As I have detailed previously on this blog I am an IPL virgin with this being the first season that I have watched any of the games.

Firstly, I had to decide who to support as watching a competition and supporting none of the teams would be alien to me. In the end I decided to plump for the Delhi Daredevils with the mix of Sehwag, Dilshan, Collingwood (if he ever plays) and Nannes proving irresistible.

On making my preference known, I was warned by a number of IPL acolytes that Delhi were perennial underachievers and that I should be prepared to be disappointed. Being a Liverpool FC supporter, I have become accustomed to that since 1990, so if anything that cemented my choice.

After the first two matches, I started to wonder what all the fuss was about. Delhi won both games fairly easily and Sehwag lit up the second game against the Rajasthan Royals with some typical blitzkrieg batting.

But just like Liverpool in recent years, success was soon followed by dismal failure and the Daredevils were well and truly annihilated by Mumbai Indians yesterday.

There was the slight compensation of seeing Sachin Tendulkar deliver another batting masterclass. But I don’t enjoy seeing Wayne Rooney or Didier Drogba torment Liverpool, so my enjoyment was somewhat lessened.

There was also the sight of Sehwag and Dilshan opening the batting together, which is nearly as good as seeing Scarlett Johansson and Kylie Minogue in bed together. But it was over before it began and Delhi ended up losing by 98 runs – a massive defeat in T20 cricket.

I hope it isn’t a precursor to an inconsistent and disappointing campaign. And also not a bad omen ahead of the Manchester United-Liverpool match on Sunday, but I fear it is.

Latest World Cricket Stories

• The Life of Delhi Daredevils Fans
• Watch IPL Highlights 2010
• The Reverse Sweep
• Where are the IPL Highlights? I Can’t Find Them
• The Michael Clarke & Lara Bingle saga
• Bangladesh vs England Test Highlights
• Watch Yusuf Pathan IPL Century Video
• Your IPL 3 Guide 2010
• New Zealand vs Australia ODI Highlights
• IPL Preview: The Lalit Modi Publicity Machine

who will be the stars of the tournament? who will win the tournament? what is your IPL dream team?

Game 10 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajastan Royals

Royal Challengers Bangalore 93 for 0 (Kallis 44*, Pandey 42*) beat Rajasthan Royals 92 (Kumble 3-9, Praveen 3-18) by 10 wickets

Earlier Highlights

Game 9 Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians 218 for 7 (Tendulkar 63, Tiwary 61) beat Delhi Daredevils 120 for 9 (Bravo 2-11, Jayasuriya 2-17) by 98 runs

Game 8 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings 164 for 3 (Dhoni 66*, Badrinath 43*) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 109 (Kemp 3-12) by 55 runs

Game 7 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab

Bangalore Royal Challengers 204 for 2 (Kallis 89*, Uthappa 51) beat Kings XI Punjab 203 for 3 (Bopara 77, Bisla 73) by eight wickets

Game 6 Rajastan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils 142 for 4 (Sehwag 75) beat Rajasthan Royals 141 for 6 (Jhunjhunwala 53*) by six wickets

Game 5 Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers

Deccan Chargers 190 for 4 (Symonds 50, Gibbs 45) beat Chennai Super Kings 159 for 9 (Dhoni 42, Morkel 42*, Vaas 3-21) by 31 runs

Game 4 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Bangalore

Kolkata Knight Riders 136 for 3 (Tiwary 50, Hodge 50) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 135 for 7 (Kallis 65*, Mathews 4-19) by seven wickets

Game 3 Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils 146 for 5 (Gambhir 72, Manhas 30*, Sreesanth 2-24) beat Kings XI Punjab 142 for 9 (Bopara 56, Nannes 2-12, Maharoof 2-37) by five wickets

Kings XI Punjab Innings:

More Highlights

Delhi Innings:

Game 2 – Mumbai Indians vs Rajastan Royals

Mumbai Indians 212 for 6 (Rayudu 55, Tiwary 53, Mascarenhas 2-34) beat Rajasthan Royals 208 for 7 (Yusuf 100, Dogra 41, Malinga 2-22) by 4 runs

Game 1 – Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders 161 for 4 (Mathews 65*, Shah 58*, Vaas 2-22) beat Deccan Chargers 150 for 7 (Gilchrist 54, Langeveldt 2-26) by 11 runs

Kolkata Innings:

Deccan Innings:

The Reverse Sweep is an irreverent round-up of the week that was in cricket. For further insight into this wonderful game of ours please visit my blog also entitled The Reverse Sweep, or follow me on Twitter @TheReverseSweep.

