IPL and the Indian Cricket Fan

With less than two weeks left for the start of the Indian Premier League, media sources are abuzz with how the IPL has made a huge difference to lives of domestic cricketers, retired stars and even some of the current breed of players. There are also a plethora of articles on the commercial aspect of the IPL, about how its going to change the image (and the bottom line) of the many companies who are proud sponsors of the initial season of this domestic cricketing extravaganza.

But in all the hoopla hoo, one person the world is not talking about is someone who is integral to this entire spectacle, the Indian Cricket Fan. For years they have been a neglected lot, which is hard to digest since it is so obvious that the much vaunted millions of the Board of Cricket In India (BCCI) is only due to the fanatical viewership of this motley group. The average fan has to stand for hours outside stadiums, jostling with the restless crowd – only to fight his way into an overcrowded stadium and watch the match sitting on a rock hard seat; and he is considered one of the lucky few! The rest of the Indian population has to be be happy with watching the game from the comforts of their home. Of course, that is when they are not held to ransom by the constant bickering between the cable TV mafia and the broadcasting TV channels.

So are things going to change now? For one, with the sheer number of games, (the first season of IPL features 44 matches) a lot more people are going to get a chance to watch some competitive cricket in a stadium, the way it is supposed to be watched. Due to the stadium facilities now being the responsibility of the private sponsors, we can hope they make the experience of getting into a stadium and watching games more enjoyable.

The other reason that the plight of the Indian cricket fan might improve is the sheer amount of money associated with the IPL. The sponsors have paid in the millions to get a piece of the pie and are looking at a long term horizon to recoup their investments. They know the potential of the IPL to become as big a money spinner as the English Premier League(EPL) and hopefully will nurse the game and its fans, keeping them a happy lot, in the process fulfilling their commercial goals.

Still keeping in mind that it is the BCCI which is still at the helm of things, and the broadcast rights have been sold to Sony TV (one of the worst presenters of sports content, in my opinion), the average Indian fan could do well not to get his hopes up too high.

Any which way at least one thing we can look forward to is, at least in this tournament it will be an Indian team who wins every match ;-)

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Created by: Cricket247 Last edited by: Berlin