Cricket, many say, is a religion in India and cricketing stars, gods. Even detractors of cricket agree that no nation is as crazy about cricket as India is. Now something unusual is visible. The biggest antithesis to the cricket-as-religion idea is the fact that the much-made-of IPL-II had to be shifted out of India, to South Africa.
Many a patriotic Indian has raised a voice against this 'cruel' move. There have been criticisms against half-filled stadiums and the lack of festivities in this IPL season unlike the earlier one.
Personally, I am cruel enough to derive vicarious pleasure from the fact that the IPL has lost its sheen and flavour and elections, for example, have overshadowed this perennial crowd-puller to such an extent that questions are being raised about the kind of gimmicks the BCCI has resorted to in order to improve TV ratings. Why did the cash-rich arrogant BCCI refuse ICC's offer of expertise on tackling match-fixing issues? What is the truth behind the Rajasthan-Kolkata match ending in a tie from nowhere and concluding with super-overs? This match, for example, had all trappings of a 'saas-bahu' serial or shall I say, top-rated reality shows, so well stage-managed.
I am glad the Indian Political League has paled the Indian Premier League this time and the former has turned out to contain all the 'masala' of a Bollywood blockbuster and has managed to sustain interest for so long. Only long after May 16, when election results will start appearing, does the latter IPL have any chance.
Mr.Lalit Modi has been reprimanded by a court for leaving India without taking its permission. Now who will reprimand him for taking the IPL out of India without the people's permission?
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