England stumble past Bangladesh thanks to Swann’s ten for

After some stubborn resistance from Junaid Siddique and Mushfiqur Rahim, England finally managed to down Bangladesh in the penultimate session of the 1^st test at Chittagong. Alastair Cook and his men were nearly punished for an unadventurous team selection, which saw only four bowlers picked. Luckily Graeme Swann, the solitary spinner, bowled magnificently to record the first ten for by an English spinner since Jim Laker’s infamous 19 against Australia in 1956. Playing six batsmen against Bangladesh’s powder-puff attack was conservatism gone mad and James Tredwell should have played instead of Michael Carberry or Jonathan Trott. Previous great England fast bowlers would also have been turning in their graves at the sight of Tim Bresnan, wonderful trier that he is, opening the bowling in a test match.

On the plus side it was good to see Kevin Pietersen coming back into form and make some of his numerous critics eat humble pie. Cook and Collingwood both batted well for their centuries and Bell also looked in good touch, but the Bangladesh bowling was below county standard and the pitch was flat. The 2^nd test begins in Dhaka on Saturday and hopefully England will adopt a more attacking outlook by bringing in Tredwell for Trott.

Bangladesh still look someway behind the other test playing countries and even though they have a handful of good players in Shakib, Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah they seriously lack decent fast bowlers in the absence of Mortaza.

The IPL starts with a whimper but improves thereafter

I hadn’t watched the IPL before, but partly due to the Champions League and partly because of the coverage on You Tube, I’ve decided to give it a go this year. Firstly, I had to decide who to support with the Delhi Daredevils emerging as my choice; the combination of Sehwag, Collingwood and the tag of perennial underachievers proving irresistible in the end.

Then it was time to tune into the cricket with the inevitable time delays on You Tube. I was disappointed with the opening ceremony and match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers.

But since then, I am surprised to say that I have enjoyed what I have seen. I’m still worried the damage that the IPL could cause to international cricket particularly that of West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. And I still believe a proper window should be found in the schedule so that all the top players can play in the whole tournament. But who could fail to have enjoyed:

• Yusuf Pathan’s 37 ball century – even if surely Shane Warne was wrong to say it was the best hundred he had ever seen
• Seeing Sachin Tendulkar and Warne on the same cricket field again
• The electric start by Delhi Daredevils and the scintillating knock by Virender Sehwag against the Rajasthan Royals
• The 407 run fest between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Kings XI Punjab, with brilliant batting by Jacques Kallis (Moi, a blocker? Non), Robin Uthappa and a resurgent Ravi Bopara.

Maybe the IPL is a force for good, after all?

Pakistan senators make match-fixing allegations. Again.

I spent last week looking at property in the Kent countryside, so as such there wasn’t the usual weekly column. Obviously, the story on the punishments meted out by the PCB to its players following the Australia tour broke during this time, which I commented on in my blog.

This week some Pakistani senators have alleged that “one or more” players in the national side are involved in deliberately under-performing for money. There seems to be more conspiracies in Pakistan cricket than in a whole series of the X Files. Pakistan were beaten by a better team. End of story. They were poorly led, plagued by infighting and inconsistent selection, and had to contend with the idiot that is Ijaz Butt. But cheating? Not from what I saw. It is time for Pakistan cricket to pull together and let the new chief selector Mohsin Khan select the best team and captain available. The talent is certainly there.

Cricket becomes like football

I’ve been watching with increasing incredulity the build-up to the Australia -New Zealand test series, which has been dominated by Michael Clarke splitting with his fiancée. Even Cricinfo has focussed on this rather than the cricket. Since when has cricket become football? For Ashley and Cheryl Cole’s marital problems now read Clarke and Lara Bingle. Frankly, I don’t give a shit.

