ICL, a viable option for talented players

The Chennai Superstar’s win in the inaugural edition of the Indian Cricket League Twenty20 championships at Panchkula carried a subtle message. The players, when provided the right atmosphere, can fulfill their potential. A bunch of discards with bruised egos were given a platform to excel and they grabbed it with both hands for Tamil Nadu that rarely wins anything at the national level.

Every level of cricket will continue to provide it own unique sense of charm and also throw lessons at the same time. An under-13 school match can generate the same intensity as any international match, only the quality will differ. Likewise the ICL provided some entertaining viewing and cricket that was intense throughout. Fittingly the big fat purse of Rs 4 crore went to a side that fully believed in their abilities and more importantly also knew their limitations.

The series brought to limelight players like R. Sathish, Vasanth Saravanan and D. Tamilkumaran. The trio had the potential but were sadly denied the opportunities at the first class level. Sathish is easily one of the best fielders and cleanest strikers of the ball the country has seen but even for keen followers of the domestic scene he was an unknown commodity. ‘Tamil’ has air speed that not many medium pacers (including a few in the national team) have in the country. In spite of these special talents they were never in the media spotlight. The league gave them that and times could be better. Nothing can be factor for an athlete’s adrenaline pump than a appreciative word for all the blood sweat and toil.

Television coverage will be a huge ‘motivating factor’ said a key member of the Chennai Superstars team before embarking to distant Panchkula. Is it not the dream of every kid who starts his sojourn towards cricketing stardom to be seen, heard and written about? The ICL provided a chance for just that. The motivation came from many quarters, nothing greater than showing their wares against cricketers who have excelled at the international level.

Ask T. Kumaran who played in all but eight ODIs. The wicket of Brain Lara will be a memory he wil cherish forever. That one delivery that got the Trinidadian should be compare favourably with his 10-wicket match haul in the Irani Trophy that ushered his entry into the national side a good eight seasons ago. Hemang Badani also had a point to prove. Written off by the selection committee and also his state association he had more than just runs to contribute and he did it with aplomb.

The 17-day carnival type atmosphere may have been a poor cousin of the Packer circus in terms of innovations but who would have thought Kareena and Yana will shake a leg on stage before Inzmam-ul-Haq could settle into playing one of serene cover drives. The event continued to break myths and shatter reputations as every T20 game does. The influence of foreign stars cannot be doubted. Some might have contributed to the scorecard and a few otherwise. They lit up the event with their star value and the manner in which they combined with the local stars was noteworthy.

As the tagline of the Chennai team suggested ‘Nothing is impossible’ the Chennai lads proved that everything is within the realms of possibility.

The ICL might have started with a few chinks in its armour but certainly has ended its first season with a little more clarity. It’s a pity that all the stellar shows of the young and the not so young has nothing official about it. Barring a slightly bumpy outfield everything else was a smooth flow including the music and the superstars were not to be denied.