the safety of the players.


Could there have been an alternate solution to shifting the matches overseas?

Debolina Ghosh: No idea!

B. Anand: Since I’m a common man and don’t know the nitty-gritties involved, I cannot comment.

Sumit Sen: No. The only option was to either stick to the original schedule of the IPL amid security threats or to postpone it till after the elections. The former isn’t possible due to the shortage of security personnel, and the latter wasn’t feasible since the sponsors stood to lose money. So the only option was to shift the venue, thereby safeguarding the interests of the sponsors and ensuring security.

Francis Gomes: Perhaps, there might have been an alternative, but BCCI is also at fault as it failed to foresee that the elections would be held at about the same time. It should have revised its game schedule.


How excited are you about IPL now that it’s now longer being held in India?

Debolina Ghosh: I’m not interested in cricket, so it barely makes a difference to me.

B. Anand: The excitement has died down a bit. It’s a different feeling to cheer in the stadium, rather than in front of a TV set. The atmosphere at a stadium is filled with energy which at times might influence the performance of a team and motivate the players; this happens most when the team plays in front of their home crowd. But when it’s missing, the team’s enthusiasm might also decline.

Sumit Sen: It doesn’t make any difference to me as I wasn’t planning on going to the stadium anyway.

Francis Gomes: Not as excited as I would have been if it were held here at Kolkata.


Without “desi” fans cheering their team along, will IPL lose much of its appeal?

Debolina Ghosh: Yes. The atmosphere at an Indian stadium is much more electrifying than anywhere else in the world. Without the support and cheers of the home crowd, half the fun of the game is gone.

B. Anand: It’s a wait and watch situation, a gamble for the organisers.

Sumit Sen: Perhaps it will lose its appeal this year as it might not be able to retain its Indian flavour. But lovers of the game will follow the matches on TV.

Francis Gomes: Definitely. Since we wouldn’t be able to watch the matches right before our eyes, our excitement would decrease.


Planning to go abroad to cheer your favourite team in person?

Debolina Ghosh: No.

B. Anand: Who has got the money in this recession?

Sumit Sen: No way!

Francis Gomes: If it were held here, I would definitely try to watch the match at the stadium. But going abroad, no chance!


Clearly, nobody wants to take chances with security, especially in the aftermath of the recent incident in Pakistan where terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team. But the venue shift is an unwelcome move for fans of the Twenty20 format. A decline in interest seems inevitable. Will the IPL still be a hit? We’ll have to wait and watch.


ilovekolkata