IPL and World T20 telecast. Jeno kaam teno thaay...

There is a Gujarati proverb that says 'Jeno kaam teno thaay'. Simply put, it says one should do take up only those tasks that one can. This might sound like rather pessimistic and is likely to be looked down upon by motivational speakers. After all - they always tell people that human potential is unlimited and if you plan right, then anything is possible.
I am sorry to inform them - anything is NOT possible.
OK, I am referring to the program that is aired on ESPN/Star as part of their telecast of World T20. It is anchored by Cyrus Broacha and Shonali Nagrani. (Shonali who? Never mind.... read on if you wish.) After the recently concluded IPL T20 tamasha, this show is a let-down. It comes nowhere close.

Suffering from pessimism? Watch IPL.

Fantastic.
Amazing.
Superb.
Outstanding.
Excellent.
Terrific.
Tremendous.
Excellent.
Marvelous.
Have I missed any? Must look up the thesaurus.
I am referring to the TV commentary of IPL matches, which is getting really tiring. The matches are entertaining, as any T20 matches are supposed to be. But the commentators also seemed to have been bitten by the tamasha bug and are going overboard. Anything and everything that they describe about the match is using one or more of the above superlatives.
If a batsman gets out to a stupid shot, it is called clever bowling. If another batsman goofs up and gets his partner run out, it is brilliant fielding. (Watch the pick up and throw.... brilliant!) If a bowler sends a rank dolly deserving to be hit out of the stadium, it is tremendous batting (picked the slower one early..... that one went like a tracer bullet....... That is maximum!)
Take Ravi Shastri for example. Usually in all other matches he alternates between being boring and dreary with his commentary. The height of excitement that he can muster is "Edged.....and taken!!!" (said with a special throaty voice.) But not so in IPL matches where he also revels with superlatives and excessive praiso-mania.
Maybe they should get the cheerleaders to do the commentary - at least it will be more entertaining. Else, they can sack all the commentators and show the cricket and the dances alternately. Won't make an iota of difference the the advertising revenue. It will actually save a lot of money for Lalit Modi who can then plan on having the next IPL in the Bahamas, then the next in Mauritius, and so on.

IPL packs its bags, goes traveling

So the highly successful corporate version of 'gully cricket' aka IPL is happening outside India. For one, I am glad that the powers that be in IPL have given high priority for security concerns. At least the players will play without fearing for their lives. There is an assumption here of course, that security abroad is better than in India. But at least the IPL supremos have understood that security agencies will be hard pressed to provide security to the matches. After all, they have to provide security for the other IPL (Indian Political League, which is no less interesting and amusing!)
There is another phenomenon here. For years, cricket was a sport like any other - say hockey or basketball or kabaddi, for that matter. Then with the advent of ODI and then T20, it became a spectator event. Now IPL with its much publicized franchisees, celebrity owners, player auctions and of course the gyrating cheerleaders, it has now become a TV show. What matters more here is TRP ratings, advertising revenues and the money that everybody makes in the bargain. The decision to move IPL out of India only reinforces this point.