Has the 2016 Indian Premier League led to a cricketing overdose?

We are just under a week into the 9th season of the Indian Premier League and it would be safe to say that the extravaganza has not yet caught the public’s attention as much as one thought it would have.

All the eight teams have played their first round matches, some even have finished their second and yet it seems like the cricket-loving public of India is yet to completely join in the madness that is the IPL.

The reasons for that could be many. But perhaps the most critical of them all could be that almost all of the six matches so far haven't been closely contested duels. One team has always had a clear advantage over the other and the spectators watching, both on the ground as well on television, have been able to predict what or who is going to cross the line.

The prime example for this was the match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. After racking up 227 on the board, only an absolutely appalling performance from the home side’s bowlers would have meant that the visitors would have pulled off what would have been an improbable win.

While there were many sixes hit on the night, the drama that one associated with the IPL was missing and that, sadly thus far has been the case with all the matches.

What also hasn't helped the cause has been the very little gap between the end of the World T20 and the start of the IPL.

The fact that days after helping his side win the competition, someone like a Carlos Brathwaite is back on the field, wearing a completely new jersey, representing a totally new side, is yet to catch up on the average viewer and that has meant that the attraction levels towards him and several others aren't as high as one would have taught it would be.

However, despite the lack of adrenaline flow, the competition has not been short on some fine performances already. AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli lit up the Chinnaswamy on Tuesday, Dwayne Bravo broke the back of the Kings XI Punjab on Monday etc, but sadly those exploits haven't been seen on a more consistent basis like what happened during the opening season, when Michael Hussey backed Brendon McCullum's 158* with a well-compiled hundred of his own.

The upcoming weekend will no doubt be a crucial examination for the League. With doubleheaders lined-up on both days, there will surely be crowds at all venues , but will the cricket finally have the people dancing to its tune will be the biggest question to answer.