Why the IPL needs to rethink on the format

Eight teams, fifty-six league matches and three knockouts are the order of the first three IPL editions. Come 2011, the number of teams will be ten and the fixtures will correspondingly increase to a staggering ninety-three.

The big news over the weekend was the announcement of two new franchises (for an avid football fan, verbalization of franchise instead of club is a rather cumbersome exercise): Pune and Kochi. Each was bid for an astronomical sum, more than the total bids of all eight current teams. Pune was snapped up by Sahara, which makes sense since its close to Mumbai and a growing commercial center. Kochi may seem a surprising choice to some, but when considered from a financial viewpoint, the benefits are significant. The Gulf market offers an increased television audience and given Lalit Modi's grand, if gaudy, vision of world domination of Indian cricket, he will probably have a smug smile if cricket can upstage football in Kerala, which has predominantly followed the latter.

Even though there are two new teams and the number of matches increase next year, the number of knockout matches will remain the same. This means the race for the semifinal spots will be even more manic than before. This could also mean that if a team like Delhi which led the table last year before the semifinals started, was to lead the table again in 2011 (indicating greater consistency), then to be dumped out as an inspired Gilchrist did in 2009 at Centurion would smack of great injustice. Also, (if I can be a devil's advocate here), some results which could decide the top four spots may be open to scrutiny, especially if they involve teams that have no chance of making it to the semifinals.

Perhaps, one of the main reasons why the format is not likely to change is because of the TV ratings that shoot up during the semifinals and finals. I remember driving through the streets in Bangalore when Royal Challengers played Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009 final at Jo'burg and it was such a huge relief to cruise through empty streets since a vast majority was glued to the TV, following the live action. Maybe this is another first that Modi will lay claim to. A league that has more people watching it during the knockout rounds :)

Week 1 Review

Generally, it is too early to predict any trend after one week of a six-week tournament. Especially, when that tournament features a league-knockout format (which I'm not a big fan of, but more on that later). However, it is safe enough to review which team(s) has(ve) started to dispel the rustiness and lack of cohesion.

After today's matches (Rajasthan vs Kolkata and Mumbai vs Bangalore), Bangalore have usurped the pole position from Mumbai with a convincing seven-wicket win over a team that have twice exceeded 200 in their completed batting innings. Kallis continues to remain unbeaten and the bowling is going from strength to strength, with Vinay Kumar ably supporting the battering ram Steyn and the wily Kumble with a triple sucker-punch in the 11th over, packing off Rayudu, Tendulkar and Bravo in five deliveries. A truly stupendous catch by Dravid was the icing on a tidy fielding cake. With Taylor and White busy in the Aus-NZ series and Pietersen griping his way to 90s in Bangladesh, Bangalore's batting is certainly not short of firepower.

On the other side of the table, Rajasthan will feel mighty relieved to have opened their account against Ganguly's blow-hot blow-cold side, with a markedly improved performance by their batsmen and bowlers. Decimated by injuries, it is an outfit sorely seeking inspiration and while it may not have exactly divined by Jhunjhunwala's (JJ as dubbed by Warne) decisive 45, the win will give much-needed confidence to approach forthcoming matches.

Deccan and Chennai will look for more consistency, despite hitting their groove against Punjab and Delhi respectively in their last matches. Deccan is depending too much on its foreign imports to prevail in tight matches, covering up for poor contributions from the Indian contingent. The law of averages is sure to catch up with Gilly and Co and it will be interesting to see who will stand up and be counted then. Dhoni's absence leaves huge holes in 3 departments, but while Chennai have adequate replacements in the batting and keeping department, Raina's inexperience in leading sides in an international-standard competition will be severely tested.

Punjab have had the worst start possible, with the bowling looking woebegone. Sreesanth is the main culprit, conceding monstrous overs in consecutive matches. Yuvraj and Sangakkara aren't pulling their weights in a relatively light batting lineup either. Clearly missing the dynamism of Shaun Marsh at the top of the batting order, the express incisiveness of Brett Lee, and the versatility of James Hopes, Punjab needs to pull up its socks or it could quickly end up going down the same lane as Kolkata did in IPL 2009 and Bangalore and Deccan in IPL 2008.

That leaves Delhi, who is also having to do with its captain and one half of a potent opening combination out injured. Delhi's worries don't end there, though. The bowling during the middle overs is not penetrative enough and two outstanding performers of IPL 2009, Dilshan and de Villiers have failed to get going this year. Long earmarked as potential winners, Delhi will need to dig deep to get back that winning momentum.

IPL 2010

Finally, the road show kicks off today.

Here is the official fixture list.

Hopefully, RCB should cross the ultimate hurdle this time. It would be a truly splendid response to all the critics who branded them as a Test team in IPL 2008.