IPL 2008 - The event of the year

It was the event of the year as far as the cricketing world was concerned.

With the unbelievable build up, the innovative format of having franchisees and city based teams, the auctioning of players and the tremendous interest the project generated around the cricketing world, there was never any doubt that the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League would have a favourable outcome.

The six-week extravaganza which had glitz and glamour and cricket of the rollicking variety in fact turned out to be a whopping success giving rise to a new phrase – cricketainment.

All this of course was a far cry from the staid world of Test cricket and there was enough in the new format to make the traditionalists wince.

But I suppose one has to move with the times.

It certainly was difficult to accept the dancing girls for example but then spectators in the stands were holding up placards that read ``I came only to see the dancing girls.Â’Â’

This was entertainment of a different kind and BollywoodÂ’s bond with cricket grew stronger as a result of the IPL.

Image: Actor Emran Hashmi receives kisses from cheergirls before the start of the IPL T20 match between Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal in Hyderabad.

Text: Partab Ramchand, Images: PTI

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