THE Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a huge role in the changing face of international cricket.
Not only has it given a new dimension to how T20 cricket should be played, but the big money the players are receiving has also changed lives.
It was not too long ago that some of the world’s leading cricketers were complaining about the little money they were getting, in comparison to the best golfers and big soccer stars.
Now the guys that can smash the sixes and hit the stumps can also join the party – even at a young age, with limited international exposure.
Ten South Africans are playing in this year’s tournament, including two from the Eastern Cape. It is great to the 27-year-old Anrich Nortje and the 20-year-old Marco Jansen showing off their talents in this environment.
They are two of the most likeable cricketers around and I have no doubt they will do well and return to Nelson Mandela Bay as even better players.
Nortje is probably at the peak of his career and is playing for the Delhi Capitals. Jansen is representing the Mumbai Indians.
It is hard to believe that it is already the 14th edition of the IPL, which got underway this past Friday. Of course the hype is still there, after all it is cricket in India, but the excitement is a bit tempered this time around.
This is because of COVID-19, as India is in a grip of a vicious surge in cases. Already there are multiple positive cases within some teams, even inside the bio-bubbles.
The situation places enormous pressure on the players. Yes, team management is there to help and is doing a fine job, but it is still not an easy thing for the players to handle.
They are being paid huge salaries and are under pressure to perform for their respective teams.
That is what they must focus on, but now there are also strict protocols to follow to make sure they stay safe and healthy.
What is worrying is that all six venues in this IPL are currently hot spots – Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.
The travelling of the players across different cities is a major concern. It will be very difficult for them not to come in contact with someone outside the bubble. Remember this is India where no professional cricketer can move around without attracting attention from a fan or two.
It will also be very difficult for the players to relax away from the playing field.
There are so-called bubble integrity managers that will report any breaches within the bubble by any player.
It is not going to be easy.
Let’s hope all things work out well for our two Bay boys and that Anrich and Marco enjoy a great tournament.
