IPL

These days, Indian Premier League or IPL is the buzz word in the cricket world. A relatively new form of cricket which has gained tremendous popularity while its franchises cash on the earning potential, Twenty20 form of cricket undoubtedly rules the scene today.

With the fourth IPL season underway, much hype and euphoria has already been created by the introduction of two new IPL teams viz. Pune and Kochi. IPL Team Pune was bought for Rs. 1702 by the Sahara Group while Rendezvous Sports World brought IPL Team Kochi for Rs. 1533 crore. The existing eight IPL teams include Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers, Bangalore, Deccan Charges, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. These IPL teams have been bought and owned by industrialists and filmstars alike which has been a major accelerator on the IPL hype factor – Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s joint venture is the Kolkata Knight Riders, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra’s stake in Rajasthan Royals while Mumbai Indians being owned by Reliance Industries Ltd.

Each IPL team has to have 16 players, one physiotherapist and a coach. The break up of the team players include 8 local players in each team, minimum 2 players from the BCCI Under 22 age group in each team and no more than 8 foreign players in the squad while four them could be in the playing XI squad.

Moving on to the IPL T20 game wherein each side plays for twenty overs each trying to score more than the team which batted first. The entire match takes no more than three and half hours to complete with definite results. The shorter span of the IPL matches brings out the ability of the cricketers to perform their level best and play their game strategically; they can be either on the loosing side or on the winning side. Yet IPL matches have been able to retain their flavour of unpredictability making their viewing even more exciting and nail biting.

IPL online is as savvy and trendy as it can be. Apart from the official IPL site, there are numerous other websites which provide information, interesting trivia and latest IPL scores on timely basis. You will come across IPL blogs which provide blogger or even expert comments on the recently held IPL matches. The online IPL game can be played by one and all. You could always log on to any of the IPL websites and indulges in a fantasy game of online cricket. IPL2010 contest are held regularly wherein you could win prizes if you are lucky enough. You could even check out IPL news online and keep abreast of the latest IPL controversy or happening as and when it happens.

With IPL matches being aired live online as well as on television, make sure you are all settled before your television set and enjoy watching the IPL matches lives. Not worth missing out is the batting of the Little Master – Sachin Tendulkar – captain of Mumbai Indians, or the deadly bowling of Warney or Shane Warne who leads the Rajasthan Royal (captain & coach), the awesome performance of Dada – Sourav Ganguly – captain of Kolkata Knight Riders or the young and heart throb of millions – Mahendra Dhoni – captain of the Deccan Chargers who won the 2009 IPL Trophy.