Hindustan Times
It’s summers and it’s IPL season
The nimboo paani walas are back in action, and so have the punters. It’s summers, and it’s IPL season.
After having a rollercoaster ride in its first three years of inception, and quite a free-run of sorts when it came to claiming the nation’s undivided attention, the Indian Premier League has a task on hand this time – battling the World Cup fatigue. Within no time of the cricket gobbling country letting out a huge burp last Saturday, here we have a multi-course buffet of 52 days of non-stop Twenty20 cricket. And we thought that the best dessert was already served at Wankhede!
While gathering the required TRPs may not be a headache – let’s face it, a new three-hour live drama is always welcome over sloppy soaps and masala flicks, the real problem lies in front of the fans. The millions praying for the Dhoni-Gambhir partnership to go on against Sri Lanka just six days ago now have to stand divided. So, while cricket had supposedly unified the country, it is for cricket’s sake now that it must stand divided.
Gloss-father, no more
IPL is sans its Godfather this time. And with Lalit Modi, a lot of sheen seems to have been rubbed of the otherwise glitzy affair. Let’s face it folks, no one wants to see some formal-attired BCCI walas speaking before the match. Anna Hazare was tickled the serious conscious of the nation enough. It’s Bollywood, the firecrackers, DJ belting out utterly trashable chartbusters, and of course cheergirls, that make IPL. The dumping of the after-parties has dampened the prospects even more. So, no more sights of nearly-sloshed Bollywood stars trying to locate the elevator of the hotel on their GPS. Players, too, won’t be served ‘it’ easy this time – well, you know what!
Thriller, anyway
Sixty five thousand may not roar anymore to the sight of Dada taking field at Eden Gardens, but now they have 15 names to shout for. Team loyalties may have changed for many, but every time an Indian player comes out the field, be sure, the decibel levels will set new records. Even, if it is a certain S Sreesanth.
The shuffling of players in the auction may have left many disheartened, but it’s done great to the game. Sach facing Zak, or Viru locking horns with Gauti — the prospects looks rollicking already.
Resisting is unnecessary, and a pure waste of time too. Who says there’s no scope for paani-puri after plates full of biriyani? Some nimboo should help.
By: Debjeet Kundu
(3 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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