Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi promised Wednesday a non-stop carnival atmosphere at this year’s tournament in South Africa.

There have been fears the Twenty20 event would lose some of its character because of the forced move across the Indian Ocean owing to a clash of dates with general elections that could have compromised security.

However, Modi insists South Africans can expect a continuous party with organisers looking to raise the bar in terms of festivities.

“The entire IPL second season is going to be like a carnival,” Modi told AFP from his base at a five-star Cape Town hotel.

“We are kicking off on Thurday with a parade through Cape Town, when we will embrace and meet the people and interact with them.

“The entire atmosphere in every ground the minute you enter the stadium, and the minute you leave the stadium, is going to be like a carnival with festivities all round.

“There are going to be performers outside the stadium, around the stadium walls, inside the stadium at every match. In the intervals you will have live performances by musicians.

“So we are taking it a notch higher.”

Modi also expects the on-field action this year to be more entertaining than during the first edition with the playing field levelled by lack of familiarity with South African conditions.

“What we are hearing from all the teams practising in South Africa is that the pitches are very, very different from what they would expect in India or in any other place,” he explained.

“So it’s going to be a great match because it’s totally unpredictable. People are not used to the (South African) turf so it’s going to be entertaining all round.”

The logistics involved in moving the 59-match tournament have been mind boggling with 40,000 hotel room-nights booked in South Africa and more than 20,000 plane tickets bought.

While Modi admitted the decision to relocate was emotional, he says the response from the new IPL hosts has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It was probably the most difficult decision in my life,” Modi said of moving the tournament away from its spiritual home.

“Putting that aside, the move to South Africa has been absolutely incredible. The support from Cricket South Africa, the (national) government and the provincial government in Cape Town has just been beyond my imagination.

“I think we will have an incredible series in South Africa, and the way we will judge whether it is successful or not is by how smooth the tournament goes forward.

“The way things are looking right now, I think we are on a good wicket and we’re going to have very smooth sailing going forward.”
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“It will be completely on the team management where I should bat, weather I open or not,” Gambhir said.

“It is not important where you bat but if your team wins at the end,” he said on the sidelines of a ceremony to present him a customised ‘Bolero Stinger’ jeep here today.

Asked if he was already tired after the New Zealand tour and the hectic schedule owing to promotional activities in the city during his short break, Gambhir said being active was the need of his profession.

“There is no need to take rest in this profession. This is the time I should be active because a player has a limited time in his career. Moreover, I cannot forget the love and support given to me by so many people. This profession is not for resting,” he said.

“I will take rest when I will have all the time to rest (after my career),” he added.

The 27-year-old opener appeared excited about playing the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

“There are so many good memories attached with the first Twenty20 World Cup which was held in South Africa. I have always said that was the turning point of my career. So I feel it would be a good tournament there. I will try my best that Delhi Daredevils win this time,” he said.
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Sreesanth was the leading wicket-taker for the Chandigarh-based side in the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but will miss most of this season due to lower back stress fracture.

In the maiden edition of the IPL Sreesanth claimed 19 wickets at an average of 23.26.

“I had a good stint with Kings XI Punjab’s physiotherapist Patrick Farhart in Sydney and will be joining the team later this week,” said Sreesanth.

“With Patrick there, I will get a few more tests done and who knows, I may be fully fit before the semi-finals.”

Kings XI will also be without Australia pacemen Brett Lee and all-rounder James Hopes for much of the second edition and captain Yuvraj Singh has admitted his side’s depleted bowling stocks are a concern.

“On paper our bowling department might be found wanting,” added Sreesanth. “But I feel we have a pretty decent attack.

“Irfan Pathan bowled very well in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 so there’s no need to worry.

“VRV Singh is raring to go after a long injury lay off and Ravi Bopara is also a handy bowler.

“We have a quality spinner in Piyush Chawla and Yuvraj himself can chip in.

“Twenty20 cricket is basically a batsman’s game and we have a solid batting line-up.”

In the meantime, Sreesanth is looking forward to his new role as fans mentor with the team in South Africa.

“I’ll be travelling with the Kings XI Punjab team, but my new role, as a fans mentor, means I’ll be mixing with the fans, interacting with them and keeping the mood alive,” he said.

“Of course, there’ll be a lot of dancing and I’m looking forward to it.”
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“I’m happy to be in the background,” he said about Warne hogging all the glory in the Twenty20 tournament.

Smith has also won new fans at home after he batted with a broken finger in the Sydney Test.

“When I came home, the reception I got . . . That was something special. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that with me, there’s no balanced view. People either love me or hate me,” he said.

Rajasthan Royals captain and coach Warne, who shared a love-hate relationship with the south African crowd during his playing days, also looking to woo fans with the help of Smith.

“The public have booed me most of the time but, hopefully, playing with the Rajasthan Royals they’ll get behind me,” Warne was quoted as saying by the ‘Australian Associated Press’.

“Hopefully, when I come on to bowl I’ll get a clap, or a cheer or whistle. They’re pretty vocal over here. They love their cricket. Having Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel in the side will help,” he added.
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Bhogle said that the ‘episode on the auction stunned the cricket world; money was supposed to be just for footballers.

“Few people liked the auction as it was. Cricketers were being likened to cattle,” Harsha Bhogle said.

“Accountability came with cricket,” said Manish Porwal, CEO, Percept Talent Management.

Unlike other leagues like English Premier League which evolved with time, IPL was invented in one year.

Selection of the teams were very subjective. Players like Ricky Ponting were paid like a B-grade Ranji Player.

IPL is cricketainment, says Porwal

“The sponsors did not know where to default, they didn’t know where to pitch, whether it was the Indianness that would give them the eyeballs or something else,” said Porwal.

Chennai Super Kings used its money wisely. They have put themselves in a very good position. Their team composition is very good and they have players from every country; if someone leaves, the place is filled immediately.

“CSK is a winning team with a winning captain and a lot of money that can be put behind the team,” said Ashok Malik, a noted journalist.

“T Thushara and George Bailey are players that can make a difference in the team,” Harsha said.

CSK’s Head of Marketing, Rakesh Singh spoke on the show about how franchisee has helped the teams grow.

“Franchisee’s model is developing as we go along because internationally one depends on merchandising and gate collections, but in India, it is a combination of merchandising, gate collections and a lot of sponsorships, advertisement and promotions.CSK is both cricket and business. It has been a part of the India Cements Company’s passion.” said R Singh

“Dhoni is an icon player without being an icon player, he initially gave the team a pan-Indian identity in addition to a Chennai identity because Dhoni is a rockstar,” said Malik.
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