There is always quality in the IPL, but what took it to another level was the successful hosting of the league in South Africa in 2009, and former India coach Ravi Shastri feels it generated interest in a foreign country. The second edition of the Indian Premier League was shifted to South Africa as its dates clashed with the general elections in the country. IPL started 15 years ago on this day. Shastri, who was then part of the governing council of the league, reminisced about the early days of the tournament.
If you look at all the players who played a part in it, the quality of cricket was so good that it took off. But the final seal on the IPL was when we went to South Africa. To go there and see it. Shastri During a conversation with Star Sports, South Africa watched the IPL with the same interest as India, which surprised the world.
He further added, “Because by that time people around the world had started picking teams. What you see now in football, happened in the IPL from the second season itself.”
EPL has been going on for years, teams like Arsenal and Manchester United, but here in two years the fans had their own teams in IPL – Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings or Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Former New Zealand flamboyant Brendon McCullum made an impressive IPL debut in 2008, scoring a 73-ball 158 for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shastri reminisces the first day of IPL. “I remember that day very well, I was backstage, I was with the governing council, I knew what was happening behind the scenes. How the players were being signed, how much interest there was.”
“India won the World Cup in 2007, so because of that, the interest that was created was unbelievable. And one thing I saw, which never happened in other formats of the game, was the kind of people who came to support it. , it seemed like the whole country was united to come there and watch the match.
“The advertising industry, cricket fans, Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood, you name it, everyone was there. And there was no substitute for the quality of cricket that was witnessed from the very first game.”
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja spoke about how his experience in IPL has varied from winning the inaugural edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008 to being a multiple winner with Chennai Super Kings.
“IPL 2008 was the first year, so there was a lot of excitement with the new and big tournament and we used to think about the under-19 players Indian team players who would be a part of this IPL like MSD, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh etc. So I was excited thinking about which team I would go and play.
“But in IPL 2018, it was an emotional moment for us at CSK, as we were back after a break of 2 years. The fans were also waiting for CSK to come back and play at Chepauk Stadium.”
Jadeja said, “So winning the tournament after coming back was something special. The fans of CSK who waited for us and even supported the team in those 2 years when we did not play, it inspired us a lot.”