Volume 18, No. 2, 2021
Indian Premier League – A Boom Or Bane For Atmanirbhar Bharat
Moinuddin Inamdar
Abstract
IPL which started in the year 2008 has become a big platform for young Indian emerging players to showcase their talent and become a part of the Indian team. IPL was the brain child of Lalit Modi who subsequently resigned from BCCI over some controversies & issues. IPL has no doubt revolutionise and globalise the game of cricket by combining cricket with entertainment, fun and bollyhood. There are eight teams in the IPL present format. These teams are Mumbai Indian, Chennai Super King, Kolkatta Knight Rider, Royal Challenger Bangalore, Sun Rise Hyderabad, Delhi Capital, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royale. The brand value of team varies between Rs760 crore (highest) and Rs249 crore (lowest). The present paper evaluates whether IPL is a boon or bane for the realisation of the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat. IPL can be considered as a boon as it has contributed significantly to the Indian economy at the macro level as well as micro level. At the macro level IPL has contributed to the GDP of the country tax revenue to the government, infra structural development (cricket stadium cricket pitches) , improved quality and standards of the game, contributed to tourism development, globalisation of Indian cricket, creation of employment opportunities, higher TV viewership’s across the globe, promoted Indian Industry etc. At the micro level it has benefited cricketers earnings maximum money, helped young emerging players, attached foreign players, fun, excitement, benefited BCCI with maximum revenue etc. However IPL has created some issues and challenges such as commercialisation of cricket, home for gamblers, match fixing scandals, banning of players, wrong schedule during hot summer, hectic schedule , promotion of foreign brands (Chinese brands) pressure on players to perform, dark covid cloud looming over the game, covid cases among the cricketers, postponement of some matches etc. On the whole IPL has benefited the Indian economy, the government, cricket, advertisers, media public and all other stakeholders. However when we apply the concept of Atmanirbhar, the model is financial most profitable model but it does fully comply with the goal of the Atmanirbhar because IPL has Chinese companies as a major Spencer of the game. IPL should reduce our dependency on Chinese companies.
Pages: 3094-3098
Keywords: IPL, Atmanirbhar, Globalisation, Indian Cricket.