IPL: Another Scam Story!

With the one sport which brings our massive population come together, I haven’t been different not to be an ardent cricket fan. I’ve screamed louder for the fours and sixes and been heartbroken for the matches India lost. It wasn’t just the effort of eleven players on the battlefield but the faith of other 1.24 billion praying for just one win! Sportspersons have always whined about the fact that India has favouritism towards cricket and with BCCI being the richest cricket board in the world, cricketers are favoured financially devouring the highest fame compared to any other sport. 

With the format being modified to make it shorter and more entertaining, the world of cricket was in a state of upheaval when Lalit Modi came up with one of the shortest leagues with different players being auctioned for various teams participating in the Indian Premier League. So with all the cricketers globally coming together and playing for one team or maybe a different team another year; some fans were disheartened for they were used to showcase their patriotism towards the country instead of a unit constituting disparate players every year.

For the past six years, I’ve followed the IPL with all my heart and have been equally zealous even with immense criticism and vilifying comments as to naming this league as the bought up battle where not just a match, every ball is fixed. It wasn’t my innocence but the faith I had in cricket that never let me believe the plausibility of match-fixing to this extent. So even when I heard several rumours and controversies regarding tax exemption, financial irregularities and criminal activities as well as the hype about the game being only a mode of entertainment and money, because of the exorbitant ticket rates; spot fixing- the lead this season compelled me to believe all of it.

And this year, Ho Ho Ipl! You’ve heartily opened the chamber of your fixing tactics and revealed all the cricketers involved as well as the CEO of the team that participated in the finals for five years and managed to win for two years. Its sad how the game just ended and how every team played in a peculiar way to deceive us. With Chennai always making to the finals, Mumbai always making to the quarterfinals, RCB always failing to perform in quarterfinals and teams like KKR, Deccan and Rajasthan surprisingly winning was the fun indeed. Even with disappointment, this game became the sole source of our cricket entertainment during vacations.

We all have been aware and yet avoided the fact of the spot-fixed matches and still indulged ourselves in the wasteful event taking place every year. We came together to enjoy even the most hilarious final for every over seemed fixed. I mean they made the win of Mumbai a little obvious with the owner of opposing team willing to resign on the day of finals, with Shilpa Shetty trying to hide her smile when Rajasthan lost the playoffs to Mumbai after the team’s three batsmen were caught in the spot-fixing scandal, taking down their entire career!

I wish they tried a better strategy in an attempt to fool us. Its sheer sadness to see how everything can be bought in India! As they say, “Yeh India hai, yaha sab bikta hai.” Therefore, at least for now, there’s going to be no more tweets, shares and statuses and maybe the last criticized posts you’ll be reading for the most sold out and money making league has finally come to an end till all the agitations and allegations come to rest. Cheers to another scam of the fraudulent sport India unfolded!