The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : IPL matches

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Thursday, Apr 24, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

IPL matches

Cricket has been a traditional preserve of the elite. Furthermore, it is always players from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai who have been making it to the big league because of the infrastructure and quality coaching available in the cities. It is only now the likes of M.S. Dhoni hailing from small towns are making it to the top.

The IPL concept, which endorses glitz, glamour and big money, will lead to privatisation of clubs, stadiums, and coaching facilities. This will deprive the talented youth of a chance. The poor boys from small towns, villages and backward States will continue to remain just avid fans of the game through which big money ventures like IPL thrive.

N. Sekar,

Salem

Purists always resist drastic changes that take place around them. Cricket is no exception. The advent of ODI gave rise to a lot of opposition initially. But it became more popular than conventional Test matches. As the quest for change is irresistible, enthusiasts have invented the latest version of cricket, Twenty20. Its short duration forces the players to give their best in batting, bowling and fielding. IPL has added further charm to it by signing up the best players in the world. The competition is quite keen and to make things most attractive, glitz and glamour have been added by the organisers.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore

While there may be many things about IPL that can be criticised, there is one heartening aspect which the spectators relish. The sight of Ricky Ponting congratulating Ishant Sharma, and of Virender Sehwag warmly putting his hands around Mohammed Asif’s shoulders was fulfilling.

With the winning-is-everything mood prevalent in international cricket, such display of camaraderie between erstwhile rivals is indeed a sight to behold.

Suresh Manoharan,

Hyderabad

IPL cricket with glitz and glamour in the guise of entertainment is luring people and robbing them of their precious time and money. It benefits the sponsors, players and those who make a living out of cricket. It opiates the gullible in many parts of the country. Other sporting events will be further relegated to the background, thanks to such extravaganza.

Y.S. Kadakshamani,

Madurai

IPL has been set up not for cricket but for money. It is a source of income for players, millionaires, and bookies. Everyone is profiting from it. Whether it is for money or cricket, everyone feels entertained by the IPL matches and Indian as well as international players are enjoying the game.

Shraddha Pandey,

New Delhi

The IPL cricket tournament might have provided merry to entertainment buffs and the visual media. But cricket has lost its shine. It is not that it should not change with the times but for the purists of the game, IPL is just showbiz. More than anything else, the game has been appropriated by international capital. Ultimately, it is the corporate world which will gain and cricket which will lose.

N. Divakar,

Mysore

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