Rise of Indian cricket – Part 2

 This ecosystem of corporate money, broadcaster interest, fan loyalty, and a robust and driven cricket team exposed to the best in the international circuit, is the way to developing local cricket 

•  How cricket in India is creating great value and how Sri Lankan cricket can benefit from it

In Part 1 of the article appearing yesterday (https://www.ft.lk/sports/Rise-of-Indian-cricket-Part-1/23-763235), we saw how Indian cricket has reached a global scale and is creating tremendous value for all stakeholders – cricketers, business owners, viewers and broadcasters and how the BCCI is one of the biggest contributors to cricket going global. We explored how individual players in Sri Lanka are seeing value and engaging with Indian cricket in a mutually beneficial way. 

In this article we will explore possible ways Sri Lanka cricket can engage with BCCI in mutually beneficial ways, ones that can greatly enhance Sri Lanka’s performance and stature as a cricketing power, while at the same time providing options in terms of new international locations for IPL as well as injecting new energy and excitement for fans and broadcasters in IPL.

Off the bat the first idea is 

1. Get Sri Lanka to become part of the IPL –

This would entail a new addition to IPL – a Sri Lankan team competing with other IPL teams. A team ‘Colombo Raiders’ (hypothetical) representing Sri Lanka could become part of the IPL ecosystem. It can either be owned fully by a Sri Lankan corporate or be offered to a corporate with interests in Sri Lanka (Amul?) as part of the IPL processes. R. Premadasa Stadium can potentially be the home venue for this team of Sri Lankan players (with two/three foreign players as the IPL rule mandates). This will enable Sri Lanka cricket to feed off the tremendous value creating eco system in the IPL. It will offer huge exposure to local cricketers and with foreign coaches and players mingling together it will unearth talent and help the talent fulfil their potential. 

This can be a win-win as this new team can add an international flavour and dimension to IPL. With Mumbai playing Colombo or Gujarat vying with the new team for honours on the cricket field. Besides it provides an alternative to Indian corporates seeking to find modes of investment in IPL. And for fans BCCI can offer a new international venue for the matches adding to the scope and glamor of IPL. Fans of Mumbai or Bangalore can watch a Colombo Raiders game with their team in Colombo and combine it with a high quality holiday. Broadcasters can find value by widening its ad revenue basket beyond India and to Sri Lanka too. 

2. Get IPL team owners to buy LPL teams –

Many IPL team brands like KKR, MI, CSK and even RR and PBKS have teams they own in the Caribbean league, the UAE league and the USA league. It adds value to their brand to have a global presence. SLC can consciously woo these teams to buy into the local LPL teams or create new ones. Having the IPL owners in Sri Lanka is a critical part of bringing the winning ecosystem into Sri Lanka. 

3. Link in to India’s domestic circuit –

India has a robust Ranji circuit which is at the core of providing the systemic backbone to India’s success as a cricket team. Can three or four teams from Sri Lanka be allowed to play Ranji trophy. This allows Ranji teams to test their mettle against foreign competition while at the same time allows Sri Lanka cricket to plug in to the Indian system to harness it for success 

4. Employ a coach with proven credentials in the Indian ecosystem –

Rahul Dravid is ending his tenure after a very successful tenure as coach of the Indian team. He has well rounded experience and great temperament in all formats of the game. And importantly is well integrated with the Indian machinery of success. Either he or VVS Laxman, both of who have coached Indian under 19 teams grooming them to take on more responsibility, can potentially play an important role in Sri Lanka crickets revival. Given the current need for Sri Lanka to unearth skilled talent and need to groom them into winners such an approach could be truly beneficial.

5. Host significant cricket matches for Indian Ranji teams –

Sri Lanka offers very convenient locations for great cricket. From India flights to Colombo are shorter than some destinations within India itself. Make use of this geographical proximity to create cricket connectivity-get tourism benefits and get networked with the Indian domestic circuit.

6. Host IPL matches –

The high quality cricket viewing experience in Sri Lankan stadiums could be an instant hit for IPL fans. Hosting IPL matches in Sri Lanka could be another way to entice the eco system and getting fan and broadcaster and thereby team owner interest in Sri Lanka. 

7. The wealth creating ecosystem involves –

the corporates, the viewers, the cricket team, the boards and the broadcasters. Aligning broadcasting rights with BCCI broadcasters can create tremendous leverage and visibility for Sri Lanka cricket. 

What the BCCI has been able to do with cricket in India is to make cricket lucrative for team owners, aspiring cricketers and broadcasters. Cricketers feel secure about their career in the game and feel that even if they are not in the main Indian 11, they still have options to earn a good livelihood by pursuing their favourite sport. Team owners have seen their ROI increase year on year. Broadcasters know that interest in cricket in India continues to grow and that means burgeoning revenues and profits from the game. 

In the process they have managed to shape a formidable Indian team that’s highly skilled motivated and fit (global standards) to perform at their best. 

It’s up to Sri Lanka cricket to see how they can leverage the same ecosystem to benefit Sri Lanka cricket so that in time a robust system is in place that can churn out motivated skilled cricketers who will make Sri Lankans proud on the cricket field. 

Understanding that this ecosystem of corporate money, broadcaster interest, fan loyalty, and a robust and driven cricket team exposed to the best in the international circuit is the way to developing local cricket and taking the necessary measures to develop Sri Lankan cricket by integrating it into this ecosystem is critical. Let’s do what’s needed to rejuvenate the sport in Sri Lanka.

While some of these ideas are radical in that the current IPL rules may not permit an international team to participate in such a way, but given the very close relationship between the two countries I think such a proposal could be mooted at the highest levels and could gain serious consideration. Of course it needs to tick all the boxes as far as mutual benefits are concerned in both countries. But one feels confident that an outreach from Sri Lanka cricket in this matter would find a positive response. 

(The writer is an Indian businessman based in Sri Lanka and contributes regularly on topics of common interest to India and Sri Lanka. He can be reached at [email protected].)