5 interesting gestures by players at IPL 9 and what they signified
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:
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!