Arun Singh Dhumal: ‘If there’s a window for a second IPL, we will definitely look at that’

Devendra Pandey: Was there a priority on behalf of the BCCI on how the market would react to the Girls’s Premier League (WPL)?

We had been by no means in two minds about it. We weren’t capable of begin earlier due to Covid. And given how our women have carried out during the last couple of years, be it the Commonwealth Video games or the Asia Cup, they’ve executed an outstanding job on the sector and it was the suitable time to begin with this league. I might not like to call another leagues, however now we have seen franchises go to different leagues, the place there’s nothing so to say, proper? We now have given them a possibility again dwelling for a greater funding, they usually have taken that.

Devendra Pandey: What’s the response to the WPL been like? You need to have met mother and father speaking about their daughters attempting cricket. Have you ever seen that change in notion?

With the form of bandwidth and attain it has given, we now have women coming from diversified backgrounds. We additionally get to listen to tales about how they labored to make it to the WPL and state groups. That’s an inspiration to all. Now that they’ve this platform to make it huge, it’s evident that they’re prepared. We had slots for women coming from affiliate nations and a few of them have executed very properly, together with from Thailand and Nepal — nations that haven’t executed very properly in males’s cricket however at the moment are doing properly within the ladies’s sport. It’s a possibility for them and for our women coming from the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh or another states, the place the infrastructure isn’t that nice.

In case now we have to see longevity for a cricketer, they may have to select. Both maintain enjoying each format, each sport for a number of years or relaxation for some matches and make an extended profession

Devendra Pandey: Do you suppose the gulf between overseas gamers and Indian gamers is simply too huge within the WPL, as we obtained to see this season?

It’s undoubtedly there, however that’s as a result of they’ve been in ladies’s cricket for therefore a few years. BCCI has taken up ladies’s cricket just a few years in the past and also you’ve seen the distinction. Now, with this event I believe you will note a whole lot of change going ahead, almost about their health, fielding, competitiveness, psychological toughness. You’ve seen that occur with the IPL additionally.

Males’s cricket took off and have become so aggressive. Now now we have such a fantastic bench power that our B workforce or C workforce can tackle the world. I believe, going ahead, the identical factor will occur with ladies’s cricket. Taking cricket as a profession possibility was tough for even males at one level of time. However given the cash that has come into this league, many alternatives at the moment are accessible to those women — be it assist employees, umpiring or power and conditioning coaches.

Pratyush Raj: Centres like Dharamshala and Guwahati have held matches. However are there any plans to host IPL matches in smaller centres like Ranchi or Cuttack?

Given the dimensions of our nation and the logistical challenges we face, it is vitally tough for the groups to journey as a lot. As it’s, they play a aggressive event. At some point they play, the subsequent they’re travelling after which the next day they need to play a match. Including extra venues makes it a logistical nightmare. It is sensible to extend the attain of the sport. Guwahati is within the japanese a part of India and it’s crucial to take the sport there and construct a fanbase. Dharamshala permits us to take the sport up north. However given the logistical challenges, you don’t have the form of airports that you simply want, or the form of lodge rooms required. Going ahead, to extend the attain of the sport, we will certainly be different choices.

Wherever you see the expansion of cricket, it’s primarily from South Asia. Wherever gamers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have gone, they’ve taken the sport to a distinct degree

Sandeep Dwivedi : How do you see the recognition of regional commentary? Bhojpuri appears to be the flavour of this season.

It’s the finest actuality present so to say. It’s India’s SaReGaMaPa and Dance India Dance. In all these programmes, uncooked expertise comes they usually excel. That platform affords them the chance to showcase their expertise and change into stars in a single day. In that sense, that is the platform. Why limit them to solely Hindi and English. Allow us to have these stars commentating in Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Tamil and Kannada. That is the largest cricket competition in your entire world. They’ve made it so fascinating since you relate to the sport. Individuals are so emotionally connected to cricket in India. It’s a ardour and faith for them. I’m into schooling and I’ve all the time believed that English would join you to the world, Hindi and vernacular languages would connect with the roots. We’re glad that that is showcasing our variety to the entire world.

Sandeep Dwivedi: Put your self within the footwear of the IPL house owners. They’ve paid cash and are inside their rights to get the perfect out of the gamers. Is it honest to ask the IPL house owners to handle the workload of high Indian gamers?

