IPL is an acronym for the ‘Indian Premier League’. It is a concept and property initiated by the BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India) in 2008. The IPL made waves due to its twenty-twenty format. People no more adore the fifty over and the five day long test matches. All they want to see is some hard hitting and blitzkrieg performance by cricketers. IPL amazed not only Indians but also cricket fans all over the world. IPL spread just like wildfire and even at the end of three seasons, the craze is just budding. What makes IPL famous is the association of big cricketers and businessmen with it.
The IPL is a contest between ten teams competing for the IPL trophy. Previously there were eight teams but two new teams have been introduced in the 2011 version of IPL. The teams are managed by franchisees which are Indian businessmen and some leading actors. These superstars and businessmen bid for teams and players and try to form a unit which can lift the IPL trophy. Cricketers from all over the world participate in the bid and are eligible for playing in the IPL. Each bidder has a limited amount of forty crore rupees to spend on players. Each player has a contract with a team upto a period of three years. Upon completion of the contract, the player is auctioned again and can be reshuffled in a different team. The 2011 version of IPL will see reshuffling of players in different teams and the viewers will get an altogether different experience in this year’s IPL. The Indian cities possessing cricket grounds can only compete in the IPL. The Indian cities associated with IPL are Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan and Bangalore. IPL matches take place only at the cricket grounds of these venues. Currently the teams competing are Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challenger’s Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers(Hyderabad), Pune Warriors, Kings XI Punjab and Team Kochi. The level of entertainment associated with IPL is just so profound that nothing can separate the masses from it. So far three different teams have managed to lift the IPL trophy. The IPL has also some young cricketers an opportunity to showcase their talent. For the likes of Shane Watson, JP Duminy, Yusuf Pathan, Keiron Pollard, Saurabh Tiwary, Shaun Marsh and Ravichandran Ashwin who have got an opportunity due to their match winning performances in the IPL. Each team is allowed to play four international and seven national players in the matches. The cricketing extravaganza lasts for around one month and completely thrills the audience. The top businessmen, actors and consortiums associated with IPL are Shahrukh Khan, Vijay Mallya, Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Deccan Chronicle, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, Juhi Chawla, Jay Mehta, Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani to name a few. The man behind the IPL frenzy is none other than Mr. Lalit Modi. Another entertaining factor in IPL are the cheer girls which add immense dance and cheering for teams and the team lovers. The introduction of IPL has led to a boost in Indian tourism, hotel bookings, shopping, merchandises and advertisements. The IPL is celebrated just like a festival in India and it has devotees from every relgion, every caste, every creed and every sect of the country. Although IPL has recently been strangled in controversy match fixing and money allegations. Mr. Lalit Modi has been prosecuted for all the allegations and has been replaced by Gujarat businessman Mr. Chirayu amin. But its fan following remains unaffected and the love for IPL just seems never ending.
