Date:27/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/27/stories/2008042758160200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

IPL fervour catches city’s imagination

Nandita Sridhar

Electrifying atmosphere at packed stadium

— Photo: M. Vedhan

Lively crowd: A group of youngsters go berserk at one of the many interesting moments of the match between the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at MAC Stadium on Saturday.

Chennai: Barely two days after the IPL’s frenzied beginnings in Chennai, the city reiterated its enthusiasm for the event with an overwhelming response to Saturday’s match between the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The near-sell-out crowd witnessed the home side’s third straight win, with M.S. Dhoni’s closing six an apt gesture of intent.

One of the Chennai team’s brand ambassadors, Krish Srikkanth, was thrilled with the response. “This is the best atmosphere I have ever seen. We have India’s best cricket-loving crowd here and they’ve responded wonderfully. There’s been a perfect blend of cricket and entertainment here. The Chennai flavour has also made it work. I wish I was playing now,” he said.

The timing of the IPL has helped its cause. Summer evenings are when entertainment ventures work best. The entertainment options offered reveal the importance of stadium numbers. Unlike the established Tests and ODIs, a live crowd involvement here is crucial for building city loyalty.

The success of the home team has done its bit as well. Thirty-year-old Rishi Kumar, a bank employee, puts it simply. “I’ve no reason to stay at home. It’s a weekend. There’s cricket, a successful Chennai team, some great music, and so many quality international players. I’ve never experienced anything like this before in Chennai. There’s been so much energy.”

The result-oriented nature of the concept has sometimes pushed quality off the radar — but it hasn’t mattered. What’s packed into the three-hour time-frame has left spectators most entirely occupied with the moment.

The packaging has been exemplary. Entertainment in all its forms has been thrust on you, leading you to question your judgement in ignoring it. Going purely by numbers, the strategy has doubtless worked. In its many ways, people haven’t been offered a choice — they’ve been lured into it.