No one had thought that the Indian Premier League (IPL), which started in 2008, would go onto become such a huge success and brand in itself. It not only cemented BCCI’s position as the leader in world cricket but also paved the way for similar T20 leagues in the world.
The move benefitted a lot of cricketers, who found a second wind to their floundering careers, while some cricketers became T20 mercenaries, calling time on their international careers to play in every possible league out there.
However, this has spurred a lot of experts and former cricketers who have criticized the IPL for hampering ODI cricket and for corrupting young talents thanks to its foray into glamor and glitz with its rambunctious after parties.
Sunil Gavaskar says he would have loved to bat like Rohit Sharma in limited-overs cricket
But former India captain and IPL commissioner Sunil Gavaskar had some tough words for people who criticize the most popular T20 league in the world, which is amongst the top ten valuable and richest sporting brands in the world.
"They [the critics] only see the money aspect that is there in the IPL. They don't look at what the IPL does. I think it all boils down to jealousy. Only those who do not benefit from it, do not get anything from the IPL criticize it," Sunil Gavaskar said on the latest episode of India Today's Boria Mujumdar’s show Inspiration.
Gavaskar called IPL a 'cottage industry' and lauded the BCCI for creating an industry that is now built around the tournament.
"There are so many people whose livelihoods are there because of the IPL. It can be the guys who are at the grounds who paint people's faces, people who are making those shirts that are sold outside the stadiums just before a match, or the vendors who have food stalls at the stadium. There is an entire cottage industry around the IPL," he said.
Gavaskar also called IPL a ‘soft target’ for people. He dismissed those hitting out at the game on social media saying, "Somebody wants to be a little famous on the Internet, then you target the IPL. The IPL is a soft target."
"An argument people opposed to the IPL give is, we know Indian cricket and we are thinking of the good of Indian cricket. Oh, I see, so you are the only ones who are going to be sitting in judgment and telling us what is good for Indian cricket. Of course, not," Gavaskar said.