As far as the actual cricket goes, New Zealand at least gave Australia a bit of a fight in the ODIs. I fear that this will not be the case in the test series though especially as Shane Bond and Scott Styris are retired from tests and the Black Caps test squad is pretty inexperienced.

Normal service is resumed for the West Indies

Despite the fright of losing the T20 and first ODI to Zimbabwe, West Indies recovered to win the ODI series 4-1. New coach Otis Gibson has an abundance of talent to play with and if can get his best XI on the field and instil a better work ethic from his players, then the future could be bright for West Indian cricket. Zimbabwe seem to be more competitive and with the World’s focus being away from Robert Mugabe, they could re-enter the test match fray when the ICC next debates the issue.

Welcome to the new Mr Poppadom

Tough cricketer that he was, Nasser Hussain’s fingers didn’t quite live up to that tag and he endured a number of broken digits and the fitting sobriquet of Mr Poppadom. Another cricketer with a tough reputation has surely now inherited that name though. Step forward Graeme Smith who has now been ruled out of the IPL after fracturing yet another finger in the match with Delhi Daredevils. How many broken digits is that in the last 18 months.

The Reverse Sweep list – An Indian XI of the last 30 years

To celebrate the start of the IPL, here is my Indian test XI from the 30 years I have spent watching cricket.

1. Sunil Gavaskar – India’s pre-eminent batsman before Tendulkar who faced down the legendary West Indian pace attack in the 70s and 80s and took 13 centuries from them at a superlative 65.45.

2. Virender Sehwag – The most devastating test batsmen ever along with Viv Richards. Sehwag is not a mere mortal, he is a God.

3. Rahul Dravid – The Wall tends to get runs when India needs them most and his technique is impeccable.

4. Sachin Tendulkar – Approaching 100 international test centuries and the leading run scorer in tests and ODI. No other words are necessary.

5. V.V.S Laxman – I could have gone for Vengsarker, Azharuddin or Ganguly, but seeing Laxman bat is like watching poetry in motion.

6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – A good wicketkeeper and an excellent batsman who already averages around 40 in tests.

7. Kapil Dev (Captain) – The man who led India to victory in the 1983 World Cup and one of the four great all-rounders of the 80s along with Imran, Botham and Hadlee.

8. Anil Kumble – Over 600 test wickets and a man that performed in all countries and upon all surfaces. India’s leading matchwinner with the ball.

9. Javagal Srinath – Where Kapil trod, Srinath followed and he was a wonderful leader of the Indian attack

10. Zaheer Khan – Other than the incomparable Wasim Akram, Zaheer has to be the best left arm quick I have seen in 30 years of test cricket.

11. Bishan Bedi – I could have gone for Harbhajan but as a small boy I remember being transfixed by the wily Bedi.

That’s all for this week folks.

Read previous editions of The Reverse Sweep:

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 12

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 11

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 10

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 9

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 8

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 7

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 6

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 5

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 4

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 3

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 2

The Reverse Sweep – Issue 1

A few weeks back the IPL struck a partnership with YouTube (and therefore Google) to stream all the games and also put up the IPL highlights after every game. Well up until game number 6 they’ve honoured that agreement with all the highlights on their Youtube Channel. But game 7 and 8 were played last night with scintillating knocks from Jacques Kallis and M. S Dhoni and still they haven’t given us good cricket fans the chance to relive all that entertainment. NO HIGHLIGHTS!

You can watch Indian Premier League 2010 with TVN Sports but of course you have to pay a small fee to see all the games plus the highlights.

The IPL should be on top of this issue and give all cricket fans the opportunity to watch these exciting matches. I don’t know really what’s going on with the situation but I reckon it would be wise to make a comment on the IPL Youtube Channel to make sure they put up all the highlights right after they happen.

They owe cricket fans that much…

PS. their Youtube channel is really clustered and really annoying to navigate around so we are putting all the vital match action and IPL Highlights embedded in one place. I really want to see the action as much as anyone else but it’s on in the middle of the night in Australia. Rant over.

