Cricket Overkill

IPL’s second innings seemed unending. But Lalit Modi went ahead and threatened to thrust two IPL events in a year.

IPL’s second innings seemed unending. But Lalit Modi went ahead and threatened to thrust two IPL events in a year. Before a million eyeballs could recover from 37 non-stop days of T20, we’re already into the second edition of the ICC World Twenty20 Cup, underway in England. By all accounts the TV ratings aren’t living up to expectations. Is it a case of T20 overkill? The English, inventors of the slam-bang variety, certainly seem to think so. Consider this: less than 24 hours separated the beginning of this season’s local Twenty20 Cup (played by counties in England and Wales) and the Indian Premier League final. The end of the first half of the former tournament came a day prior to the opening of the World Twenty20. It resumes action the day after the World Twenty20 final. Figures show that a key game of the local event (played between defending champions Middlesex and Surrey at Lord’s on 2 June) was around 10,000. It was on a bank holiday and down from 16,000 during the inaugural English event at Lord’s in 2003. Five years ago, the same fixture drew nearly 30,000 people in a match that was a sell-out. If you go by Indian media planners, there are signs of IPL’s magic wearing off in the second season. Is it a case of slaying the $2 billion goose?

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