High Fee Hell

The IPL is over. Or is it? For one thing, my wife is very happy. Not because she is one of those 'cricket widows'. On the contrary. She is happy that her team won. The Chennai Super Kings. My Dad is also happy. My teams didn't reach the final. Bangalore and Rajasthan. But I supported Chennai in the finals. The IPL had two similar lessons delivered in two contrasting ways. In fact a single lesson. The lesson has been - individuals can go this far and no more. Now, I wouldn't ever put Sachin Tendulkar and Lalit Modi ever on a same pedestal. But, there are similarities in the results. No one can blame Sachin for being worshipped as God<.All those cine-stars and celebs and fans call him that. As much as i respect his greatness as a cricketer, I don't think he is the 'God of Cricket'. No one is. No one can be. For Cricket the game is bigger than individuals. It is a team sport. And the funny thing is Sachin knows it and believes it more than all his fans. But to see a team as the 'Sachin' team is disastrous situation for the team and for Sachin himself. On the other hand is a man who lead in a very understated sort of way. He is a baby when compared to Sachin. But the key difference is, the teammates of Sachin expect Sachin to play for them, while the teammates of MS Dhoni play for him. One is 'Sachin Team'while the other is 'Team Dhoni'. In the latter case, the 'team' comes first. And that's the tragedy of Sachin's genius. Chennai deserved to win. They have been the best team in the last 3 editions of IPL. Dhoni also played a crucial knock when they really needed to. The World Cup of T20 is on. Don't know who is going to win. Dhoni has a long way to go. It better be a long way.

I have never been a supporter of individuals becoming bigger than the game/organisation/institution/party/nation/planet. And Mr. lalit Modi just discovered that. I don't know who is right or who is wrong. But one thing is clear - when an individual tries to be bigger than the event - curtains fall on him. He should be credited with making IPL what it is today. A success, and a dirty cupboard. There are others as well. But he wanted to hog the whole limelight. The darkness has followed, and he is alone.

Next year, I might be supporting a new team. Cochin. Well, if not for Cochin team, the whole IPL issue wouldn't have been stirred. Hope this doesn't effect the Cochin team. and IPL doesn't become just 'High Fee hell'. This season, my wife had my son wearing yellow shorts for the Chennai match. Next year it could be the Cochin colours. By the way, he is practicing his throws with a cloth ball.

And yes, welcome to my Blog.