Ignorable Paisa League (IPL)

I tried to watch IPL matches this season but I lost interest in the match every time. The matches are predictable and once you have little bit knowledge about a team's form, the matches become even boring.

The IPL matches bring me back memories of old Hindi movies where a wicked and rich landlord will exploit poor villagers because he is rich, powerful and laws of the land favor him. The similarity is stark in case of IPL. The rules, pitch and environment are brazenly in favor of batsmen who keep beating poor bowlers for no reason. Now, as a cricket lover, you can't wait for a hero to emerge and beat back landlord but the administrators have to jump and give something for bowlers in the pitch.

A cricket match is a contest between bowlers and batsmen of both sides. However, IPL has made cricket matches a contest between batsmen of both sides. When IPL first season began, I expected that bowlers will come up with new tricks but the rules are vehemently in the favor of the batsmen. A bowler has no chance to beat back batsmen. I am still waiting for a IPL match where team batting first scores 119 in 20 overs and other team looses by 1 run.

The only skill which counts in IPL is fielding and rest is muscle power in the arm of batsmen.

One critical factor for IPL success and viewership is: No other alternate entertainment for Indian men without cost and in the convenience of home. IPL is tailor made for couch potatoes. Your 4 hours pass on a weekend or weekday just like that without any effort.

I am expecting if somebody starts football league on the lines of IPL, it may be successful with a longer gestation period. It is anybody's guess that Indian public will get bored of IPL and as law of economics say - if you are making exorbitant profits in any sector, you will definitely find a competitor sooner.