Click to play videoNew Delhi: IPL fever is setting in and everyone including publications are cashing in. A complete book on the IPL and an official magazine are on spread.
It was Kafkaesque. Existential, since one man was working against all odds to shape his own destiny. Add petty politics, oversized egos and arrogance.
Apart from a heady fact file on all the IPL teams how can words like Kafkaesque, arrogance and oversized egos when combined with cricket not grab attention?
This book on the IPL starts with some plain speaking – the authors, both journalists are more than a little critical of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, especially on the decision to move Season 2 out of the country and statements by Modi, may have held true, but don't make him any more endearing.
Co-author Vivek Rajgopalan said, “Lalit Modi plays a pivotal role in the whole IPL thing. We did interviews and found out that his way of doing business was almost ruthless.”
Whether it's the player auctions or the flamboyance of celeb team owners who turned up in their designer best, the authors examine everything about this phenomenon called IPL which has undoubtedly changed the face of Indian cricket.
Rajgopalan said, “Cricket has changed forever. It has opened new avenues with more and more money coming into the picture, recession or not IPL will continue.”
If a book wasn't enough, there is an official magazine on the IPL 20/20, priced at Rs 100 is a glossy extension of the book, replete with glossy pictures, team trivia and vital statistics of each team.
Lalit Modi and Inc have definitely paved the field for glitz and glamour showing just how much big money talks.
It will be left to watch and wait to actually figure out how much of it is about cricket and how much entertainment. We'll have our eyes peeled on the action in South Africa.
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