Is IPL helping Indian cricket?

The present Indian cricket, especially the IPL matches is much talked about, spoken and written about worldwide. Mostly it is known as the Indian Premier League match. Visualized on the first T20 World Cup victory in 2007 by the Indian cricket administrators, the league was led by Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League.

The concept visual coming true

Other than some of the diehard cricket fans, most of the cricket fraternity in India was intent with this concept. The league opened its doors of cash for cricketers. The wealthiest established ones literally got richer through the leaps and the bounds. The average cricketers too got rich. And so, each and every person who was attached to this new concept of cricket whether the umpires, the event management groups, the commentators, the former players or the cheer leading girls, everyone got something to cheer for. On the other hand, the league brought the little known domestic cricket to be recognized. They got what they never anticipated, loads of money and fame which they never dreamt of. Also, for most of the parents in India, who tried to get their children away from this worthless game of cricket, actually became the viewers and saw the league as an excellent career option for their children in the coming future.

What Happens after such innovative concept

Now, the million dollar question is whether the IPL is taking the Indian cricket team ahead or not. Also, whether it is of any help to the Team India in any other way or not? There are specific objection to IPL too, like it is a hectic schedule match which causes serious burn outs and even injuries to the stars. The roles of the stars are very significant in the cricket fortunes at the world stage. Further, since its placement in the Future Tour Programme of the ICC, this league is literally sandwiched between two important tours or between major events in the cricket field like the World Cup and the Twenty20 matches. Take the example of last year, when in 2009 the Twenty20 World Cup got started mere one week after the second edition of IPL.

The Bitter Truth realization

Also, when the Indian players started to play for the World Cup, they were in no condition to be fit and fine for the matches. Rather, physically and mentally the players were totally saturated from any energy to play on the field. The most disturbing fact was Virender Sehwag could not play as he sustained injury during the IPL second edition. Even this year, in 2010, Twenty20 World Cup will start four days after the final match of IPL which will definitely hamper any chances of India team to win at the event. However, there are two top cricketers of India, namely Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, and both of them got injured whilst playing in the initial stage of the IPL. And with one more month to go for the IPL to complete, more injuries are expected.

Other than injuries and burn outs, IPL is also developing a pseudo confidence among the cricketers. If the standard of the league as compared to other ICC event, it is at an average. But, irrespective of the performances, the question is why neglect the “Tree” which is overflowing with money? And what if the team doesn’t win another World Cup, or doesn’t excel in Test matches? As long as the Shastris, Gavaskars, Devs and Tendulkars are fed by the golden goose, they will be under the limelight of “City Moment of Success” and at the same time, Indian cricket will be swallowed by the serpent of Indian make believe patriots League.