- The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has kick-started with a bang with the inaugural match played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Remember, there were doubts galore whether the opening match of the IPL would be held in Bengaluru on the back of a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of 11 lives during the victory celebration of the RCB last year. The Karnataka Government had to step in to ensure a slew of security/safety measures are provisioned by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). A change of administration at the KSCA ensured that the measures mandated by the authorities were satisfactorily implemented, allowing the inaugural match to take off without any obstacles.
PC: myKhel
- Undeniably, the IPL has become one of the marquee sporting events in the world, with the popularity of the league continuously breaching stratospheric levels. The brand value of the league, along with the valuation, has reached unimaginable proportions, as can be gauged by the humongous amounts dished out to own the two franchises, viz. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively. The unprecedented popularity of the league is directly proportional to the quality on offer by the very best cricketers in the business. Undoubtedly, the mouthwatering performances will be anticipated and delivered on expected lines. What must be an interesting subplot of the IPL must be the way some of the old horseswould be performing.
PC: The Statesman
- Going by the indications as seen in the first two matches of this edition, the old horses are already primed to deliver, keeping the younger lot on their toes. The talismanic Virat Kohli hit a methodical but belligerent 69 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), making the chasing look so easy. The way Kohli went about constructing his innings was not only a delight to the connoisseurs but also showed how much cricket is still left in him. Of course, fitness standards set by Kohli are exceptional, to say the least. Most amazingly, his zeal for the game remains undiminished despite achieving everything that a batsman aspires to in the world of cricket. And then there is the hitman Rohit Sharma, who blazed through the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) attack with ridiculous ease.
PC: NewsBytes
- While chasing a challenging 220 runs set by the KKR, the Mumbai Indians (MI) comfortably chased down the target with Rohit setting the tone with a blistering 78 runs of 38 deliveries. Mind you, both these batting stalwarts are aiming to be available/picked up for the ensuing 50-Over World Cup in South Africa. If these two continue in the same vein, the selectors will be forced to not look beyond them for sure. However, anybody can guess the pitches on offer for the IPL will be dreadful for the bowlers, with the batters ruling the roost right from the word go. Scores in excess of 200 in 20 overs will be the norm, rendering the bowlers and the contest between the bat and ball a fallacy. Entertainment, yes, but not at the cost of killing the bowlers. Bring some contest, please.
