IPL Hype: Is It Really Worth the Price or Just Overblown Excitement?

Dear Members,

I would like to know your viewpoint about the ongoing IPL. I have mixed feelings about it. I feel that it is being hyped up a lot. Do you genuinely believe that it is worth the price that is being circulated?

Dear,

This is really a topic that has been on my mind since the inception of IPL. In my view, this is nothing but business. "Consider BCCI as a company and the investors as stakeholders."

I am very much sure that in the near future it will fluctuate like our stock market. It must be a topic of discussion if they were to invest their money in the development of other games or in the development of certain backward classes.

Regards,
Prasanna

Dear Prasanna,

I completely agree with you, and at times, I also wonder from where does all this money come from. Just look at the amount being invested. At times, I think hockey and other sports are not given so much importance. These big giants should think about those sports too.

Hi Ashwini,

It is a motivating factor for cricketers, but at the same time, it is a demotivating factor for other sports like hockey, chess, tennis, football, etc. This is because people tend to concentrate only on cricket, neglecting interest in other games. As a result, other sports are often forgotten.

First of all, cricket is not our National Game. Yet, why do people focus and encourage only this game? The Indian Hockey Team serves as a live example of this issue.

Many people in our country are struggling for basic needs such as food and clothing. Instead of investing solely in cricket, redirecting some funds to assist them could make a significant difference. By doing so, we can work towards improving our country's position.

Thanks & Regards,
Ashwini K

I agree with Tulsi about Lead India, but I cannot understand why people have to be anti-cricket just because it happens to be more popular. Football clubs offer much more money to the topmost stars, and what our cricketers earn is nothing compared to the money in Golf, Tennis, or Boxing. 20/20 cricket can make cricket popular all over the world, which means more money. How the money is utilized is a different matter altogether. The cricket board can try and emulate Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and try to improve the lot of other sports, their poor cousins (they already are doing something), like the Gates Foundation is doing good philanthropic work; but they have to generate that kind of money first. Look at how much employment this generates among junior cricketers in India, and more matches mean more employment for cricket administration as well.

In HR leadership seminars, in the context of leadership, we come across statements like "Some person may have the formal power or authority, but it is another person who can have the influence on the strength of personality, innate ability, or whatever." Princess Diana was one example. Here, I do not understand that when Cricket is the national passion, why hockey continues to be the national game just because we produced a Dhyan Chand or were good at it once upon a time. Don't we need some change management?

Clarification: I am a Tennis fanatic, and there also, they are trying to commercialize the sport in India because ultimately, anything has to be self-sustaining in the long run.

Dear Hiren,

It is not a matter of Cricket, Hockey, or BLA BLA. It is solely a matter concerning our country. Are the investors not capable of putting these funds into certain developmental activities (i.e. Individual Social Responsibility Activities)? If we discuss games only, don't you think cricket is extremely popular in India nowadays? Let's focus on some other games.

Regards,
Prasanna

Much as I appreciate your noble sentiments, Mr. Prasanna, I do not understand why you are linking social work with cricket. Dhirubhai Ambani once said that he regretted not having devoted time to social work, but one could focus only on one thing at a time. What he did in his lifetime in terms of employment generation and assets was social work in itself.

Anyway, in that way, even all the companies should stop generating profit and divert it to development work. We are not living in an idealistic world, and sport is a profession like any other. It is not just a game; it is very popular. Beauty contests are held every year. Can you tell them - please stop and divert all the funds to social work? What is the connection? Nobody even believes the beauties when they profess deep sentiments for social work when answering the questions.

In the US, baseball and basketball are very popular and commercialized, but they are not linked to social work. How can you say that? Please stop and divert these funds to social work. Cricket aside, look at Bollywood, another popular passion - can you tell the producers to please stop producing commercial films and divert funds to social work? That is also a game - a majority of films are produced for entertainment.

Yes, cricket is more popular and with this new format should become even more popular and may include other countries as well.