IPL, these three letters have been driving cricket fans all around the globe crazy since its inception. Aiming to develop young talent all over the country, the maiden IPL tournament started in 2008. The architect of this major event is none other than the vice-president of BCCI, Lalit Modi. This man, who was awarded with “The Most Innovative Business Leader in India” by NDTV, lifted the standards of the tournament. In April 2008, the maiden IPL tournament that Mr. Modi had conceived and developed was underway.
January 2008, the IPL franchise auction witnessed India’s richest and most powerful names, from industrialists to film stars, adding to the event’s luster. The magnitude of the Indian Premier League was confirmed when the winning bidders for the eight franchises were announced on January 24, 2008. While the total base price for auction was US$400 million, the auction fetched US$723.59 million.
February 2008 saw the frantic player auction that made media frenzy. As the sums on offer began to emerge – $1.5m for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, $1.35m for Andrew Symonds, $950,000 for the inexperienced Ishant Sharma – cricket raised its eyebrows, held its breath and braced itself for a new era.
The opening ceremony was nothing the sport had ever seen before. And much to everyone's satisfaction, the cricket lived up to all expectations. The world witnessed the first ever Twenty20 competition played on a scale comparable to the biggest events in sporting history.
The inaugural IPL was a huge surprise to the cricket fans as it got complete entertainment and excitement to them. Rajasthan Royals who were termed to be Underdogs by critics won the title. Helped by the presence of Bollywood stars such as Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata franchise and Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, the early matches of the IPL attracted a huge television audience.
After a huge success of first IPL in its bag, BCCI moved second IPL overseas due to general elections in India. But right from the beginning ceremony to the closing day, the South Africans stayed with the event that had new champions in the form of Deccan Chargers.
The IPL has moved from strength to strength in its two early editions. The IPL has even made it to the fourth spot of the Forbes list of the world's hottest sporting properties. The Indian Premier League returns to India in March 2010 after its South African safari in 2009. The stage is set for a contest that is being honored by a billion people.
Important Indian Premier League (IPL) Links
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