• The Life of Delhi Daredevils Fans
• Watch IPL Highlights 2010
• The Reverse Sweep
• Where are the IPL Highlights? I Can’t Find Them
• The Michael Clarke & Lara Bingle saga
• Bangladesh vs England Test Highlights
• Watch Yusuf Pathan IPL Century Video
• Your IPL 3 Guide 2010
• New Zealand vs Australia ODI Highlights
• IPL Preview: The Lalit Modi Publicity Machine

If you haven’t heard of this bizarre issue, then I’ll quickly bring you up to date. But, a warning, you may feel a little dirty after I’m through. Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke is, or should I say was, engaged to a bikini model named Lara Bingle. Bingle is, or should I say was, famous for a commercial in which she asked the world ‘Where the bloody hell are you??’ imploring tourists to visit Australia. A couple of years ago, before she was dating Clarke, Bingle had an extra-marital affair with Brendan Fevola, who is a high profile Australian footballer. Now, this event, although certainly big news at the time was mostly forgotten, however in the last couple of weeks a photo emerged that Fevola had taken, which showed Bingle nude in the shower. Apparently Fevola had sent this out to his mates, and it had then been sold to an Australian magazine. The problem really started to arise when Bingle decided to sell her angle on the issue to the same magazine that had published the photo. In the interview Bingle claimed that she never knew that Fevola had been married at the time, and tried to paint herself as an innocent victim. Claims are that Clarke had warned her that she shouldn’t do this, and as a result of the media furore that has exploded in the ensuing days, Clarke and Bingle have now split.

So, how does this sordid saga affect cricket you may ask. Well, the short answer is that it does and it doesn’t…hmmm…let me explain.

You see the role of wives and girlfriends in the Australian test team has been somewhat of a hot topic over the years. In the not so distant past they weren’t allowed to accompany the players on overseas tours, or in the changing rooms. However, over the last couple of decades this has shifted, particularly because of the fact that players realistically are on tour all year! However, there has been some resistance to this more relaxed approach. Former players, such as old grumpy himself Ian Chappell, have complained that woman have no place on tour, and even current players have been angered by the growing presence of what are referred to as the WAG’s (wives and girlfriends). In fact Bingle herself has been a point of contention before, with Simon Katich effectively feuding with Michael Clarke about him putting girlfriend above team.

Now, there are a couple of things I want to say about this issue.

The first is that I’m sick to death of cricketing scribes writing on this issue and saying that they think that no one should be writing about it, as it’s not a cricket issue. Well, if you feel that, don’t write about it! Yes, it’s unfortunate that this has become such a big thing, but hey, it is affecting cricket, as it has brought up issues surrounding the team, and Clarke pulled out of the last part of the ODI tour to deal with the problems.

The second thing is that I think this whole issue of wives and girlfriends being a bad influence on the team, is just absurd. I’ve heard a couple of people say ‘well, you don’t bring your girlfriend to your work do you!’ but that is just ridiculous. 99% of the population don’t have a job that involves travelling or staying with your team for most of the year. It is unfair to expect players to be away from their families for that amount of time. Furthermore there is more than a hint of sexism in these arguments. Sure, perhaps in the past the Australian team was a ‘boy’s club’ where what happened on tour stayed on tour, but that just doesn’t cut it as a response. Happy people make better cricketers, and no one can tell me that a player who is able to take his family around the world (when they can) for the short part of their life that they are an international cricketer will be a worse player.

I say that we should be able to discuss this issue, no, not the sordid details, which is unfortunately what the tabloid media obsesses over, but the broader issues that this saga raises. If we get to a place where there is better understanding and respect of players’ families, then at least there will be one positive aspect of the Clarke-Bingle affair.

Latest Stories

• The Life of Delhi Daredevils Fans
• Watch IPL Highlights 2010
• The Reverse Sweep
• Where are the IPL Highlights? I Can’t Find Them
• The Michael Clarke & Lara Bingle saga
• Bangladesh vs England Test Highlights
• Watch Yusuf Pathan IPL Century Video
• Your IPL 3 Guide 2010
• New Zealand vs Australia ODI Highlights
• IPL Preview: The Lalit Modi Publicity Machine

