The IPL saga dominated the summer last year. It was a novel concept to Indian cricket which Lalit Modi foresaw as a success similar to Henry Ford's 'Mustang', while others thought it would fail like the 'Edsel Ford'. Unmoved, Modi, taking a page off European football leagues, went on and brought together an unusual combination. He got the heroes of world cricket, the corporate babus and the superstars of Indian cinema under one roof.
Modi's brain child - the IPL, went through more than a generous share of controversy throughout its tenure in 2008. First, there were disagreements regarding the player auctions and the colossal amounts bid for them. After that, The English cricket board did not want their players to be involved with this T20 league. Then, Cricket Australia started complaining about the security situation in India. If this was not sufficient, the 'King of Mumbai' Bal Thackeray and his supporters made it clear that they hated the concept of IPL. Not to be outdone, the left parties of the UPA government wanted the CBI to investigate the IPL for corruption.
The IPL also had its own power sharing problems. The BCCI and IPL authorities made sure that the rebel cricket league - ICL, and its cricketing activities be kept away from International cricket. Then, there were comparisons of the salaries paid to the IPL contractees. While Ishant Sharma, who was new to world cricket, was paid around 3.5 crores, there were seniors like Anil Kumble, who were paid a little under 2 crores. The Australian cricketers themselves had a money battle going on. The battle - Symonds vs Ponting got a fair share of media attention and news space.
All settled the IPL 2008 started. But, did I say all settled? No!! Problems had just begun. It was said that the skimpily dressed cheer leaders were viewed more than the actual cricket itself. Then, the Royal Challengers, Bangalore - a team seen as more of a test side, rather than a Twenty20 one with a leader none other than the quintessential Test match player - 'The Wall', Rahul Dravid. The Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya did his fair bit of hiring and firing in the team towards the end of the tournament.
Then came the 'Slapgate', involving Harbhajan and Sreesanth. While the Punjab team were busy consoling a crying 'Sree', Mumbai lost their second captain in 'Bhajji' during the tournament; having already lost the services of Sachin Tendulkar for the first six matches. Modi acted as a strict disciplinarian, dealing with the controversies without flinching.
Thus, IPL ended the first season as a huge success despite the hue and cry in between. There were advertisements celebrating Modi's dream project. The end of IPL season-1 saw the corporates and cricketers go home busy raking in the moolah, and the cricket loving public, looking forward to more of the glitz and glamour of T20.
Watching the success of IPL 2008, Modi came up with another 'One of a kind' concept of the Champions League. He wanted to bring together the T20 Champions from around the world in a battle to become the ultimate T20 champion. Modi again did not know that he had to face the devils of terrorism which came to haunt him and his concept. The Champions League saw only the papers but no action.
However, the fighter that he was, Modi moved on and was ready for his next battle - IPL 2009. Little did he think that there were ghosts of 2008 waiting to haunt him in ways unforeseen. Modi readily battled the controversies surrounding the trading window at the start of 2009. He moved on to face another skirmish - the broadcasting wars. If he thought he'd seen it all, the banshees called Security & Netagiri were waiting for him round the corner.
Come March, the Lankans faced a dreadful side of life - face to face with terrorists. The sub-continent had become a paradise of holocaust. Cricketers feared touring India. Then came the elections. The Netas deemed that the security provisions for the cricketers were inadequate. IPL Meetings and more IPL meetings dominated the later part of March. Result - IPL 2 shifted to South Africa.
In-between, John Buchanan got his share of the limelight by introducing the 'Multiple Captain' theory. A theory, which people believed was a technique used to dethrone the 'Prince of Kolkata' - Ganguly.
Going through all these, the IPL began on the 18th of April at South Africa. Two top-class matches and a grand ceremony marked the arrival of the tournament.
A holder of 'The Business Standard Award' and having won the title of 'The Most Innovative Business Leader in India', Modi considered the commercial value of the IPL and introduced 'Strategy Breaks'. This was viewed by people as a move only to increase ad revenues and had nothing to do with cricket. Cricketers and public raised debates regarding the necessity of this break.
