- Indisputably, none of the cricket connoisseurs, experts, ex-cricketers, or, for that matter, millions of cricket crazy fans would be questioning the rationale of the subject matter in all its entirety. People who have followed cricket for decades would vouch in unison that the game always throws surprises when everything appears lost. That’s the beauty of any sport, and cricket is known to throw up surprises almost bordering on miracles, making it so endearing for all those who are invested in the same. Little wonder, the popularity and following of cricket is soaring all the time, what with the present generation taking to the sport like a fish takes to the water. Of course, the shortest format of the game, T20, has immensely contributed to the scaling up of popularity, too.
PC: IPL.com
- One of the reasons for cricket becoming hugely popular is the introduction of the highly lucrative and cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 tournament. The IPL has grown exponentially over the last few years by not only attracting the premier international cricketers to ply their skillsets here but also immensely contributing to the competitiveness of the league, allowing local talents to hone their own skills significantly. Thus, the ongoing eighteenth edition of the IPL has consistently dished out top-notch performances on expected lines, lighting up the stadium with a crackling brand of entertaining cricket. There are a few surprises thrown in as the league meanders to the business end, with teams vying for the top four finish. It’s getting hotter by the day.
PC: The Times
- Cricket crazy fans closely following the fortunes of the IPL would have noticed how some of the most promising local cricketers have come to the fore through unrestrained exploits, especially batting, making even the seasoned campaigners appear pedestrian. The blistering century scored by Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma had been the talk of the town during the initial stage of the league. What must have come as a huge bewilderment must be the way a 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, representing Rajasthan Royals, scored a whirlwind hundred in just 35 deliveries. His unbelievable hundred was characterized by eleven fours and seven sixes. Yes, he is still a teenager, but already possesses talent which should serve Indian cricket for decades.
PC: Business Standard
- Nonetheless, the subject topic aptly applies to both these openers, who could not replicate the same level of astonishing stroke play in subsequent matches. As compared to Vaibhav, Abhishek did score a couple of decent enough runs in the following matches. Unfortunately, Vaibhav has failed in two successive innings following his scintillating hundred. One duck and another innings yielded a mere four runs. That’s cricket for you, bringing down a high-flying cricketer to the ground with a thud in no time. Of course, the youngsters have a very long way to travel in their cricketing careers. These setbacks should be fought with renewed emphasis on working out to sharpen skills. Complacency should be kept at bay. Remember, cricket will always remain a game of uncertainty.
