Think twice before you criticise the Indian Premier Legue because despite the its controversies it has done more good than bad to the Indian cricket as whole.Over the last five years the league has only grown in terms of fame and fortune. ndian Premier League season five turned out to be more successful and more exciting contest compared to the past four editions. The teams looked balance and it looked like that finally the players have got hold of this tricky format. Seven out of the nine teams that played in the tournament, fought for a place in the qualifiers and that made the battle more interesting.

There were quite a few controversies as well. Owners were banned from the ground, there were charges of molestation and there was a sting operation that showed IPL players talking about spot-fixing. These controversies were followed by huge debates that whether IPL should be stopped, people said that there is a lot of foreign money involved in the competition. And as always our political leaders made it a national issue and one leader also decided to fast to protest against the league.

Five years ago when the idea was introduced, it founded more people who were against it than its supporters. And in the last five years the number of people who want the league to stop has increased, but has it had any effect on the tournament? More and more players are joining the league; countries like Australia and England who kept their distances from the league are more than happy to allow their key players in this league. Every time a match is played the grounds are almost full and the intensity in people is high.

IPL may have been under controversies for some wrong reasons, but it happens with all the leagues, IPL is only five years old and the management is bound to improve.

Let’s have a look at some of the positive things about IPL and the reasons why it should stay

Exposure to domestic players: IPL is the best thing that could have ever happened to a domestic player. There are a number of examples where a player has played 100s of Ranji matches, but is not known anywhere apart from the state that he plays for. Today, there are nine franchises and only four foreigners can play in each team. So it provides a lot of opportunities to the local talents of India who have their moments of glories infront of cameras for over 50 days.

Domestic players now have the money: There were cases heard when a player did not have money to undergo their treatments. But IPL has changed that. Big international players get big amounts, but the best part about this competition is that it provides money that no domestic player could have ever hoped for. There are a number of examples where a domestic player on the basis of his IPL contract has provided the much needed support to the family.

BCCI now has ample money to take care of retired players: No matter how much people criticize BCCI, but one thing is for sure that they know how to take care of the ex-players. Even this year a lot of money was distributed among the players who have done well for India in the past. BBCI were not always rich and the past do suggests of a tough times that many cricketers had to go through. But now when they have the money BCCI gesture of distributing it among the past achievers for India is commendable. One simple question to all those (including politicians) who are critical of the league, have they done anything of this sort for their community. If not please stop criticising.

IPL gives young players chance to share dressing room with world’s best: Indian cricket should thank IPL for this. Players like Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Pollock, Glenn McGrath and many others have played in this tournament, and the result is for everyone to see. The quality of cricket has increased; young players now have the chance to meet their idols. What were the chances of a local Rajasthan player to share the crease with Rahul Dravid, if this competition never existed? Players have made careers out of their IPL performances and that is one great thing about this tournament.

IPL has set example for other sports: India is a nation obsessed with cricket and IPL has taken this obsession to another level. But one thing that it has shown is that there are ways that the game can be popularized. India needs IPL like tournament in other sports and there are several competitions that are coming up. Sports need to have some glamour and IPL has proved this, so know other sports authority should follow IPL steps t grow other sports in India.

By Indian Sports News Network