The annual cricket festival has begun. Indeed, the Indian Premier League has come to that, an entertainment that has surpassed all expectations for cricket lovers. One need not have to be cricket-knowledged to understand this shorter version of the sport, but ask anyone who can enjoy the thrills of watching the contest between the bat and the ball, where big hitting is the rule rather than an exception! Amazing how the ODIs and cricket’s next avatar, the T20s, have transformed the sport not just into a multi-million industry but also produced the kind of magnetic effect which used to be the characteristic of big-time football especially. The latest edition of IPL provides the evidence for this with packed stadiums, be it in Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Mumbai or Ahmedabad. And, these are just the early days yet of the competition.

What makes IPL 'special' as the League enters the 17th edition is the importance it has gained not just in the national domestic cricket calendar but internationally as well. IPL represents the best set of players from all cricket-playing countries, barring Pakistan (not to speak of several ex-cricketers of high standing as team officials), and the price tag of each player reflects the value of the player, with the bat or ball. Lakhs and Crores of rupees go into getting the players, and surely, these are the kind of talents who light up the competition and make it what it........

© Mathrubhumi English