IPL view from South Africa by Tristan Holme
After a burst of interest in the tournament's early years, aided by South Africa hosting the second edition, fan interest in the IPL has softened over the past five years. While there is casual interest in how the South African players get on, which is assisted by every game being televised on pay TV at a time when there is no other cricket, the constant chopping and changing of players and teams has made it difficult for viewers to retain a strong affinity with any particular team.
However, the value of the IPL to South African cricket cannot be underestimated. It has allowed the country's biggest stars to earn extraordinary amounts of money whilst retaining their allegiance to the national cause. Without it, the allure of hard currency could well have led to further Kolpaks as the draw of the British pound has grown with the devaluation of the Rand.
The players have also benefited from the tournament in terms of enhancing their skills. Playing more high-profile Twenty20 cricket undoubtedly helped AB de Villiers to develop his 360-degree scoring abilities, while David Miller gained valuable experience in India. Jacques Kallis expanded his game in his latter years, thanks in some part to the freedom he enjoyed at the IPL. Albie Morkel's career would have petered out years ago without the tournament. Instead he has played on, sharing his experience with young players at the Titans.
Only two negative aspects come to mind. One is the extra workload that is put on South Africa's players at the end of their season, which has at times led to injuries. The other is the administrative mess created by hosting the tournament in 2009, which dragged on for three long years before finally claiming then-chief executive Gerald Majola. With elections in India next year, there are whispers that the IPL will be back in South Africa in 2019. While it is an exciting prospect from a fan perspective, it is a concerning one on the governance front given everything that CSA has been through over the past year.
