The game has evolved

It is fair to say that the face of cricket as we know it changed on April 18th 2008. It had been previously showing signs of morphing into another animal but it has now finally taken that step of no return.

That was the day that 12.5 million Indian viewers turned in to watch the first shoot-out of the Indian Premier League between Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders and Vijay Mallya’s Bangalore Royal Challengers in Bangalore. Putting that viewer ship figure firmly into perspective is the purposefully recently released news that half that number watched the emotionally charged recent one day series between Australia and India.

Remember, that series was country versus country and fervent national pride was at stake.

The IPL is city versus city with a sparkling array of international cricketing luminaries propping up the pots of gold invested by the franchise owners, yet the fanatical support from those who ultimately pay the salaries through buying sponsor’s products, firing up their television sets or paying an admission fee, is quite astonishing.

What is being delivered is pure entertainment. Make no mistake that whilst the cricket is of an extremely competitive high level, it is a vehicle for instant gratification. The side-shows, the razzamatazz, the media hype, the Bollywood intervention, it is all part of the bigger picture that screams success and publicity that ultimately sells.

The players are all over this concept. Previous dissenters of the shortest form such as Gilchrist and Symonds have taken to this format wholeheartedly and their commitment along with all the other players is evident. The passion on the park from the participants has been eye-catching and not an inch has been spared in pursuit of victory. The crowded stadiums are heaving with expectation as each and every ball is an event, an event that could alter the outcome of the contest. This is serious business and the value of 20/20 cricket is permeating the sporting world at a rate of knots that few could have predicted.

Money is the driving factor and those involved are content to take a ride on this runaway express and see which track it takes next. Many are wondering now if it will in fact ever reach the end of the line. All signs so far after a week of the IPL are enormously positive, even if you do turn a blind eye to the ineptness of the local perimeter dancers compared with the cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins!

One website report caught my eye. The ABC stated that India’s Test cricketers get paid around US $6000 per Test match played. In stark contrast, India’s new beanpole bowling find Ishant Sharma, is commanding an IPL fee of US $950,000. This equates to US $2827 per delivery should he bowl his full quota of 56 overs in the leagues stages of the competition.

This 20/20 revolution will change lives.