With top players bought like commodities (onions or art, depending on one’s viewpoint) the IPL auction is a compelling theatre. Cricket remains the core of the IPL and here are ten reasons to celebrate it. 2) IPL launched cricket’s PPP (public-private partnership)Before IPL, cricket was a tightly controlled monopoly of ‘official’ bodies with tough entry barriers. 3) IPL transformed cricket’s economic landscapeThe IPL’s runaway commercial success provided cricket an economic lifeline and resources from the shorter format are used to keep alive traditional cricket. ALSO READ: IPL auction 2019: How the different squads stack up4) IPL created ‘club culture’ in cricketThe IPL structure of privately-owned franchise teams ushered in football- style club culture.

Source: Hindustan Times December 19, 2018 05:36 UTC