5 good things that only happen in IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has often been synonymous with the ultimate modern day Indian evil. The purists look down upon the game, the common man calls it a game of the corrupt and a cricket fan is dejected by the fixing scandal. The entire goodwill of the tournament starts with a negative connotation.However, lets have a look at some of the good things that can happen only in IPL.

#1 Broker peace in middle-class households

One of the well-known problems in the middle-class Indian households is the ultimate fight for the television remote. Everyone in the family demands the right to exercise their choice. The Indian Premier League (IPL) – one primetime show without the letter ‘K’ - ensures that there is two months of peace in these households.

#2 Turn \'enemies\' into friends

Ideally, team owners wouldn’t have wanted to bring the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, not at peace with each other, to share the same dressing room. But IPL, being IPL, did make it happen. New friendships have formed, the past is forgotten and national sentiments have dissolved.

This year also witnesses Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik sharing the same dressing room. Wonder if they will come out as good old pals again!

#3 Breaking regional barriers

Amid all the regional rivalries on political grounds, cricket breaks quite a few ice. While on one end Ashish Nehra is playing for Chennai, Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik are the key members of the Delhi franchise. They have formed new identities.

In the same way, while Abhishek Nayar and Ajinkya Rahane, mainstays of Mumbai cricket, are opening the batting for Rajasthan, Dhaval Kulkarni is operating with the new ball for them!

#4 Bring large crowds in UAE stadiums

Sharjah, till the turn of the century, could bring in the craziest, most patriotic cricket fans ever seen. However, the turnout has been extremely poor in the last few years, ever since Pakistan adopted it as a home away from home.

Nonetheless, things have been pleasantly different in the IPL – which has witnessed a strikingly large number of crowds in the stadiums of the United Arab Emirates.

#5 A world-class Indian event

Given India’s past record, we aren’t known to be good organisers of mega events. The latest being the Commonwealth Games fiasco. We don’t have good infrastructure, efficient administration and failure to survive in the absence of rampant corruption.

However, year after year, IPL has managed to put up a showcase of world class standard. The tournament has been managed with utmost ease despite numerous hurdles coming in the way every year. It is an event that the world watches, while we make it happen. It is an event that we can be proud of.

Apart from that, it gives little known sportsmen enough reason to pursue their passion and earn good money by plying their trade.