Sportzpower Viewpoint

THE BIG M&A NEWS FROM THE INDIAN MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT ecosystem in the week of 18-22 September was that The Walt Disney Company has held preliminary talks with potential buyers for its India streaming and television business, including with Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE suspension of the Indian Premier League, with the BCCI having had time to introspect, board president Sourav Ganguly has admitted that "travelling between cities could have caused the breach in the IPL's biosecure bubble".  

ENTITLEMENT - the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Two Indian sporting legends - the country's boxing queen MC Mary Kom and celebrated wrestler Shushil Kumar - have for a while now been united by that very common failing in Indian sport: a reluctance to allow younger talents to blossom.

THE LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA got into a spot of bother a few weeks ago. Not of its own making, but due to "misunderstanding" by the media. All that the Commission did was to submit a report following a directive from the Supreme Court mandating it to study the possibility of legalising betting in the country.

SPORT HAS THE POWER to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

THE TWO STANDOUT performances of the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), while immensely enjoyable by all standards, is more important because it defines the future of international cricket, and the multiple leagues that run in the T20 format. The profile of these two players, Shane Watson (37 years) and Rashid Khan (19 years), who led their teams to success, will come into focus each time a game of cricket is played.

HOW MUCH IS THE right price for owning cricket in India? Last week's e-auction for India cricket media rights throws in some pointers. With Star India outbatting its two opponents, Sony Pictures Networks India and Reliance Jio, with an offer of Rs 6,138 crores, the maths show a per match cost of around Rs 60 crore over the next five years.

Waning fortunes, rising demand and frantic calculations for sale and purchase. IPL players auction is as much about the monies as about the game.

IN A COUNTRY where sports is still in its infancy, with miles to run before reaching a decent industry size, most developments during a calendar year can be termed as ‘defining’, or ‘critical’ or ‘landmark’ moments. Each announcement, win, deal, debacle can have a greater impact on the future of the industry than it would have had in a developed market.

THERE ARE STORIES and stories about the Indian Premier League (IPL). Everyone associated with it has a story. And they are true stories. Even the best fiction writer could not have imagined the multiple twists and turns that has run through a tumultuous decade of cricket’s largest league.