When the Indian Premier League began, there was huge fanfare and celebrations all around, announcing the clout of India in world cricket and cricket itself as a money spinner. The first edition went on to be a huge success with Lalit Modi's idea becoming a case study in many business schools worldwide.
The second edition has now begun, strangely not in India. This year has not been without its controversies - despite the global economic recession, new players were snapped up with record bids; the BCCI wasn't willing to reschedule the IPL so that it doesn't clash with the national elections; extended breaks were introduced between overs to rake in more moolah.
But the IPL has done a lot to me on a personal front. When many question the support to their 'home teams', when the home team hardly plays any local lads and it is the star hires who may be Indian or overseas who hog the limelight, there has been an acceptance of the English Premier League (Football) - kind of support to these teams.
What takes this support to an even more granular level is the introduction of the Fantasy IPL game. Cricinfo, the definitive news and analysis provider for cricket, has a game whereby one can register and create a team, picking players from multiple teams. Each player has a 'cost', and 11 of them have to be drafted in within the 'budget'. So one can have players from teams all over, which results in support of those specific players and not for the entire team. One has 20 transfers for the entire series to move players in and out. There are also 'leagues' where teams of different players can compete for good fun. Last year, there were only 3 of us in our league and it went out pretty well.
When IPLv2 has not taken off to that grand a start, and there is less talk about it than last year, the fantasy leagues have reached an all new level. This time there are more players and those who have analyzed the players and matches to an unimaginable level (there may have been such people last time too, but this time, I actually know them!).
This fantasy cricket has created such a level of activity in me that I am addicted to it. My normal activities are totally driven by the matches - I wake up many hours earlier to change by 'Trump Player', I waste time refreshing the Cricinfo scorecard even after the match has finished to know who was the 'Man of the Match', and I stunningly rejoice when my home team goes down by a bowler who is in my fantasy team. The performance of the teams in the league has been such huge point of discussion. I know many who are seriously concerned that they may not have enough time to complete their studies in time for the exams, and yet have time to curse when a player in their fantasy team does not play in the real match. I myself went to new lengths, to spend a whole hour in my office (post working hours ofcourse!) perfecting my team.
The level of excitement that is created in these games is huge, and it reaches greater heights with the fantasy teams thrown in. Many a time I think about the time I waste in an effort which has no monetary or professional gain. Is this even worth it?
And yet I cannot stop. What the IPL and the fantasy game has done to me, it has done to my other league mates too. We have become closer together, discussing strategies and exchanging ridicules at each others bad player picks. Whatever may be the time spent in this, it will still remain a memorable part of my life in New York City, when cricket more so the IPL, is the single most strongest glue that binds us friends together in our otherwise mechanical and stressful lives. Fantasy IPL is fun. Period.
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touched
relaxed
happy
