IPL-9 a game-changer

The IPL hasn’t lost its appeal. Obviously cleverer after eight years’ experience in the cash-rich league, the franchises didn’t splurge cash on exotic foreigners. Shane Watson may have topped the IPL-9 list, at Rs 9.5 crores, but his most recent T20 batting against India was fresh in everyone’s memory. The clamour for a fresh Indian face, Pawan Negi, still to wear India colours, ended at a phenomenal Rs 8.5 crores. Other great domestic success stories include Murugan Ashwin, Deepak Hooda and Karun Nair, who will all earn over Rs 4 crores each in IPL-9. There were no takers for Martin Guptill, one of the best “white ball” cricketers in the circuit, that may indicate the teams haven’t done their homework.

The tilt to national cricketers, and lesser prices paid for “impact” players like Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik, are a pointer to new wisdom. The Rs 16 crores Yuvraj drew last year was an obvious excess, born of over-enthusiasm and star value, not quite sustained by on-field performance. The IPL hasn’t been a huge financial success for franchises, and the biggest beneficiaries have been the players. With unheralded youngsters also getting a look-in, the IPL is truly starting to pay off for national cricketers. If the picks are getting younger too, there’s a hint that teams are looking at delivery as some seniors, including Kevin Pietersen, haven’t been the target of big spends as they used to be. IPL-9 is all set to be a game changer for cricket’s image and the auction is a pointer.