Bangladesh vs England 1st Test Highlights

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

Yusuf Pathan Records the 2nd Fastest IPL Century

Latest World Cricket Stories

• The Life of Delhi Daredevils Fans
• Watch IPL Highlights 2010
• The Reverse Sweep
• Where are the IPL Highlights? I Can’t Find Them
• The Michael Clarke & Lara Bingle saga
• Bangladesh vs England Test Highlights
• Watch Yusuf Pathan IPL Century Video
• Your IPL 3 Guide 2010
• New Zealand vs Australia ODI Highlights
• IPL Preview: The Lalit Modi Publicity Machine

Here’s your IPL 3 guide… Find out what has changed since South Africa last year. Discover all the essential information from scheduling, online broadcasting, security, the auction, potential stars, the pakistanis getting snubbed and much much more.

Schedule and Timing

Season three of the Indian Premier League begins on the 12^th of March and will continue until the final on the 25^th April. Each team plays each other home and away.  Games begin at 10.30GMT/16.00IST and 14.30 GMT/20.00 IST.  The top 4 teams after the league stage play each other in semi finals, 3^rd place play off and the final.  In total, 60 games of T20.

Online Broadcasting

IPL3 will be broadcast on YouTube, after the league and Google struck a deal to show all games.  The landmark agreement gives Google online rights for two years, with the video site showing the games free online around the globe.  Viewers will be able to customise their experience, with various camera angles, and the ability to freeze, pause and rewind play at any time.  While the action can potentially reach millions of computer screens, the feed in many areas will be delayed by a matter of minutes.

Security

Security was a topic of contention in the run up to the IPL, in a busy year for international sport hosted by India.  The hockey world cup, the IPL and the Commonwealth Games are being held, and have received threats from various parties warning of attacks.  The ‘313 Brigade’, a suspected arm of Al-Qaeda warned, all international competitors, in an email a threat subsequently dismissed English security expert Reg Dickason. His report raised question marks over the implementation of the security, with regard to the numerous teams and many venues of the tournament. Bal Thackeray, head of far right political party Shiv Sena ‘banned’ Australian player of all sports in light of recent attacks on Indian students in a move largely to garner publicity.  Thackeray has since withdrawn his ‘ban’.  And clashes in the state of Andhra Pradesh, over the bifurcation of the state have resulted in the movement of current champions Deccan Chargers away from their home of Hyderabad, relocating in Navi Mumbai and Cuttack.  The hockey world cup, now progressing into the semi finals has been completely clear of security issues, amid tight and competent measures.

Bargain of the Auction?

The latest auction for new players was held in mid-January, as Eoin Morgan signed for Royal Challengers Bangalore for $220,000.  He has been spotted practising his reverse sweeps in practice and promises to be an exciting prospect.

IPL 3 Hottest Property

Keiron Pollard is IPL3’s hottest property. When the Trinidadian was last up for auction in 2008, he failed to even attract the base price of $60,000. Since then, a successful season in Australia and blazing performances during Champions League in India caught the eye of potential bidders.  Four franchises each bid the maximum amount for Pollard, forcing a blind auction to secure his signature. He will line up for the Mumbai Indians, who paid the maximum $750,000 and will look for maximum value for money with his big hitting and awkward medium pace.

No Showcase of Pakistan Talent

The auction sparked a diplomatic row as not a single Pakistani player attracted a single bid.  None of the World Twenty20 champions including Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Amer, Umar Gul and Umar Akmal will feature in IPL3. Leading Pakistani politicians have regarded the ‘snub’ as a ‘humiliation’ as a Pakistani parliamentary delegation visit to India was cancelled and calls to boycott IPL3 have been expressed.  The Indian government has denied it had issued advice to franchises against the securing of Pakistani players for political reasons. Issues regarding the permission of visas were cited as reason the players were not snapped up however, question mark over the Indian public’s stance on Pakistan since the Mumbai terror attacks remain. However it must be noted that Pakistani swing legend Wasim Akram is on the staff at the Kolkata Knightriders as bowling coach.

Changes to the Rules

The 10 minute ‘tactical time-out’ ruling, held every 10 overs to aid ‘strategy’ that became a hindrance in IPL2 has been scrapped.  Leading players plus spectators complained at the ultimately interrupting measure, intended to maximise advertising space but publicised as a ‘tactical innovation’. Instead, teams can use a 2 ½ minute strategic timeout in IPL3; the bowling side between the 6^th and 8^th over, whilst the batting team can take their time out between the 11^th and 16^th over.   Broadcasters will similarly take full advantage of these breaks to fill with commercial messages.