The issue in our nation is that whosoever makes cash, be it an organization or particular person, he’s seen with suspicion. Virat Kohli has been enjoying IPL for therefore a few years, he’s by no means been injured. Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami by no means obtained injured. Does it have something to do with the IPL? On the identical time, you may have Raj Angad Bawa getting injured. He’s performed IPL. Shreyas Iyer obtained injured however not due to the IPL. Simply because they make cash via IPL, we begin blaming IPL for something and every thing. Accidents are an integral a part of any sport. Our badminton stars are getting injured. They don’t play within the IPL. There are such a lot of stars who’re coming from abroad and enjoying within the IPL. They haven’t given an excuse that IPL is chargeable for their damage. So now we have to get out of this mindset. They should enhance their health ranges. Even then, for a medium tempo bowler, accidents are certain to occur at some stage in time. We now have seen stars who’ve change into so disciplined as a result of they know that they should work laborious and retain their health degree for any format. In case now we have to see longevity for a cricketer, they may have to select. Both maintain enjoying each format, each sport for a number of years or relaxation for some matches and make an extended profession. Jimmy Anderson is an instance for therefore many gamers. At this age, the form of bowling he’s doing and the quantity of wickets he has taken, it’s phenomenal.

Sandeep Dwivedi: Are you on the identical web page with the franchise about gamers not bowling too many overs and never exerting them throughout the WTC and the World Cup?

Undoubtedly, Nationwide Cricket Academy (NCA) is working very intently with all of the franchises. We now have already recognized the gamers who’ll be wanted for the World Cup. Accordingly, they’re chatting with all of the respective captains and franchise house owners. All of them have been sounded out about the truth that the World Cup is a prestigious event and since India is the host, we have to see their workload.

Mihir Vasavda: IPL groups are coming into different leagues. Doesn’t that devalue IPL and strengthen competitors?

I don’t suppose so. There isn’t a match to IPL per se. However in case somebody desires to take a position his cash someplace, we will’t information them. We may give him an possibility the place he can make more cash and make a greater funding, however nonetheless, if he thinks he desires to take a position elsewhere, it’s his/her selection. Who’re we to information him/her?

Anil Dias: Will IPL GC take up the difficulty of ticket pricing and police high-handedness with related authorities to make sure a clean expertise?

They might be attempting very laborious with the police officers to do this however that occurs with any huge occasion, say a music live performance too. Sadly, that’s the tradition. We will’t assist it. However they struggle their degree finest. We’ve instructed them that at occasions at some venues a fan or sport lover who has a real ticket couldn’t make it to the stadium however another person with some connections did. Sadly, it occurs and we try to kind it. However there are nonetheless a whole lot of gaps that we have to work on.

Venkata Krishna B: At a lot of the venues solely 30 per cent of the stadium capability is offered to the general public and almost 50 per cent goes to BCCI and sponsors. Will the IPL not less than open 50 per cent of the tickets to the followers?

That is information to me that fifty per cent goes to BCCI. It’s nearly 5 per cent and that’s due to our dedication to the sponsors. The remainder of that’s with the franchises and state associations solely. I don’t know the place you bought this determine from. From what I do know, about 70-75 per cent goes to gross sales. The remainder is the dedication to the sponsors, BCCI, and a few state associations. Gate cash is all for the franchises, so why would they not need to promote these tickets?

Sandeep Dwivedi: When Indian franchise house owners put money into overseas leagues, do you see this as Indian cricket cash being drained into different nations or do you see it as a giant brother serving to the event of the sport worldwide?

From the times we began watching cricket, Zimbabwe was once a fantastic workforce and sadly that’s not the case now and it’s restricted to a few, 4, 5 groups. In case cricket has to flourish in different nations throughout the globe they usually haven’t any different possibility however to go for the leagues and make cash out of it after which put the cash again into home cricket, so be it. If India helps that, then so be it. Down the road if it helps five-six groups which can be arising, then it’s for the betterment of cricket. If the Indian franchise house owners are serving to with that, then I’m pleased with that.

Sandeep Dwivedi: If South Africa turns into a robust workforce, it’s the betterment of world cricket?

