IPL Live !!

Finally the day had arrived.  We were at the Brabourne Stadium - live at the IPL cheering Mumbai Indians as they took on Chennai Super Kings ! 

The atmosphere was electrifying.  We were seated at the North Stand - just by the sight screen.  The Mumbai Indians cheerleaders were to our right and the Chennai squad diagonally across.  People were dressed (almost all) in the blue Mumbai Indians gear.  The decibel level reached a peak as Sachin walked in with his team.  There was one big party going on and the players in the middle were out there for entertaining these  party animals!!

Yes. So much had changed in cricket.  Brabourne Stadium - the original temple of cricket in Mumbai.  This was the ground which had played great players Vijay Hazare, Vijay Merchant, Polly Umrigar as well as great players from overseas : Sir Gary Sobers, Frank Worrell, Kanhai, Chappell brothers ... Back then, cricket was a serious sports.   The men in the middle were dressed in white and there was an air of formality.  And the game lasted for 5 days - many times without any result! My first visit to the Brabourne stadium was in 1969 when the visiting Australian team (Bill Lawry, Chappel brothers et al) played the test match with India (Pataudi, Baig, Sardesai, Wadekar and all).   Not that I remember much!  Subsequently, Brabourne stadium faded into oblivion with the Wankhede stadium coming up in Mumbai.

With IPL, cricket is no more the serious stuff but a family entertainment.  This transformation is unique.  Multicultural teams, colorful gear and cheerleading squads !  And it all gets over in about 3 hours or so.  On one hand, it has made cricket fun.  On the other hand, it has made cricket intensely competitive.   The quality of the game and the professionalism of the players make the games intense.    At the same time, I think it is also breaking national and cultural barriers.  Players from India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia were playing as "one team".   It was evident that they had already transcended the cultural barriers.  Harbhajan lifting Malinga as he got a wicket! And Sachin walking up to Dwayne Bravo or Tiwari to give encouraging words!!  There is something different happening in the world of cricket.

And it is fun !