IPL and the Test Cricket

The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) began with a big bang. Some people thought that it was just to increase money. Yes, it was. But apart from that, it also gave a platform to the many youngsters in the world who hold cricket as their passion. The IPL has taken the entire nation by storm. This leads me to think about the good old Test Cricket. Here are the major differences between these two completely different forms of Cricket.

Tests are played by countries with the players playing for their team. In IPL, the teams are owned by big companies and have players from different countries playing in the same team.

The IPL is the shorter format of the game, (T20). Tests are just too long. T20s is a game of just some hours whereas in tests, it goes on for five days.

The IPL is commercially rich because players are picked up by the team owners by paying the players a large amount of money. Tests are also played by paying money, but not so high.

The IPL is played mostly in India and tests are played all over the world, although there are similar Cricket Leagues in England as well.

Test Cricket is legendary, while IPL is contemporary and modern. In IPL, it is all about making a big score. Whereas in tests, it is all about patience, skill, technique, class, strategy, teamwork and keeping cool. In tests, as the battle is between nations, the loyalties and stakes are much high because the players are with their country.

There would be hardly any other game in the world that would have two forms of the same game so vastly different, but yet equally challenging.

Although IPL (and other short forms of Cricket) can bring in quick and fast fame, a cricketer’s real test lies in being successful in test cricket. 

Salute to maiden win of 1983

On 2nd April 2011, Dhoni’s men created history by bringing home the world cup after 28 yrs. This was a dream come true for a billion Indians. Everybody is praising the team and we all are very proud of what our team has achieved.
Although this a great achievement, I feel 1983 was even more special. It was India’s first World Cup win and it created a strong base for a huge fan following for cricket in India. It was only after 1983 that cricket became almost another religion in India.
Let us have a glimpse of two of the most important matches of 1983 World Cup in tribute to its memory.
In the first two World Cups, India were “underdogs”. But after Kapil Dev was given captaincy in the 1983 World Cup, he strived to make sure India got through every game they played.


India vs. Zimbabwe
This was one match in which India avoided a humiliating defeat where Kapil Pajji’s inning of lifetime saved the day for India. Kapil Dev thought Zimbabwe was an easy team to defeat. But Zimbabwe had different game plans. India was in dire straits at the ridiculous figures of 17 for 5. Even getting fifty runs on board seemed impossible. Then the Indian Captain, Kapil Dev walked in. He played like a man possessed. It was the mother of all innings. He played an unbeaten knock of 175 runs with 6 soaring sixes. He got valuable support from Roger Binny to get to a decent score and then eventually India won the match. That is the beauty of this game. No one can tell the result until the last ball of the match is bowled.


Finals against West Indies
25th June 1983. The historical Lord’s ground. The moment India had been waiting for.
A   place in the final! This is it! The final had started! India vs. the West Indies. The Indians batted first. India stumbled at 183! 184 didn’t matter much for two times World Champions West Indies. They already were ready for a hat trick in winning World Cups. Oh! What a turn of events! The bowlers Ravi Shastri, Roger Binny and Mohinder Amarnath bowled well. The turning point was an amazing catch of Vivian Richards which Kapil Dev took by running 33 yards backwards and Mohinder Amarnath’s two important wickets of Dujon and Marshall. West Indies were bowled over in 140. Kapil Dev’s intelligent captaincy and a great team effort created history. The Underdogs sneaked away the World Cup. Mohinder Amarnath was awarded the prestigious “Man of the Match” award.


My Salute to the great team of 1983 that defeated the big guns West Indies and brought the first world cup for us.