Far from fading in intensity, the 2009 DLF Indian Premier League is a gathering storm of snap, crackle and pop as it enters its final week.When the decision was made to move the tournament to South Africa, many felt the displacement did not bode well. Theories of matches being played in stadiums significantly emptier than full were common, as were opinions that interest back in India would diminish steadily.
Happily, neither of those speculative scenarios has proved accurate. Instead, fans in Chennai and Bangalore have followed their teams with all their regular fervour. A world away, more than a sprinkling of other races have been seen on stands packed with South Africans of Sub-continental extraction.In fact, the most unhappy IPL devotee has been Shah Rukh Khan , who went home in a huff when his Kolkata Knight Riders began playing a brand of cricket that was, in terms of quality, inversely proportional to their collective price tag.
Sunday’s crackerjack match between Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab at the Wanderers in Johannesburg was a fine illustration of how well IPL has travelled. In an all but full house, Kings XI Punjab’s most passionate supporter was a large man of many chins who had squeezed himself into a pale blue golf shirt that might been the right size 15 years ago.
He and his walrus moustache leapt up at every Kings XI Punjab success, punching the air with meaty fists as he did so. There was no containing him when the Kings XI Punjab pulled of an audacious one-run victory. Our man was up and roaring in triumph as those around him no doubt wondered whether the Wanderers itself would survive the strain of his celebration.
So what, you ask – Indian cricket lovers don’t hold back. The difference was this man would have been shouting for the Proteas or the Springboks on other weekends: he was undeniably South African and undeniably white.
Another white man sauntered down a nearby aisle, wearing a Panama hat and a striking pink rugby jersey. An Australian, perhaps? The jersey was identical to those worn by the Western Force, the Super 14 team based in Perth, in a particular match to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Which begs the question: should the IPL become a travelling tournament?
Shaun Pollock thought there was some merit in the idea. "You could play it in other places every two or three years," the former South Africa all-rounder, who is now on the coaching staff of the Mumbai Indians, told iplt20. "But I think it should be played primarily in India. After all, it is the Indian Premier League.
"You would also have to plan very carefully if you moved it to another country. It’s worked to move it to South Africa this year because we don’t have any other cricket on at the moment. But you couldn’t have played it in England at this time. They have a Test series on the go as well as county cricket."
Pollock felt that this year’s IPL was especially well placed for success. "There are a lot of Indian people in our country, and the journey from India to South Africa isn’t such a mission for Indians," he said. "Also, a lot of matches in the past week have been very exciting and close. Even if you are an impartial observer, you couldn’t help but be interested."
Indeed, going into the last few days the semi-final permutations were anything but uncomplicated. On Monday morning, the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders were the only teams to have been eliminated from the play-offs. Another two will fall by the wayside before we arrive at the final four.
Chennai Super Kings should not come unstuck against the hapless Knight Riders in Centurion on Monday, and on Tuesday in Johannesburg the Delhi Daredevils take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore. This looms as a classic clash between the top dogs, Delhi, and a side who need to keep winning to stay in the hunt.
If it’s all a little too much to think about, take Adam Gilchrist’s approach after his Deccan Chargers went down to the Kings XI Punjab. "It’s a straight shootout for us from here, and that suits us fine," Gilchrist said with reference to his team’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Centurion on Thursday, the last of the round-robin matches.
The day before, Kolkata Knight riders play their swansong against Rajasthan Royals in Durban. Who knows, maybe Shah Rukh Khan will be in attendance to wave goodbye? Then again, may be not. As the man himself has apparently said "You never win the silver, you only lose the gold."
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