The 2016 Indian Premier League is drawing into its final phase, and this season’s extravaganza has been no less in any way than previous editions. It has been more than a month since the cricketing entertainment of the IPL has entered our homes, and only a few lucky ones have anything of our nails remaining.
One feature that T20 cricket’s crowds have invited, within which the IPL has had a major role to play, is to make cricketers more of showmen. Today’s cricketers entertain not only by flashing their bat, or by uprooting the stumps, or by grabbing a great diving catch – they also interact with crowds, sending ‘messages’ by indicative gestures.
Once thought to be unthinkably outside the realms of the calm reserve of the ‘gentleman’s game’, the game today does not find it pertinent to come down hard on players who convey something through a gesture. As long as players stick to certain limits, they can use the cricket field to convey strong messages through words and deeds.
Who can forget Darren Sammy’s soul-stirring speech against his country’s administrators after the World T20 triumph, or the sight of Kieron Pollard turning up with his mouth taped in the IPL?
Some interesting signals from players seen in the course of this year’s IPL:
#1 Krunal Pandya announces his arrival
Krunal Pandya has been one of the biggest finds of this year’s IPL. It was his younger brother Hardik who was the first to break into the limelight, but it has been Krunal’s batting this season that has captured the public imagination. His greatest innings was his 37-ball 86 against Delhi Daredevils, a knock during which he went berserk.
It is not every day that Martin Guptill finds himself overshadowed by his partner, but such was the form Krunal was in. The all-rounder celebrated his half-century, his first in the IPL, by jumping in the air and gesturing towards the dugout. He pointed towards his biceps, a gesture he later said was meant for his brother Hardik.
He was also seen taking a stance resembling that of Sachin Tendulkar in the middle of the pitch to mark the occasion.
A challenge thrown to a brother, and a tribute to the greatest Indian batsmen ever – the older Pandya brother is as expressive as the younger!.
#2 Chris Gayle announces arrival of baby girl
It has been an unusual IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Chris Gayle. In his first five matches of the season, he could not get into double digit scores. He spent some time out of the playing XI, being replaced by Travis Head. His return to form, with 49 and 73 in the two most recent matches, has coincided with RCB’s resurgence to the top of the table.
On Wednesday, Gayle reached his first half-century of the season, and dedicated his celebration to his recently born first daughter, significantly called ‘Blush’. Like Bebeto had immortalised the ‘cradle’ celebration while on duty for Brazil, Gayle was seen cradling his bat in his huge arms – a tender moment in the middle of a spell of ferocious shots being hit in every direction.
#3 Bravo and Holder’s ‘Champion’ camaraderie
Over all the seasons of the IPL, one of the most interesting things to note has been the rapport between international teammates while representing different franchise teams. Kings XI Punjab’s Kyle Abbott was seen apologising to AB de Villiers after having got his wicket – the two of them had dinner the night before, as the bowler explained later.
During Thursday’s one-sided match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Lions, there was a funny encounter between two West Indies teammates. Jason Holder came out to bat with his team in trouble and needing a big contribution from him, only to face one of the best death overs bowlers, Dwayne Bravo.
Holder managed to dispatch Bravo for a six and a four, but perished on a third attempt, holing out to Aaron Finch at mid-off. Bravo broke out into the famous ‘Champion’ dance right in front of the batsman, the jig which the entire Windies team had made famous during the World T20, and has since been the flavour of the season.
Holder had a wry smile on his face as he light-heartedly pushed Bravo out of the way, producing smiles all around. It was a bad moment in the game for KKR, but Holder showed he can rise above the moment in reciprocating to the spirit of the ‘champion’ send-off.
#4 Gambhir’s anger spills out
While most of the gestures at IPL are purposeful, meant to communicate a specific message, not all gestures are of sweetness and light. Gautam Gambhir, the KKR skipper, has been seen twice losing his cool this season.
He was spotted angrily kicking a chair in the dugout in the middle of his team’s match against RCB. He was subsequently fined 15% of his match fees, but that was not to be the last time Gambhir would be seen angrily gesticulating.
During the return leg against RCB, Gambhir again lost his temper, and was seen throwing the ball with unnecessary force towards an end to which Virat Kohli was running. The umpires spotted the 19th over incident and called him. Gambhir angrily approached the umpire, waving his hands wildly, clearly angry with something. Kohli, who was at the crease, smiled on.
Is there something about facing RCB that makes Gambhir resort to more than his usual gestures?
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#5 Kohli’s superhuman form makes him forget pain
Virat Kohli is playing like a man possessed lately. Bowlers and fielders cannot do a thing to stop him, and neither can physical pain. As could be seen in the rain-curtailed RCB vs KXIP match, when he became the only cricketer to score a century in a 15-over match, Kohli can conquer pain and then point to it and laugh.
Kohli was scripting history with his 4th ton of the season, and he was doing it with 7-8 stitches on the webbing of his left hand.
He had picked up a ghastly injury while fielding against KKR in the previous match, but had said that he did not care about the number of stitches he needed as long as his team won. He showed on Wednesday that he is true to his words, facing bowlers with his left hand in the firing line, and yet hitting shots with abandon.
As he reached his century, he pointed with his right hand to his left glove, under which lay pain which would have sidelined any other player. The RCB captain, however, could be of a new bionic breed of batsmen.
