No it is not a typo – it is not IPL but IDL- Indian Dull League -that’s being played out in SA. Granted it was a master stroke (we are talking of cricket and hence this ‘apt’ coinage) to move IPL out of India and ensure season 2 is not missed, but what’s happening in SA is too distant – know what I mean?

One is not trying to take away anything from the players, the organizers and all others involved, but somehow the intense, why even superficial, involvement is difficult to come by for followers of the game from here in India.

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What’s interesting, if at all, is the side shows, the less inhibited (as compared to IPL1) gyrations of the cheer girls, even the ‘intelligent’ questions from Mandira. Unfailingly she laments the fact that the weather not permitting, she is fully clad. Not to be outdone, ex-cricketers vie with each other to look and sound stupid at the ‘dug out chats’.

If the cricket is predictable, bang, bang, the ads or rather the commercial breaks are a real pain in the you know what. To add to our woes, there is a ‘strategy break’ after 10 overs to shove more commercials down our throats. One has to admit, of course, the breaks are a welcome relief from the extraaa innings of Mr Arun Lal. If there is an award for the most boring, repetitive, clichéd ‘comments’ Mr AL will win hands down, what with Hindi comments to boot.

As far as the matches are concerned, any serious follower of the game should really be concerned. As if 20 overs a side is not short enough, matches are decided in 6 overs. It is like the hemlines of skirts going up – though shorter skirts are more interesting!

If watching from India we feel distant, in SA, nobody comes to watch the matches; spectator participation is near zero. (there is even talk of computer simulated images of crowds and noise to keep the TV audience interest alive!).

All the above notwithstanding, we wish the tournament success and wish Chennai returns home with the IPL trophy.   Wish Chennai Super Kings Here

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 7-UP Pattalam for IPL  |   Chennai Super Kings Team Intro   |    CSK Press Meet

L.Ravichandran
ravi@chennaionline.com