So, here we are then, another season of the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL) underway in the United Arab 

Emirates (UAE), albeit towards the latter half of the year for the first time because of the pandemic. 

In a strange twist, we now have the T20 League being played in 2020. I am not aware as to what that foretells in terms of numerology or even astrology, but it does make me ponder over what twists and turns have taken place in what was once termed “a Gentleman‘s Game”, famously described as “Cricket is a game played by 11 fools and watched by 11000 fools,” by George Bernard Shaw. Now, the six-seven weeks of daily shots of adrenaline, is a ‘high’ like no other, especially in this cricket-crazy nation. “11000 fools,” more like 1.3 billion and counting.

Cricket or Creckett began as a national sport in South England in the 16th century when the ball was delivered along the ground and by the end of the 18th Century, Test cricket and International matches started being played. Thereafter, it went International in a big way and became the second most popular spectator sport after association football. The International Cricket Council (ICC), which started off as the Imperial Cricket Council, now governs the sport and has over 100 countries as members, though only 12 currently play Test Cricket.

Packer Series was a game-changer

Test cricket was judged to be the Blue Riband throughout the 20th Century, though it did have its own set of problems. For instance, among others, the Kerry Packer Series of the late 1970s that started due to the money problems of top cricketers. The Packer series then helped in raising levels of salaries of top cricketers as also innovations like coloured kit and night games. The slogan ‘Big Boys Play At Night” was coined then and Imran Khan - former Pakistan cricket captain who won them their maiden World Cup in 1992 and now the Prime Minister of Pakistan - wore that tee shirt with that printed on it.

In the 1960s, English county teams began playing a shorter version of the game, with only one innings and a maximum number of overs per innings. Limited overs cricket did have the advantage of delivering a result within the day and improved the appeal to younger and / or busier people and, more importantly, was commercially successful. Thus, the first World Cup in England in 1975. The TV ratings and innovative techniques introduced to cover these matches were then adopted to cover Test Matches.

With limited-overs, technology got equal billing with on-field umpires. Tactics changed and the final charge in the end overs to get maximum runs on the board or to win, was fun and exciting, for the players and the spectators.

Then came the Twenty20 version of cricket, essentially afternoon/evening cricket. This attracted large audiences at stadiums and increased TV audience ratings massively. The start of the official IPL in 2008 raised much speculation about its impact on the future of cricket. It ended up holding the whole nation in thrall for the duration of the League each year. More bang for the buck, so to speak. Founder and architect of IPL, Lalit Modi take a bow!

Opportunity for talented cricketers

What it also did for the young and talented cricketers in India and South Asia - particularly cricket-crazy countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - is worth a peek. Now it became possible for young and talented cricketers with abilities to shoot into the top rung via the IPL. With cricket now being played increasingly across South Asia, one sees rising stars from Afghanistan and Nepal also in the IPL mix.

As a result, the game is now finding traction in these countries and they are taking baby steps in the big arena. In fact, Afghanistan fielded its own team in the last World Cup. They are learning from playing with the more experienced Indian and foreign cricketers and picking up the nuances very quickly. Each team has its own professional coaches and these fresh faces get the type of coaching they would not in their countries. They then act as role models for the newer lot and the world of cricket gets new faces.

Indian coaches are then employed for their national teams. A positive step forward all around. And, we get to see and hear of names we would never have, left to conventional means. Since they are an ambitious lot, they strive to do their best and actually do well.

COVID-19 and its impact on cricket

Enter the COVID-19 virus! A different ball game all of a sudden. Empty stands in the UAE, no noise, and blaring loudspeakers, concentration now on each ball being bowled and played, segregation of teams in their sanitised “bubbles” abroad, need to maintain social distancing while practicing and on visits to the gym. Very little practice outdoors and practice for both, batsmen and bowlers would require machines to replicate actual conditions.

Use of technology will heighten for practice, but play will still be outdoors. What was needed was the requirement to adjust. The tendency for players to put on weight and hence, reduced mobility on the field. That old adage about “one may not be a good cricketer, but must look like one,” is possibly going to undergo a change.

The rush of adrenaline on entering a packed and raucous stadium for the first time will now be missing. The after-match parties and entertainment will undergo a shift. There will be a snowball effect on the reserves, making up the bench strength. All in all, a very different ball game - new wine in newer bottles. COVID has ensured that. Now, it's all about change and cricket will too, as will IPL in a new avatar. It was razzmatazz and entertainment. Now, it's back to cricket. Almost.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. What will remain unchanged is the enthusiasm of the TV audience.

IPL for TV audience

Of course, you can’t keep a good man down, COVID or not. The experienced and talented lot, who have been there done that, will continue as hitherto. The batsmen will get into the act much faster after the layoff. The bowlers will have a bit of a problem finding their line and length and rhythm. Like Jasprit Bumrah being taken to the cleaners by Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu in the inaugural IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Abu Dhabi.

Former Indian team captain M.S. Dhoni, who leads CSK in IPL, would retain his Zen-like instincts and demeanour and be the silent executioner as always. With no other burdens on his shoulders, he will now be unfettered, if he ever was otherwise. The captains will have to ensure bonding within their teams keeping in view social distancing.

So, like Darwin’s theory of evolution, its survival of the fittest. IPL has evolved to suit the players and the spectators, though watching virtually. It’s a win-win situation. Like Virginia Slims advertisement of yore – ‘You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby’! 

(The writer played domestic Ranji Trophy cricket in India from 1974-84 and was the first Indian to capture all 10 wickets in an innings in a first-class match that is recorded in Wisden's Almanac at Lords, England. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at iraviravi@gmail.com)