Will IPL ever get a Modi-fication?

In a format where mavericks become morons in a space of 20 overs, legends such as Sachin Tendulkar have held on to their own. But the ongoing IPL-4 which comes to a close in a few days, according to me, has missed the master-mind of all. While the ingredients for the drink has been there, but the fizz has been missing. By the fizz, I mean the curator on whose wicket BCCI has been batting—Lalit Modi.

While not many would have envisaged a Modi-less IPL about 12 months back, but the cash-awash league has chug-chugged along, sans its creator. While the ubiquitous Modi was sorely missed by many on the stadium and outside it, there were some new additions to the IPL juggernaut. The SET-MAX team added Archana Vijaya and Shibani Dandekar to its ever-growing list of commentators who were busy reciting sales pitches on the studios and on the stadiums. Each six was cheered by the cheerleaders on the ground and with a thunderous “DLF Maximum” by the likes of Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, and Danny Morrison at the commentary box.

There is a special mention about Danny here who likes to shorten up anything and everything. The former Kiwi pacer once called a played ‘GG’. A few overs later, Harsha Bhogle went on to clear the air that Danny was referring to Gambhir as GG. From being regarded by the ardent fans as those who spelt out the early gospel, these commentators have been reduced to mere salesmen over the years, sounding desperate everytime they had a mike on their hands. I have nothing against creating hype as you require more viewers to be hooked, but STOP being desperate, and try to add a touch of innovation. Ravi Shastri’s commentary is a case in point.

“The Man-of-the-Match of Man-of-the-match presentations” continues to yap those ‘tracer bullet shots’ from the back of his palm and he seriously needs to take a break—from commentary. Agreed, IPL is not about of cricket alone, its cricketainment. However, the core business here is cricket and one can’t deny that. The standards of the commentary team and what’s been aired needs to undergo a metamorphosis in IPL.

The likes of Archana, Shibani, Yudi and Sameer Kochchar need to be replaced by those who have a hang of the game too. One has to ingrain the broadcasters that it is not just enough if you are pretty, there needs to be substance too to hold the viewers’ attention. If commentaries made this IPL-4 annoying, the controversies surrounding Shane Warne-Sanjay Dixit was blown out of proportion. While Shane was poorer by $50,000, Sanjay went scot-free. Excuse me? But both were party to this pooper and Sanjay was equally guilty if not more. Talk about double standards.

The IPL-4 had the comeback-king Sourav Ganguly making his debut for Pune Warriors. But to me, the man who lit up the skies was a certain Christopher Henry Gayle. He went unsold, came from the back door and look what he did. He single-handedly took Royal Challengers Bangalore to the knockouts, thereby scripting a sensational comeback.

The league lost one of its star attractions when Shane Warne, skipper of Rajasthan Royals, decided to draw curtains to his illustrious IPL career. The spin legend, who led the Royals to the inaugural win in 2008 and has been one of the greatest practioners of leg-spin, sought to bow out on a high when his side thrashed the Mumbai Indians in the final IPL-4 league clash.

The dwindling attendance even for the knockouts is a major cause of concern for the organisers when the the league enters its fifth edition in less than 12 months from now on.

If only, Modi could get a back-door entry into the elite league yet again. But then again, if wishes were horses, then I would be the first beggar to be riding on it.