Sporting Franchises

The MCC admitted an interest, whilst Manchester City were rumoured to be interested in one of two new franchises being offered for the 2011 season.  Each franchise had a base price of $225m and were available for urban centres currently without ‘IPL teams and associated ‘catchment areas’. Yet a requirement to submit a bank guarantee cheque of $100m to bid and a need for the company’s net worth to be over $1bn proved to be prohibitive and off putting to many potential investors.  The auction attracted just three bids, which were not opened, one of which was late and disregarded.  Since then, such unreasonable conditions have been relaxed and further bids encouraged.  Adani Enterprise, Jaypee Group and Sahara are expected to be prominent in the next round of bidding on the 21st March, whilst a super consortium of Khans: Saif Ali, Kareena and Karishma are expected to join forces with Videocon and the Panchshil Group to gain a franchise for Pune.  The process, widely regarded as a complete flop for it’s over ambitious and stringent clauses has caused many within the BCCI and the IPL governing council to speak out and criticise the process.  This could be the start of rifts arising and rivilaries emerging within the powers of the IPL not to mention two more teams and subsequently, a more jam-packed tournament.

Cricketing Franchises

The Rajasthan Royals, victors of the inaugural IPL season have joined forces with domestic outfits Cape Cobras, Trinidad and Tobago, and Hampshire.  Whilst Victoria are in negotiations and are expected to join shortly. All teams will play under the same ‘Royals 2020’ moniker and wear identical kit, share players and compete in a festival, expected to be held in July. Disregarding the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, Manchester United and others, the link up has been hailed as the ‘world’s first global sporting franchise’.  The influence and attraction of Indian franchises is strong, as Rajasthan previously negotiated with Middlesex and Leicestershire, the Delhi Daredevils are working with the South African Nashua Titans and the Kolkata Knightriders have expressed an interest in linking with and English county.

New Zealand vs Australia 5th ODI Highlights

New Zealand vs Australia 4th ODI Highlights

New Zealand vs Australia 3rd ODI Highlights

New Zealand vs Australia 2nd ODI Highlights

New Zealand vs Australia 1st ODI Highlights

5 Things to Know About Lalit Modi…

1. Lalit Kumar Modi is the Chairman and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League.
2. He is Sports Illustrated India’s 2^nd most influential person in Indian sport.
3. 16th in Time Magazine’s ‘Best Sports Executives in the World 2008′.
4. The man behind “the World’s Hottest Sports League” according to Forbes magazine.
5. He is also an avid Twitter user.

But do not confuse his ‘tweets’ with the other celebrity’s mundane mumblings – @LalitKModi is another of Modi’s tricks to generate hype around the revolutionary league!

During last year’s Champions League, the broadcaster ESPN Star commissioned a poll during a game asking, “Is Lalit Modi the saviour of Indian cricket?” A resounding 82% of the public participants voted ‘yes’ in agreement.  Modi is viewed as a hard-nosed and ruthless businessman, the ebulient face of the IPL and the pioneer of franchise cricket in one. And the output of his product, channelled through our television screens is carefully controlled for the most impressive impact, even interactive polls.

Again during the Champions League, Modi found himself quaffing drinks and chatting to dignitaries in the plush surroundings of the hospitality suites overlooking play.  In the midst of the action, darting between businessmen, administrators and politicians he was the man of the moment. And there just happened to be a camera nearby to capture such scenes.

At halftime, Modi strode out on the pitch, the supremo busy in dialogue with a gaggle of followers hot on his heels.  The camera was there again, relaying events.  After cutting a swath 20 or so yards onto the field of play, Modi turned round back into the comfort of the suites, much to the bemusement of the crowd expecting to see the great man do a lap of honour and greet the crowd.  Modi had little intention of inspecting the wicket, of touring the ground or waving to the masses.  He had got his shot for the TV audience.