Not to be left behind, the rain gods paid a regular visit during the games bringing in the duo of Duckworth and Lewis. Not to mention, two rain curtailed games and one abandoned one.
What else is in store for IPL and Modi? Only time can tell.
Modi's brain child - the IPL, went through more than a generous share of controversy throughout its tenure in 2008. First, there were disagreements regarding the player auctions and the colossal amounts bid for them. After that, The English cricket board did not want their players to be involved with this T20 league. Then, Cricket Australia started complaining about the security situation in India. If this was not sufficient, the 'King of Mumbai' Bal Thackeray and his supporters made it clear that they hated the concept of IPL. Not to be outdone, the left parties of the UPA government wanted the CBI to investigate the IPL for corruption.
The IPL also had its own power sharing problems. The BCCI and IPL authorities made sure that the rebel cricket league - ICL, and its cricketing activities be kept away from International cricket. Then, there were comparisons of the salaries paid to the IPL contractees. While Ishant Sharma, who was new to world cricket, was paid around 3.5 crores, there were seniors like Anil Kumble, who were paid a little under 2 crores. The Australian cricketers themselves had a money battle going on. The battle - Symonds vs Ponting got a fair share of media attention and news space.
All settled the IPL 2008 started. But, did I say all settled? No!! Problems had just begun. It was said that the skimpily dressed cheer leaders were viewed more than the actual cricket itself. Then, the Royal Challengers, Bangalore - a team seen as more of a test side, rather than a Twenty20 one with a leader none other than the quintessential Test match player - 'The Wall', Rahul Dravid. The Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya did his fair bit of hiring and firing in the team towards the end of the tournament.
Then came the 'Slapgate', involving Harbhajan and Sreesanth. While the Punjab team were busy consoling a crying 'Sree', Mumbai lost their second captain in 'Bhajji' during the tournament; having already lost the services of Sachin Tendulkar for the first six matches. Modi acted as a strict disciplinarian, dealing with the controversies without flinching.
Thus, IPL ended the first season as a huge success despite the hue and cry in between. There were advertisements celebrating Modi's dream project. The end of IPL season-1 saw the corporates and cricketers go home busy raking in the moolah, and the cricket loving public, looking forward to more of the glitz and glamour of T20.
Watching the success of IPL 2008, Modi came up with another 'One of a kind' concept of the Champions League. He wanted to bring together the T20 Champions from around the world in a battle to become the ultimate T20 champion. Modi again did not know that he had to face the devils of terrorism which came to haunt him and his concept. The Champions League saw only the papers but no action.
However, the fighter that he was, Modi moved on and was ready for his next battle - IPL 2009. Little did he think that there were ghosts of 2008 waiting to haunt him in ways unforeseen. Modi readily battled the controversies surrounding the trading window at the start of 2009. He moved on to face another skirmish - the broadcasting wars. If he thought he'd seen it all, the banshees called Security & Netagiri were waiting for him round the corner.
Come March, the Lankans faced a dreadful side of life - face to face with terrorists. The sub-continent had become a paradise of holocaust. Cricketers feared touring India. Then came the elections. The Netas deemed that the security provisions for the cricketers were inadequate. IPL Meetings and more IPL meetings dominated the later part of March. Result - IPL 2 shifted to South Africa.
In-between, John Buchanan got his share of the limelight by introducing the 'Multiple Captain' theory. A theory, which people believed was a technique used to dethrone the 'Prince of Kolkata' - Ganguly.
Going through all these, the IPL began on the 18th of April at South Africa. Two top-class matches and a grand ceremony marked the arrival of the tournament.
A holder of 'The Business Standard Award' and having won the title of 'The Most Innovative Business Leader in India', Modi considered the commercial value of the IPL and introduced 'Strategy Breaks'. This was viewed by people as a move only to increase ad revenues and had nothing to do with cricket. Cricketers and public raised debates regarding the necessity of this break.
Not to be left behind, the rain gods paid a regular visit during the games bringing in the duo of Duckworth and Lewis. Not to mention, two rain curtailed games and one abandoned one.
What else is in store for IPL and Modi? Only time can tell.
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