The ongoing Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20), that supposedly offers the highest prize money in this format, has recorded very low TRPs — a meagre 1.45. DNA brings you reactions of cricket buffs in Pune.
There is far too much focus on quantity than quality
I am getting an overdose of cricket nowadays. I don’t know why the organisers are coming up with such events when there are already more than enough international tournaments being played.
Even the Indian Premier League (IPL) has started losing its popularity and the same is happening with the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT). People are getting bored of the game because of this extra dose of cricket.
I don’t think the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will look into this matter seriously, as they just want to earn money and nothing else. No one is bothered about the quality of cricket.
Even the players play to the gallery rather than for the country.
Kishor Karanjkar, IT professional
Players today have become money-minded
I am a diehard cricket fan and used to enjoy every single match that India played. But, in the last couple of years, I have been losing interest in the game. I feel that our players have become more money-minded and give more importance to clubs rather than playing for the country.
For instance, during the IPL last year, one of our senior players played most of the matches and when his team was knocked out of the tournament, he directly went to England for treatment and missed the international series. Such things shouldn’t be entertained by the BCCI.
As if IPL was not enough, they have now come up with the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT), in which I am least interested. I don’t even know which teams are playing in it. I feel this is just another drama where money matters the most.
Girish Gogate, businessman
Poor marketing has cost the organisers heavy
I feel the organisers of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT) failed to market it well. The tournament was not advertised properly as compared to the Indian Premier League (IPL); therefore many people don’t know where exactly this tournament is being played. A couple of my friends haven’t even heard of the tournament.
Secondly, the tournament is low on glamour quotient. Even Sachin Tendulkar is not playing for Mumbai Indians. This is one of the reasons I lost interest in this tournament. Another reason is that IPL matches were broadcast live on Set Max channel that is included in the package offered by channel operators, but to watch CLT, one has to subscribe to Star Cricket and those who are not much of cricket buffs didn’t take the package.
Amol Sharvage, IT professional
Champions League Twenty20 provides unorthodox cricket
I don’t know about others, but I like to watch cricket in any format. Twenty20 matches are very entertaining and provide hard-hitting and unorthodox form of cricket, which is quite amusing. The match gets over in a few hours and it’s like watching a movie.
As far as the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT) is concerned, I feel there is some quality cricket. It’s not like that only Indian Premier League (IPL) teams are dominating the game or vice-versa. The teams are equal and thus every match is a thriller.
Mumbai Indians’ last ball win is a classic example of this. I enjoy every part of the tournament and will watch the game throughout.
Niranjan Katke, software engineer
I have lost interest after the team’s poor show in England
I am a keen follower of the game, but I am not watching the ongoing CLT. There are several reasons, but the main reason is the team’s poor show in the recently-concluded England tour. I have lost interest after the team’s pathetic show in England.
Another reason is that eight teams are playing in the tournament, including four from the IPL and four from other countries. There are so many players I do not even know. So, I am waiting for the England series to start.
Nitin Gautam, IT professional
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