This is the Lalit Modi who is trailed by a live camera to capture the moments of his existence-the businessman, always in action, always busy, always the man in demand.  Viewers of the IPL will be familiar with shots showing Modi tapping away at his laptop, speaking into a phone and simultaneously enjoying the spectacle, observing the odd delivery.  Finishing on one phone, an assistant would hand over yet another handset.  The producer would then cut to another camera just as Modi is handed his Blackberry, perhaps to update his Twitter.

‘Tweeting’ has been accepted as the de-facto method of communication between celebrities and their adoring fans. Lalit Modi uses his @LalitKModi account for exactly that, and more still.  No doubt with the help of an assistant, he replies to questions, messages of support plus abuse through Twitter, but he also uses the micro-blogging site as a means to announce, to make statements and express his own qualms with the world. By means of Twitter he can post what he wants, reply to whom he wants and portray himself and his ideas in the fashion he sees fit.  There are no awkward questions to dodge; they can simply be deleted in a click. It is Modi’s virtual press conference with a huge willing audience, literally at his fingertips.

Modi has already boycotted the Taj chain of hotels, mocked Ricky Ponting’s apprehension over security and blacklisted Chris Cairn’s involvement in the competition, all by Twitter.  By far the most controversial ‘Tweet’ was Modi’s declaration of 2010’s Champions League fixture dates, coinciding with the English season.  ‘Whats the IPL got to do with UK county championship?’ Modi nonchalantly replied when accused of disrespecting county cricket fans. He has not so much shown ‘disrespect’ for the counties, he just views them as a nonentity.  English cricket is barely an obstacle for Modi’s ambitions in new markets and reaching places cricket has never gained a foothold before. But do not be fooled that a love of the game is his motivation.  It is his capitalist spirit.

Modi recently said, with regards to new franchises in the IPL, in the pages The Times newspaper in the UK,  “There is a football club, a very famous football club in the UK, very interested in bidding. Probably one of the most famous football clubs-that is all I can say. Probably top three.  They are interested in taking a stake.” Immediately the speculation began, could it be Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United?  Using his digital soapbox Modi Twittered, ruling out Chelsea, whilst Manchester United denied any involvement.  Assumptions were made about Manchester City, considering their owner’s Middle-east base and considerable wealth.  Modi knew it would cause a stir, it would guarantee more coverage, and generate debate among the football press and the coveted football market.

Modi’s hints, speculation and stirring gained further press, debate and coverage of the upcoming IPL3, as did the security situation and the failure to secure any Pakistani players, a constant flow of intrigue, debate, controversy and publicity. A ‘last minute’ deal with ITV to screen matches live in the UK depicts Modi as a hero for the UK’s cricket fans, and his confirmation of players arriving in India reassure his followers that they will indeed see their stars in India, with Modi the personal guarantor. And into the final week before the tournament, the emphasis is on building up the expectation of the spectacle.  Deepika Padukone, UB40, Lionel Richie and an ‘ABBA Revival’ are ‘tweeted’ as opening ceremony guests.

Modi did not save Indian cricket. Indian cricket did not need a saviour to rescue it from a time of non-existent peril.  Yet on the back of the 2007 T20 World Cup success Modi had the vision and foresight to synergise cricket, film, business and modern marketing to form India’s most comprehensive entertainment to date.  In doing so, creating the perfect mix for India’s consumer market, and the advertisers who target the burgeoning middle class. In mixing sport along with the ethos of global capitalism urging growth, expansion and diversification, Modi will surely take T20 cricket to the new followers, to the United States and beyond.

With Lalit Kumar Modi, the networker, ruthless businessman, the jolly face of the IPL, the promise maker and deliverer at the helm, there is only one way to keep informed. On his terms, @LalitKModi.

Latest World Cricket Stories

• The Life of Delhi Daredevils Fans
• Watch IPL Highlights 2010
• The Reverse Sweep
• Where are the IPL Highlights? I Can’t Find Them
• The Michael Clarke & Lara Bingle saga
• Bangladesh vs England Test Highlights
• Watch Yusuf Pathan IPL Century Video
• Your IPL 3 Guide 2010
• New Zealand vs Australia ODI Highlights
• IPL Preview: The Lalit Modi Publicity Machine