IPL-9 a game-changer?

The IPL hasn’t lost its appeal. Obviously cleverer after eight years’ experience in the cash-rich league, the franchises didn’t splurge cash on exotic foreigners. Shane Watson may have topped the IPL-9 list, at Rs 9.5 crores, but his most recent T20 batting against India was fresh in everyone’s memory.

The clamour for a fresh Indian face, Pawan Negi, still to wear India colours, ended at a phenomenal Rs 8.5 crores. Other great domestic success stories include Murugan Ashwin, Deepak Hooda and Karun Nair, who will all earn over Rs 4 crore each in IPL-9. The tilt to national cricketers, and lesser prices paid for “impact” players like Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik, are a pointer to new wisdom.

The Rs 16 crores Yuvraj drew last year was an obvious excess, born of over-enthusiasm and star value, not quite sustained by on-field performance. The IPL hasn’t been a huge financial success for franchises, and the biggest beneficiaries were the players. With unheralded youngsters also getting a look-in, the IPL is truly starting to pay off for national cricketers.

If the picks are getting younger too, there’s a hint that teams are looking at delivery as some seniors haven’t been the target of big spends as they used to be. IPL-9 is all set to be a game changer for cricket’s image and the auction is a pointer.