Players may break down, not the IPL because the show must go on!

Players are like commodities, they have been bought, some cheap, some expensive. The way leagues are mushrooming, it is getting crazy. But everybody is loving it.

Players may break down, not the IPL because the show must go on!

Rajat Patidar, Kane Williamson, Jasprit Bumrah

The Indian Premier League is now in its second week in the 2023 edition. Matches have been entertaining and crowds are flocking to most venues. What has been a major concern is the growing list of injuries to players and how it affects the tournament.

Frankly speaking, nobody cares a damn. The show must go on. Even before the IPL had begun, three marquee names were ruled out — Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer. A few more names have also been added to the list, which includes Kane Williamson, Rajat Patidar, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, plus Shakib al-Hasan.

If you thought the exit of these players brought tears to the franchise owners, forget it. IPL is non-stop, the show must go on. If players were referred to as “cattle auction” before the first auction in 2008, it shocked many cricket fans. Today, nothing shocks the knowledgeable and the discerning, or even the team owners. One player goes out and the replacement is bought or brought, depending on who is available.

This is a bit like a war situation, when soldiers get injured, some are rescued. If unlucky, like in Ukraine, they are left to die. Agreed, cricketers are not dying but they are very much dispensable. The IPL show must go on, sunshine or rain. Worse, these days, the time being consumed to finish a match is dragging on so long, it has become a bit of a pain. Who cares, the show goes on, live or watched on TV and through the apps on phones and tablets.

Every now and then, one hears of IPL being an overkill and team owners from India having multiple interests in T20 leagues abroad. The way leagues are mushrooming, it is getting crazy. But everybody is loving it, as entertainment plus cricket is a great mix. Smartly, franchises from India are buying teams abroad. At the same time, they are maintaining a sort of monopoly, not letting Indian players compete in leagues abroad.

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The BCCI is not bothered, though it may talk of workload management and so on

Players may break down, not the IPL because the show must go on!
Jasprit Bumrah

Is this overdose of T20 cricket going to kill players or leave cricket boards like the BCCI worried? No way. The BCCI is not bothered, though it may talk of workload management and so on. Blah, it’s bunkum. Players are like commodities, they have been bought, some cheap, some expensive. The cricket world laughed at Chris Gayle when he played multiple T20 leagues and cared a damn about playing for West Indies. Today Gayle is an expert on IPL shows, he dances, glides as well, and laughs. He is enjoying it! Still.

That’s how it is, the IPL. You have to be part of the circus and have fun. If you are unfit, never mind, you can still come to the ground on one crutch, cheer, and go back. That is what Rishabh Pant did in Delhi. Was it needed? No way. But then, he has to show up, it brings great value to the Delhi Capitals franchise, even if the team is playing lousy cricket.

To be sure, Pant knows what best he is doing, sitting in the stands and watching the fun. His accident in December was crazy and he is lucky to have got away alive. He will bounce back in a few months. And if you think he will not be relevant, then you are wrong. Pant is young and for Indian cricket, he is still very relevant. So what if he misses the IPL, the ICC World Test Championship, and the ICC World Cup? He can come back later. That’s for sure, as so many players are unable to handle the workload and stress. There are some like Virat Kohli who play all formats and are still able to manage the workload.

If someone is going to crib about too much cricket, the last person who will raise his hand is the cricketer himself. Enjoy it while it lasts. If there is a breakdown, come back when fully fit. Howzzat!

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