IPL here as balm for recent events best forgotten

Move aside Covid, Ukraine, hijab, for IPL is here. We are Indians, who place the tournament ahead of even our exams. Don’t go by my word. Ask those exam writers who were earlier reminded of their life-determining exercise every time the Gulmohar flowers bloomed. They now swear the onset of the same flowers tell them that the best form of entertainment is around the corner, in which they indulge. Exams come again in the year, don’t they? So what if they are called supplements!

Still don’t agree? No Akshay Kumar or Salman Khan dares a release during these two months when the masses are praying ‘Ee sala cup namde’ or chanting ‘whistle podu’. In fact, this is a period when theatres are forgotten as cricket-crazy fans throng stadia. The less-fortunate ones are convincing their bosses why they need to get back home not too much after a couple of hours of sundown. That the TV is beckoning and that getting hold of its remote controller is going to be another duel with the better half are other matters.

What’s even more intriguing is the fact that two additional teams will make the contest that much more competitive this year. Let those jealous of its success cry themselves hoarse over the rigging of most matches played by greedy players. Just tell them there must be something in the IPL for South African players to want to don its colours at the cost of their country’s jersey hue. And, for Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer to beg to differ over the England and Wales Cricket Board opinion that participating in the mash-up version of the gentleman’s game is best avoided.

Thanks to IPL, the crowds and viewership that India presents, every cricketer worth his salt including legends of the game – of today and yore – yearn to be connected with Indian cricket any which way. Minnows Kerala were coached by Dave Whatmore five years ago and Odisha by Michael Bevan. A far cry from the days when greats of the game like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, Jeff Thomson, Greg Chappell, John Snow and Ray Illingworth to name a few, gave the land a go by.

By the way, it takes character to hand over the reins to a promising junior. That too, after being the most successful captain in its 14-edition history. Way to go, MS Dhoni; good luck, Ravindra Jadeja! Also getting a chance to attain glorious heights reserved for those who guide their team to winning the coveted cup this year will be captains Hardik Pandya, Faf du Plessis and Mayank Agarwal.

That also relieves Virat Kohli of the additional responsibilities captaincy brings with it. The former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain can now get down to contributing with his bat alone, arguably that part of the game that demands the greatest concentration.