Few cricketing tournaments have been as polarised as the IPL. While believers and fans can bathe endlessly in the aura of cricket’s version of American Super bowl, critics can often not refrain from IPL bashing. Now in its eleventh season, the 20-20 league continues to be a premier cricketing fest.
But whether it is enjoyed as much by India as any other nation is still a matter of personal opinion. It’s a discussion that accounts space for bias to sneak in, you’d think. Regardless, the IPL has in its ebb some amazing highs that celebrate it as a mega tournament.
For starters, the IPL isn’t merely alone about a gym equivalent’s of big hits and power-lifting but also about heralding fresh talent into the Indian set up. It did then a few seasons back when the likes of Chahal and Axar Patel were drafted into the ODI arena, and it did so in recent past when Hardik Pandya was drafted into Indian set-up. Names that weren’t as hefty or celebrated are regarded today having first shone at the IPL.
But this year, it seems, there’s something even more special in the hut. Here’s what is making news about the IPL:
So far, IPL has clocked up around 10 million social media mentions. If this mighty stat isn’t an indicator of just how popular the IPL is, then what will ever suffice? Bigger than major global events at this time- whether the recently concluded North Korea-South Korea peace talks or the ongoing debate about the Iran deal even, the IPL is constantly making heads turn and by quite some distance.
While at the immediate periphery of this resounding success of IPL lie big names, and these are usual suspects really- Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers and others- it could be said that the mighty comeback of CSK and Rajasthan Royals might have helped in boosting the fortunes. And lest it be forgotten by quite some margin.
Even as Rajasthan Royals haven’t really made a significant impact in the IPL, winning only 4 games from their 10, they’ve got the likes of Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson, Ajinkya Rahane and, Joffra Archer- some very intriguing names in the format. On the other hand, CSK’s rising juggernaut amplified by Dhoni’s great form may surely have resulted in spiking this edition’s fortunes.
Those massive sixes, the stepping down the track to spinners and lifting of fast bowlers into the stands- Dhoni- it has to be said, has united dugouts. It is therefore little surprise as to why the familiar poster boy of Indian cricket turned out to be the man with most mentions on social media posts. So far, MS Dhoni, the captain of CSK has enjoyed as many as 5,00,000 mentions on social media- that’s a remarkable feat for a cricketer who is often described as ‘old’ or simply, ‘past his best’. The maximum chatter, thus far, has been created by the likes of Tamil Nadu- home to Dhoni’s CSK and- Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai, the duo leading to 18% and 11% of the social media chatter.