IPL fans stock up on teams' merchandise

Kolkata, April 12 (IANS): With Indian Premier League( IPL) matches in full swing, themed merchandise have been flying off the racks like hot cakes in the city.

Retail outlets selling these merchandises have been hard-pressed to meet the demands of eager cricket fans.

Stationery shops have stocked up posters, pens etc., according to the teams in the IPL.

Loyalties are being tested even in Kolkata, where supporters are mainly for the home team – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- but fans are rooting for other teams too.

Second favourites are Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team. Pune Warriors and Mumbai Indians too have a large fan following in the city.

One can show their support for the home team with a collection of KKR themed items called the ‘Knight Club’ that has a T-shirt, a coffee mug, and a wrist band carrying the KKR logo on them.

Sold by Starmark, one of the leading stationery chains in Kolkata, the ‘Knight Club’ has become a memento for young supporters and fans.

Similarly, fans can ink their solidarity towards their favourite team with IPL ‘Cruiser’ pens.

“We have ‘Cruiser’ pens, supporting Pune Warriors team in the IPL,” an official of Linc told IANS.

Poster vendors too are pitching in by offering posters of all the nine franchises and all the leading super stars of the IPL.

Among them are KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, Chennai Super Kings captain Dhoni, and also foreign recruits like Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Ricky Ponting. They are quite popular.

Badges, coffee mugs, flaunting team names and logos on them, add to the merchandise hype.

It’s time to show loyalty to one’s team by not only cheering them loudly at the stadium, but also by buying and flaunting associated knick knacks in in public or on your display boards.