NEW DELHI – The world’s most popular franchise-based T20 league once againsaw sell-out crowds across Indian venues but there is buzz the league mightmove to foreign shores in the next edition.
With India’s general elections slated in 2019, reports suggest that IPL-12will be played in Dubai. This is not a new phenomenon: the league wasorganised in South Africa in 2009 while UAE played hosts to one-third ofIPL matches in 2014 – both being election years. “If it clashes with thosedates (of the elctions) then we will not get security. Then for that periodwe will have to move it out overseas,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said.
Meanwhile, Rupert Mudroch’s Star India repackaged the glitzy IPL afterstriking a $2.55 billion deal with the Indian board ahead of season 11.From commentary in six languages, to tailor-made feeds to different regionsand 120 commentators on board, the nation sampled a different style ofsports broadcasting.
While Sony, official broadcasters of IPL in its first decade, accused Starof fudging the viewership figures which they claimed were higher duringtheir feeds, many hailed their approach. “Star has actually got intoregions, has got the languages right and also got some Star power. And nowwe have got the analytics. No one has done it like us,” former Australiastar Dean Jones, a commentator with Star Sports, said.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson was the only foreigner to lead an IPL sidethis season after Australians Steve Smith and David Warner were barredfollowing a ball-tampering scandal. Williamson, a late captaincyreplacement for Warner, led Sunrisers Hyderabad from the front with his 735runs in 17 matches. His ability to use star players like Afghan teensensation Rashid Khan at opportune moments won him praise. – APP/AFP