It has always been the IPL about big hits, big moments, but this season, there is something other than that that is quietly gaining prominence, and that is control off the field. The Board of Control of Cricket in India is now re-focusing on the behaviour of the teams and not only on the performance of the teams.
The recent events in which the team of Royals in Rajasthan became involved have served as one of the catalysts. The board now is considering the bigger picture whether teams are adhering to the structure and discipline that would be expected in a tournament of this size.
Secretary Devajit Saikia has alluded to the fact that the existing system might not be stringent enough. It is not simply to punish the mistakes once they occur but to make sure that the teams think twice before crossing the line. That is a slight, yet significant change – that of reacting to prevention.
Of interest in this situation is that the attention is no longer centred on players. Now the staff of the team, the management and the general environment are also involved in the discussion. Playing in a league where all franchises are brand-like, even minor lapses will cause larger perception problems.
The cases of such individuals as Riyan Parag have contributed to the focus, although the message that the board conveys is not about people. It is all about establishing a standard among all teams, making sure that the element of professionalism is not violated throughout the tournament.
There have already been calls to close the chapter and progress in the group with influences such as Kumar Sangakkara taking the lead on the matter of stability within the group. However, the overall message of the BCCI is that even in the future, the same incidents will not be treated as lightly.
This may mark the start of a more strictly controlled IPL, where discipline is as given priority as performance. Since it is a league, which plays Indian cricket on a worldwide scale, how the teams conduct themselves off the field is now as important as what happens on the field.
