Ganguly, Gayle, Lara, Omissions; Dravid, Laxman's Struggles Suggest IPL Franchisees are Thinking

by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

  The IPL franchisee are certainly thinking business. They have not been consistent right through the first day of the IPL 4 auctions.But when they have, they have revealed that they are interested in the returns on investment as much as the impulse for flamboyance.

      The fact that the likes of cricket's heavyweights such as Sourav Ganguly, Brian Lara, and Chris Gayle went unsold in the IPL 4 player auctions on the first day and to a lesser extent, that the IPL franchisees overlooked Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher made for headlines.

       It was no hidden fact that when the IPL was conceptualized, the icon status ensured that the Indian cricketers such as Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly had been given a new lease of life in terms of extending their role in the glorious game. All three cricketers have dwindled on the horizon as far as limited overs cricket was concerned and with the advent of Twenty20 were considered past their best for this 'young man's format'.

        However, once the iconic status was removed rather literally, the franchisees revealed the light in which they viewed wherein some cricketers were considered too burdensome for the team but inevitable. It was no hidden matter that V.V.S. Laxman's injury came as a blessing for the Deccan Chargers who were only too happy to have Adam Gilchrist lead their line up. Similar was the case with Rahul Dravid as the Royal Challengers Bangalore toyed with the captaincy only to then rest heavily on Anil Kumble. To his credit, Dravid performed rather well in the IPL 2 in South Africa which was perhaps his saving grace.

         Kumble must have had a premonition which would explain why less than two days before the IPL 4 player auctions, Kumble withdrew his name and instead was reinstalled as the team mentor for the RCB. It must have been painful for him to watch Ganguly miss the bus and watch Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman saved by the skin of their teeth.

        However, that fortune eluded Ganguly, and the West Indies' offering of Brian Lara and Chris Gayle. In many ways, they represent a similar problem. Lara was lured by the lucrative game that offered him the opportunity to pit his talent once more. His only problem was that he had left the game behind so long that none were willing to bet him on a priority basis.

         Chris Gayle has a tougher time explaining this omission to himself because he was one of the West Indies cricketers alongside Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo who were unwilling to sign on the dotted line of their respective contracts with the West Indies Cricket Board because of the clause that would bind them against signing up for other Twenty20 leagues such as the IPL dues to clash of schedules. Now having already lost the West Indies captaincy to Darren Sammy, Gayle will be counting on the franchisees rethinking their options overnight.

         While Herschelle Gibbs may have missed his bus through non performance and a turbulent year with the board, Mark Boucher being overlooked is rather perplexing given that he serves the dual role of the wicket keeper as well as a finisher with fighting qualities as a batsman.

          However, the IPL franchisees appear to be delivering the message that the boards have not been able to certain players because of their stature, role and contribution. It is a cruel way to be told they cannot play, when perhaps they still have the fight in them, but then they set themselves up by taking the risk. However, as sportsmen would say, unless you give it one all, there is no way of knowing one's own character and mettle. Tomorrow is a new day and it is time to rise and shine ( or walk into a dignified sunset  as the case may be).