Mr.Bhogle, it always seems nice to have loyalties, but the same was always the case in Indian cricket, as Ist Class matches have been played amongst regional sides only. One here cannot stop wondering why we are so compelled to deface this very traditional sport and why we have to sacrifice the grace & beauty of cricket, at the glamourous alter of a few mega-businessmen.

This IPL is a great Success Story and those who are trying to Just Slander it and call it "Lalit Modi" Cricket are living in fools Paradise.

Just watch the games and you will be surprised to see the vigour and sincerity of International players performing. Actually its more fund than Twenty20 World Cup.

Go IPL GO you make entertain us a LOT

I won't be following the IPL, I can't even bring myself to read this article - why?, because the worlds best players aren't there - simple, no Pakistanis, no Pakistani following - the end.

Absolutely correct..! Even I don't like all these stuff, but then that is what drives it. I am an ardent follower of NFL here in USA and initially I did not like it because of all these commercial aspects on TV. 2 hrs of ads for 1 hr of game played over 4 quarters, it is tailor-made for TV..but since that is the only form of NLF existing, I have come into terms with it. In case of cricket, since for years we have seen it different way, it takes time to adjust. And like you said, I can tolerate lip synching Akon and other crap as long as they don't intervene once the game starts. All I want to see is some decent pitches and longer boundaries and making the timeouts optional.

Living in the U.S and being a newcomer to Cricket I can't say I understand the flap over the IPL. For me it has provided easy access to Cricket in a country which is Cricket deprived. Watching and following IPL teams has helped me move on to ODI and test Cricket as well as developing and sharpening my interest in the game.

The problem i have with IPL is not regarding money, but it's impact on cricket in general. You see lot more people taking rather early retirements, quitting test cricket as they see it as easy money. And with which they can play just 6 weeks of cricket, earn enough.
Also shorter the format of the game higher the luck factor and lesser is the skill/talent factor. Would you like if football just had extra time and penalties ? Tennis just had tiebreaks ? Yes i agree even that will need skill, but different skills and best player/team will lose much more often than usual.

About the excessive ads, nothing to add really. everyone hates them :)

Well said! As far as loyalties go, Tendulkar and Indians are my favorites this year, but I was following CSK last year because of their positive play and smart bowling attack. There is no team yet from my city so I pick a team or two based on their play - much like I follow NFL. I actually like it better - no worries about selectors playing politics or players bickering. If a team does not perform well, you are free to choose some other team.

I can understand if some do not find this attractive. However, the shrill tone of attacks is actually quite surprising and disappointing. Kudos to the author for taking time to put together the article. I hope we can get past the noise and that IPL becomes regular part of cricketing calendar. Go Mumbai!

Amer,it good you are not following.
As so called world best are not good enough to beat bangladesh.open ur eyes before too late.

OMG!!!! Mr. Amer Hussain must be on holiday on mars when most of their world's best cricketers were banned or fined by their own world's best cricket board,lol.

I wish all key Indian players get (or fake) minor injuries. So that they miss IPL, get the money due to them and be fit and strong for national duty. With the amount of cricket being played these days, we want the best fully fit for our country not some frivolous IPL franchise. Its alarming how much toll IPL takes on the mind and the body. Lets have the 2020 world cup once in two years instead.

For your information "Boxing_Kangaroo00", Pakistan have the bet record in T20 cricket, winning the WorldT20 once and finishing as runners up twice.
Also, Pakistanis hold the records for best bowling figures in both international matches nad the IPL itself.
So yes, they are the best in this format and there is no denying that.

Gokul, Gideon, .... I am not sure what's up with these 'G people', but boy, they hate IPL like a plague! Please remember everything worth doing takes its toll. And far from being frivolous, most IPL franchises have more fans than many country teams. Come on people... learn to have some fun! Watch a game or two if you can - I am sure you will see the sincere, dedicated effort, quality play, and fun-loving crowds and would like the tournament. IPL is as much fun as any international cricket.

Whether one likes IPL or hate it but for sure it hard to ignore it. Its a fantastic product created and will surely popularise cricket - Talk are already there to extend it to North America & Europe (base on the success it get this year). Though i am the ardent follower of Test Cricket , I like IPL and the franchise concept.My only worry is the players getting injured and not fully fit for bigger tournaments like world Cup T20. Last year we suffered becz of it and this year too Gautam Ghamber & MS Dhone are already injured - One more injury to Shewag or Yuvraj and we could really hamper or chances in coming T20 in Windies. Though IPL is a great product i am not very happy with its timing just before the major events. The Only thing to be consider in future addition . We would love to have our players freash , Injury free before major tournaments.

I love the intensity and action.But alas,for what cause are they being played?Entertainment?money?Yup,for both.Entertainment for us,money for the players and their franchises.Honour?Then honour of whom?Country,state?Franchise!Does that count for a world cup triumph?Arrey yaar school boys playing IPL will be less entertaining?No I think so.If packaged properly.I think if former cricketers and young budding talents only take part in IPL,it'll be of real benefit.The rest earn enough money as it is and they can always earn more after retiring from the game.As for the viewers or the so called (artificial)fans,I think the great force of marketing has blinded them.Its like coke or pepsi being preferred to tender coconut,lassi or nimboo juice.The ads!As far as I am concerned,be it whoever plays IPL,he must not do so at the cost of national duty.The IPL has taken its toll.Dhoni is injured,so is Gambhir.Both crucial for national duty.So whom will the fans blame if INDIA loses?Modi?Who cares!!

A well-written piece. But I don't agree with the author when he says: "India dragged its feet through one loss after another, and cricket fans in India had to support them with pessimism and reluctance."
As a 25-years-plus die-hard cricket follower, I have always felt privileged to be an Indian cricket fan – proudly following the legends in our team. Which country has the good fortune to have class players like the Fab Five, for instance?
India has always been a presence on the world cricketing stage, though at times, she may have missed a cue, or two !
Yes, we were not consistent. But again, no other country was. Apart from Australia, of course. Contrary to popular belief, it is India ( other than Australia ) that has ’travelled very well’(stats don’t lie).
I was delighted to find my long-standing viewpoint on this, substantiated by none other than Cricinfo.
Check out these links:
Dileep Premgachandran and Siddhartha Vaidhyanathan from Cricinfo explode this myth.