Sixers and fixers, IPL 2016

The summer of 2008 saw the unveiling of a ritzy sports league that would go on to revolutionise Indian cricket; a multi-team cricket carnival that brought together the best cricketers from around the world. At the time of its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was an unprecedented show of power and strength; a parallel universe symbolised by extravagant amounts of money and spurious glamour. For cricket fans, it was an intoxicating amalgamation of Bollywood glitz, entertainment, cheerleaders, swank team owners, and of course, a little bit of cricket. It thrilled and shamed, and then thrilled again. IPL, now in its ninth season, is still a bewildering paradox; one that is viewed with admiration by some, with consternation by others.

Desh Gaurav Sekhri's debut book, Not Out! The Incredible Story of the Indian Premier League, delves into the intriguing story of Indian cricket's wild child. Sekhri, a Delhi-based sports attorney, carefully examines the complexities of the IPL business model and highlights the countless controversies that the league has been plagued by throughout its tumultuous existence.

There is little doubt that IPL 2016 has stormed the Indian psyche unlike anything that we've seen before. It has blended beautifully with the Indian cricket fan, who has merrily devoured this charming infusion of sport and entertainment. But IPL's share of troubles has meant that it has frittered away the chance to establish itself as a robust global brand.

Sekhri not only raises pertinent questions but also provides some captivating answers. In the book's first chapter, "The Great Indian Roadshow: The IPL Today", Sekhri brilliantly elucidates how the league has fizzled out after the runaway success it enjoyed in its first few years. More worryingly, he shows how the league has stagnated in the last couple of seasons. "The parity between teams is nonexistent, the veracity of results is constantly questioned, the quality of play is solid but nowhere close to exceptional, barring some rare occasions... and the watching of live IPL matches is less of a novelty now than it was when the league first started," he writes.Read More.