Opening act by the old hands

In a way,its quite apt that the headline act at the opening ceremony for the Indian Premier Leagues third season is a singer whose biggest hit single was released way back in 1984.

In a way,its quite apt that the headline act at the opening ceremony for the Indian Premier Leagues third season is a singer whose biggest hit single was released way back in 1984. For,much like Lionel Ritchie whose single Hello was an anthem for an entire generation through the 80s and 90s the IPL will provide a platform for now-retired legends of the game.

While it was former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne who led an underestimated Rajasthan Royals to the title in the first edition,it was Adam Gilchrists turn to turn around the fortunes of the Deccan Chargers last year.

Once the last of the laser shows are complete on Friday evening,and the focus shifts to cricket (the primary attraction of the night) the two men who will lead their respective teams out on to the field will be Gilchrist and Sourav Ganguly a pair who epitomise the evergreen theme as Deccan Chargers (who also boast of the likes of Andrew Symonds and Chaminda Vaas) take on the Knight Riders in the opening match of the tournament.

Already all roads leading up to Navi Mumbai are adorned with huge hoardings and posters depicting the stars of the much-awaited event,back in India after a years gap. But the DY Patil stadium itself has been converted into the home venue for the Deccan Chargers,who will also host a few games in Cuttack and Nagpur. And as the Knight Riders who finished rock bottom last year in South Africa went through their practice routines on Wednesday evening,a bunch of young girls from one of the adjoining colleges seemed to be caught up with the whole theme. Despite the presence of present-day stars like Ishant Sharma and Ashoke Dinda,it was Ganguly who received all the attention,with shrill screams of Ganguly,Ganguly echoing throughout the stadium.

Half the teams are led by players no longer involved with international cricket Anil Kumble in addition to the three mentioned above while near-forgotten names like former Australian batsman Damien Martyn are also set to make their presence felt. Budding stars,both local and foreign,will also get to rub shoulders with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid,neither of whom is part of the Indian T20 team.

Enough motivation

When asked about how he keeps himself motivated to play in the IPL every year,Gilchrist simply insists that the distance away from the game is motivation enough. Once you retire and you get such a grand opportunity to play at this level again,we almost turn into 12-year-olds and get all excited to play, he said.

Another factor that kept interest alive during the first two editions of the IPL was the unpredictability that is always associated with the T20 game. After finishing bottom the first time around,Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers ended up being finalists in South Africa. Gilchrist believes there are no favourites going into the tournament,and is especially wary of the Knight Riders,who finished last in Season II. I know what it feels like to be in that position. We were there last year, he says.

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And while the hype and the hoopla of the IPL is set to be kicked off by an array of enduring hits,the next 45 days will reveal whether this edition too ends on the same evergreen note.

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