The annual cricket league that we have all been eagerly waiting for, is back again! That's right, it is that time of the year again. We are, of course, talking about the Indian Premier League, or the IPL, 2020!
Founded twelve years back, in 2008 by the BCCI(Board of Control for Cricket in India), the IPL is a twenty-twenty cricket league played among 8 teams, each team representing one Indian city or state.
This year, the eight teams are, Mumbai Indian, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab. With the arrival of the IPL season each year, India witnesses an atmosphere of excitement and celebration. Each team enjoys a massive fan following, and everyone is seen rooting for their favourite teams.
A twenty-twenty league, more popularly known as a T-20 league, is played in matches of twenty overs (from each side). A twist in its format is that along with Indian players, overseas or international players can also take part in the same team. Four out of the eleven players can be overseas players in the IPL matches, but the rest have to be from India.
The players are selected in each team through auctions, where the bids go up to crores for each player. When the teams were first formed, the owners of each team were also selected through auctions and bidding.
But what is it that is so special about the Indian Premier League? What could be the reasons behind the hype and the buzz around it?
With more than 411 million live viewers per year, it is one of the most popular sports shows in the world. In fact, the IPL is the most attended cricket league in the world, and the sixth most among all sports. Ever since its foundation in 2008, the IPL has managed to stay in the limelight, courtesy adrenaline-packed matches, frequent celebrity appearances, a massive, grand opening every year and even, juicy scandals!
Last year, Mumbai Indians bagged the position of the winner, and Jasprit Bumrah was titled the Man of the Match. This year, too, Mumbai India is currently at the topmost position, having won 4 matches out of the 6 played!
Even within the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Indian Premier League is taking place, successfully, following every health guideline as ordered by the Government. The league had started on September 19, and has gathered a massive following already! People are seen posting on social media, pictures of themselves watching the matches, donning the colours of their favourite teams!
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most people are watching the matches from the safety of their homes, this year. Fortunately for them, many online platforms, like Criconet Online are now cropping up for the live streaming of the matches and for cricket news updates. In the times of physical distancing, the familiar tune of the IPL is giving us all a sense of familiarity, togetherness and celebration!