I have been a big Cricket fan for many years now and normally I can't get enough of it, but at the moment the Big Show in cricket is the Indian Premier League. The IPL has managed to suck up most of the International talent for it's 2 month tournament in India. I have no real interest in this tournament because it's just too over the top with some ridiculous scores being posted. It's what happens when money is the driver of sport and I think overall the sport is poorer for the emergence of IPL and similar franchise T20 cricket leagues like the Big Bash in Australia.
Call me an old Fuddy Duddy if you like but I know what cricket is and this annual slog-fest that dominates the International Cricket calendar for 2 months every year is not IT. I think the great Michael Holding got it spot on when he explained "I only commentate on Cricket" as the reason why he wouldn't work the IPL. Meanwhile the rest of the world outside India seem to be just waiting for the damn thing to be over.
The IPL has been going for a month and has clocked up 47 matches already, but it's only half way so there is still a month to go. Meanwhile around the world the only other International Mens matches have been the New Zealand vs Pakistan Bilateral Series. That's because Pakistani players are excluded from the IPL and most of the New Zealanders aren't good enough to pick up IPL contracts. Oops, that was a bit mean. Sorry, not sorry - It's true.
I had wondered if this recent glut of T20 franchise cricket might have been playing itself to death. Could it be just a fad that might have already peaked? I went looking for crowd numbers and could only find an article reporting the record of 104,859 being set at the IPL 2022 Final between Gujarat and Rajastjan. Nothing more recent than that so could it be that the high water mark for the IPL has been set already?
I don't really like to death ride anything or anyone, but I am looking forward to this tournament being over so that International Cricket can resume. The T20 World Cup is being held in June and while the format chosen is regrettable at least the cricketing nations of the world can come together and compete properly.
