The Contribution of the IPL To The Current Sports Landscape

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The Contribution of the IPL To The Current Sports
Landscape
Two momentous events in the history in Indian
sport occurred in September 2007. On the 24th of
that month, the Indian cricket team beat Pakistan
in the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup, and
the country fell in love with the games shortest
format. A couple of weeks prior to that, the
Board of Control for Cricket in India launched
the Indian Premier League (IPL) at a function in
Delhi.
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The victory in the ICC World T20 2007 was just
the impetus that the IPL needed. The cricketing
world took note of the happenings with a mixture
of curiosity, surprise, and shock, as the weeks
passed. In cricketing terms everything about the
league was novel, be it the concept of an
inter-city franchise tournament or the prospect
of the top cricketers on the planet going under
the hammer. The inaugural players auction in
February 2008 was followed by a spectacular start
to the league itself, on 18 April 2008. Kolkata
Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in
the first game, thanks to an electrifying 158 by
Brendon McCullum, a New Zealander.
International Cricketing Stalwarts to be
Participating in IPL McCullum was one of many
international cricketing stalwarts to be
participating in the league. The eight teams,
the owners of whom ranged from industrialists and
corporate czars to film stars, were led by
icons, literally and figuratively. Sachin
Tendulkar led Mumbai Indians, Sourav Ganguly was
in charge of Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahul Dravid
helmed Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virender
Sehwag captained Delhi Daredevils, VVS Laxman
held the reins of Deccan Chargers and Yuvraj
Singh spearheaded Kings XI Punjab. Chennai Super
Kings and Rajasthan Royals got on board,
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Shane Warne as captains,
respectively. Eight eventful weeks later, these
two sides met in the inaugural IPL final. The
IPL was a blockbuster in its first year, and it
has only gone from strength to strength since.
There have been hiccups along the way, but the
leagues lustre and popularity have not
diminished. The fifteenth edition of the league,
which is being played from March 2022 to May
2022, will feature ten teams.
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It would be safe to say that nothing has impacted
Indian sport as comprehensively as the IPL. For
starters, lets examine its impact on cricket
itself. With leading cricketers from across the
world joining their Indian counterparts in the
dressing- room and on the field, the IPL has
broken barriers of the country and given a boost
to the concept of unity in diversity. Gaps in
communication, which existed earlier because
players who hailed from different parts of the
world could not understand each other, are
non-existent today. Secondly, the experience of
playing with the all-time greats has ensured that
young Indian players have got the opportunity to
observe and learn from the best in the business.
That has enabled them to enhance their own
skills. Most importantly, the IPL has ensured
that an Indian youngster is not overawed or
intimidated by international cricket. When he
makes his debut for India in front of thousands
of people, he does not feel out of place, as he
has seen and heard it all, thanks to the IPL.
Thirdly, the IPL has given the cricketers a
platform on which to make a career out of the
sport without necessarily having to play for the
country. The financial aspect has been critical,
as far as the IPLs impact on Indian sport is
concerned. The league motivated those involved
with other sports to institute their own
leagues. It is a little difficult if not
downright impossible to believe that the
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• PKL and ISL, to name just two sporting leagues,
  would have even been thought of, had it not been
  for the IPL.
• Football had been a popular sport in India, but
  it lacked an annual tournament that was followed
  across the country, and not just in the sports
  hubs like Bengal, Kerala, Goa, and the
  northeast. The ISL has filled that gap. Kabaddi
  was always perceived as a sport played in the
  interiors, but the PKL transformed it into a
  pan-India sport with universal appeal. Like the
  IPL, the ISL and the PKL have boosted the
  earnings of players and in the process, inspired
  youngsters to follow in the footsteps of their
  heroes. The hospitality and travel sectors have
  got a fillip, as these leagues are played in
  multiple cities and locations.
• However, it is the sports sector that has
  received the biggest boost. It is unrecognizable
  from what it was, a decade ago. These sporting
  leagues may be popular, but then, they cannot
  run by themselves. For the players to give it
  everything on the arena, it is imperative that
  they be complemented by professionals off the
  arenas. Managers are required at multiple levels
  and in multiple verticals, from operations to
  marketing to content to event management, to
  ensure that the leagues run unhindered.
• If you are planning for getting into the sports
  Industry. Check out our courses in collaboration
  with University of Mumbai.
• Bachelor of Sports Management
• Master of Sports Management
• PGP in Sports Management
• If you want to know more about Sports Management?
  Head to Why A Career in Sports Management The
  Next Big Thing In India to find out
• There is talk of several other sporting leagues
  coming up. Yes, this is truly an
• exciting time to be a part of the sports sector
  in India. The IPL deserves a lot of the credit
  for the same.
• Devendra Prabhudesai
• Head Corporate Relations