Will,

I think the tournament will be a major success in India, but one of the key things most point out is that will anyone from Kolkata be happy to see Akhtar get Sachin’s wicket? I’m not quite so sure. Even if this happens, I believe it will take years before people living in various cities start to become truly passionate about the performance of their respective city-teams.

On another note, something that puts me off often is when people easily assume that those who like the 20-20 form of the game, are not ardent followers of other forms of the game. I for one, am a die-hard fan of test cricket (I will even watch Bangladesh play Zimbabwe happily) and I believe it is the most enjoyable version of the game, but I love twenty-20 cricket for what it is, as well…

To be entirely honest, I can’t see how IPL is really going to survive - Twenty20 may be huge in India, but it’s just because India just won the cup. Domestic cricket isn’t really huge in India, it’s the thrill of international cricket that draws the fans. You may have big names in the team, but how do fans know where to place their loyalty? Do you support a state because you’re from the state? or because Shah Rukh Khan owns the team? Or because Dhoni’s in the side? I mean, this sort of free market thing may work for football, but I honestly can’t see it working within India.
But hey, I’m probably wrong as usual - in twenty years time IPL will be bigger than anything and the BCCI will be sitting on obscene piles of money. and I honestly can’t get my head around the massive amounts of money going around. I just can’t comprehend it.

I don’t really see the IPL failing, they have sold the TV rights for US$1bn over 10 years and the teams have forecast a net loss for the first year of only(?) USD3m. Let’s not forget that about the same number of people watch cricket in India as watch football in the whole of western Europe. I think even if it isn’t hugely popular, a failure it won’t be.

I can’t really see tests being sidelined by this either though. For a cricketer to be a part of future IPL auctions he would have to make a name for himself playing international cricket for his nation. The non-Indian players who earn big money will only be the cream of international cricket.

Since I’m from chandigarh & am well-connected in these matters I shall give you an account of why exactly the amounts of money are so skewed in favour of young indians
1.They are terrific players and 20-20 is their domain.India has only lost 2 20-20 matches out of the 9 they’ve played.All the guys who’ve got megabucks have done extremely well.I was surprised Gautam Gambhir went for just 3 Crores, though.He deserved more.
2.There are stipulations that the BCCI have put which would allow you to play just 4 foreign players in your 11.If you have 7 indians who aren’t upto the mark, you will LOSE.
3.Availability issues are also one of the primary reasons, along with current form & overall 20-20 record.Also how much a person brings to the team in terms of warious dimensions in his game.EX:MS Dhoni has a huge female fan following & is hugely marketable.Also he’s a fantastic
batsman,a captain, Wicketkeeper.So he brings 4 facets to the Chennai Superkings.
4.Another reason is pure luck.This is because the BCCI had put a 20 crore cap on the team owners to ensure a competitive tournament.So If a team had extra money to spend at the time of auction of a certain player the would pay as much as they possibly can.
5.You also need to have 4 players from your catchment area ie. local players.So a rohit sharma from mumbai is wanted by mumbai , but if some1 else has the money mumbai will fight over him , justifiably.Like i said earlier if your indian players are not upto the mark you shall LOSE.
The only surprises I got was symonds,gambhir & jaffer.
Gambhir is worth more than 3 crores.Symonds isn’t worth 5.3 for all his ‘fame’.Unbelievably Dravid wanted jaffer in a 20-20 team.Bangalore might play the 20 overs & score 20 for no loss.Jaffer got 60 lakhs.I believe he should be PAYING dravid more to get picked.

I think AS Gill has got it wrong here. Symonds is the best limited overs cricketer in the world (50 overs or 20… doesn’t really matter), and that’s why he’s being paid so well.