This may sound a too strong a statement, but the fact is that today I hate IPL, I just do. I have grown up watching Sachin and Kumble play. I love these cricketers, I idolize them and I just love watching them play. Also for some inexplicable resaon, I have never liked the Sri Lankan team, I never support them. Agree Sanath Jayasuriya is a fine cricketer, so was Arjuna Ranatunga and Arvinda de Silva, but I simply dont like these guys. I respect them as players, but I love to see them fail. I have always cheered a Sanath Jayasuriya dismissal, regardless of the opposition.

But today during the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match I started hating IPL. Being a die hard Sachin fan, I was supporting Mumbai. True Bangalore has Dravid and Kumble, also my heroes, but Sachin is Sachin. Batting first Mumbai was in a bad shape, Bravo and Jayasuriya were batting and a lot rested on Jayasuriya. In the 11th over Kumble comes on to bowl, with Jayasuriya on strike, and I found myself rooting for Jayasuriya against Kumble, I never thought that this would happen. Deep down I knew this was all wrong, cheering Jayasuriya against Kumble, had someone said this to to me a few years ago I would have told that person to f*** off. 

IPL has done something inherently wrong, it pits ones heroes against one another. Whom do you cheer for, Sachin or Kumble? I am sure this is a tough call for a lot of people of my generation. How do you support Jayasuriya against Kumble? How do you cheer Hayden when he is playing Harbhajan Singh? How do you see Flintoff and Hayden bat together?

IPL is trying to break down loyalties developed over a period of years, rivalries formed and enjoyed by generations of cricket fans. This is simply wrong. How do you back to international cricket and start hating the opposition team? I am sure I cant enjoy a Sanath Jayasuriya dismissal any more. I am also sure that Kumble getting hit for a four will not hurt that much. I do not want this to happen, and thats why I hate IPL, I really do!

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