IPL cricketers’ arrival in the UAE ignites innovative ideas among fans to enjoy the league

By K.R. Nayar

Cricket fans are excited with top stars arriving here to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Whether fans would be let in to watch the matches or not, they have decided to get ready for the event buying team jerseys and constantly sharing information about the stars on their arrival, stay, and much more. IPL fever is taking on the country....…

G Force Cricket Academy youngsters practice wearing the different IPL team jerseys 

To be in a city where the cream of world cricketers have landed to play in the Indian Premier League’s 13th edition is a special feeling. Within a radius of a maximum one and a half-hour drive, all of them will be staying here for nearly three months, and for cricket fans, whether they would be able to see them or not, it is a matter of pride for them. Every cricket fan in this country is planning to get ready for the upcoming 53 days of action.

When in 2014 the UAE had hosted IPL’s early matches, it made almost every fan here feel special as they could tell their friends and relatives back in their home country about how they had watched the finest players in the world in action here. This neutral venue also took pride in the fact that it has become the only country in the world to have hosted multiple T20 cricket leagues.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Andre Russell has a bunch of supporters here 

I visited the ICC Cricket Academy where the teams will be going through their intense training sessions using the state of the art facilities available there. All types of pitches created in the academy have been watered regularly and kept ready for practice. During my visit to the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, it was good to note that not only were the pitches being worked on but work was also going on in the pavilion to create more facilities, just in case spectators would be permitted during the matches, maybe not in the early part, but probably during the later stages of the league.

The fact that cricket fever has gripped all over the country was evident when trainees of the G-Force Cricket Academy wore colours of all the eight IPL teams during their training session. Gopal Jasapara, their head coach, who has introduced many innovative methods to bring in more passion for the game among his students, said: “I like my boys to do something unique all the time. I wanted to create excitement among my students to enjoy this two-month-long event here. We went about our usual training sessions but have created the IPL flavour dressing up in the teams’ jerseys during practice.”

Cricket fans are only hoping that spectators will be allowed into the stadium, though the recent spike in the cases of coronavirus in the country has made many of them nervous. One of my cricket-crazy friends who has made his preparations for this event even if he is not allowed into the stadium, said: “I went to a sports shop and got my favourite Chennai Super Kings’team jersey and cap. Now I will watch all matches on television wearing them till I am allowed into the ground.”

Virat Kohli tweets his picture from the balcony of the Waldorf Astoria hotel

Outlets selling sports goods are busy trying to procure more IPL team jerseys hoping there would be buyers if spectators are allowed to attend the matches. The interesting aspect of IPL being held here is that boys from the different academies, who are also from other countries, want to enjoy the league by aligning themselves with one of the teams.  Andre Russell from Kolkata Knight Riders has many admirers ever since he came as the chief guest for the Zurich Cricket Sixes tournament at The Sevens Stadium in February this year.

During the 2014 IPL edition, many young cricketers had been given the opportunity to bowl at the nets to the players during the camps; but this time since the players will be protected in a bio-bubble, domestic bowlers are unlikely to be considered. Almost all teams have flown in net bowlers from their respective states. Since the summer heat here has been hovering between 40 and 45 degrees C these days, teams are like to practice after the quarantine period only during the evenings, mostly under floodlights.

The talk in cricket circles is about how Virat Kohli flew in a chartered flight from Mumbai instead of joining his Royal Challengers Bangalore team from Bengaluru. Kohli posted a picture from his hotel balcony at the Waldorf Astoria on his twitter.  Since many fans had got the news in advance that Vistara Airlines would be flying in most of the teams, a few fans managed to reach the airport to catch a glimpse of the players walking out. 

Cricket fans here believe that since the league would be held in this country, they should be aware of all details about the star players. Hence small details such as Ajinkya Rahane, who will play for Delhi Capitals, not traveling with his family and his Instagram posting with his wife and child are being shared. The news that Lasith Malinga will not be arriving early for Mumbai Indians has created anxiety among the Sri Lankan fans.

Shane Watson from his room gives a video message to fans 

CSK team’s superstar Shane Watson, who joined his teammates in Dubai, shared a video message from his hotel room: "My seven-day room bound quarantine here in Dubai has just started. It’s so cool to be here to get into the preparation for another exciting season of IPL. I am getting used to being in a room with plenty to do. I have got a beautiful view of the Burj Khalifa. I am going to be doing some exercises, walking up and down my room, listening to podcasts… I am so excited to be here for another IPL campaign.”

Many youngsters are hoping to meet Indian opener Rohit Sharma during the IPL, and if not they are willing to wait till the last phase of the IPL when Sharma will be launching his cricket academy here. Girban Chakraborty, Head of Operations of Rach Sports, the company responsible for the formation of the 'CricKingdom Cricket Academy by Rohit Sharma’ here, has stated that Sharma will spend time with students of the academy and inspire them with tips as well.

The mounting excitement can be felt not only in cricket academies where youngsters train regularly but in the many social media groups of cricket lovers too.  Some have already set up the IPL signature tune as their mobile’s ringtone.