Sure, or for that matter West Indies. What a fantastic workforce it was once at one time limit. If the Caribbean league helps them produce higher cricketers domestically and internationally, I can be very pleased with that.

Sandeep Dwivedi: If our gamers go there, it might enhance them?

For that we’re making their gamers come right here and play. That may assist them get higher.

Devendra Pandey: Is there a chance for 2 IPLs in a yr?

We are going to see. Given the format of the IPL that now we have, it isn’t doable to have one other version in the identical yr. We now have seen the bilateral calendar for the upcoming 4 years and the ICC occasions. In order that might not be doable. But when there’s any window of alternative accessible for another format or brief event, we’re undoubtedly that.

Shashank Nair: Will IPL go the soccer means within the coming years and have an extended season?

It’s the followers who will determine this. It’s not as much as the respective cricket boards or the ICC. If followers need just one explicit format to be performed, say T20 and there are not any takers for ODI or Check cricket, it should ultimately come to that. However I believe there’s nonetheless loads of curiosity in India, England, Australia, South Africa for Check cricket. The identical goes for ODIs. The followers will determine as a result of, in the end, the broadcasters cash has to return from followers. Going ahead, which may occur, however as of now, I see a whole lot of curiosity for Check cricket and ODIs. How we handle our bilateral rights and the way different nations handle their bilateral rights can be selected that depend.

Sandeep Dwivedi: How do you see cricket within the US? And what about cricket within the Olympics?

My private opinion is that T10 would make extra sense given the form of infrastructure this type of event would require. In some nations in Europe, it’s tough to create so many cricket stadiums as a result of you could have pure grass and preserve that. Olympics would occur in these nations possibly 20-30 years down the road. So it is vitally tough for a European nation that has no real interest in cricket to create and maintain cricket infrastructure. T10 will be one format that needs to be seen.

Sandeep Dwivedi: A few of our gamers have moved to the US. Unmukt (Chand) is one. Might there be an exodus of gamers who suppose their profession is over or are on the verge of retirement or don’t have a fantastic likelihood in IPL?

Wherever you see the expansion of cricket, it’s primarily from South Asia. Wherever gamers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have gone, they’ve taken the sport to a distinct degree, together with within the Center East. Similar goes for the US. Making it into Delhi or Mumbai workforce is pretty much as good as making it into Australia, proper? With 100 crore individuals… If they’re getting a possibility someplace, then why not? If we’re producing engineers and they’re doing a very good job for NASA, so be it. It’s serving to the scientific world across the globe. If BCCI is producing gamers and it’s serving to international cricket to prosper, we needs to be pleased.

Sandeep Dwivedi: Are you positive in regards to the anti-corruption norms being put in place?

There was a current report by Sports activities Radar with regard to this information. Not one of the India or IPL video games have been discovered concerned in any form of matchfixing.

Sandeep Dwivedi: That’s as a result of they take a look at the betting patterns of the authorised betting web sites. In India, the larger drawback offers with the unlawful networks. How tough is that to regulate?

Betting isn’t authorized in India however sadly, it’s nonetheless taking place. So whether or not it needs to be legalised or not — the federal government has to take a name on that. So far as match-fixing is worried, now we have to have stringent legal guidelines and punishments for that. I can assure that none of our gamers are compromised. But when betting is going on exterior the nation, then I can not assist it. I’ve to make sure that none of our boys are concerned in fixing. We maintain that.

Mihir Vasavda: Are you comfy with the variety of betting corporations which can be promoting in a surrogate method throughout the IPL moreover the rise of fantasy gaming apps and the way in which gamers are endorsing them?

So far as fantasy leagues are involved, they’ve confronted the check of the judiciary. And the federal government can be engaged on this. They’ve made a working group to find out whether or not it’s a sport of ability or a sport of likelihood. We’re no one to regulate all this stuff. No matter needs to be executed within the authorized framework, we simply observe that. If someone is promoting in a surrogate method, that occurs for wine, whiskey, liquor manufacturers, and cigarettes too, we will’t actually assist that. In case the identical is going on with betting corporations, that’s not my topic. If some legislation is made to limit that, we’ll adjust to that. We aren’t an implementing company. We simply go by what the federal government tells us.