Has the Champions League progressed since 2009?

Two years ago, the Champions League Twenty20 launched with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Africa's Cape Cobras. Walking into the Chinnaswamy Stadium an hour before that game, you were greeted by a packed and partying crowd. A nifty laser show followed by an on-field opening ceremony headlined by Shaggy left the fans pumped for the match.

This time, though, walking in an hour early you were greeted by rows of empty seats. There was the incongruous sight of rapper Jay Sean belting out his hits from a stage near the North Stand when the actual stars, the players of the two teams, went through their fielding drills and warm-up sessions in the middle. Some of the cheerleaders were gyrating in front of barely populated stands. Just outside the stadium, you met touts trying to dispose of complimentary tickets for below the marked price.

Was this all that could be mustered despite arguably Bollywood's biggest name, Shah Rukh Khan, spearheading a massive marketing campaign, despite the full-page newspapers ads pitting "Bengaluru v the world"?

Still, there were mitigating factors. The Bangalore turn-out in 2009 was because the IPL got rolling at the Chinnaswamy in 2008 with a crowd-pleasing opening ceremony and Brendon McCullum's barely believable 158 not out. After that audiences tapered at matches across venues. Also, during this year's opening match, the crowd slowly built-up through the evening, and by the start of the chase at least 60% of the stadium was occupied, a very decent turn-out by CLT20 standards.

Many turned up though they were barely aware of the opposition. One twenty-something admitted he couldn't name anyone from the Warriors squad, while his friend didn't even know any of the Royal Challengers' players. "I don't follow much cricket," she said, though she seemed excited about going to the game with a gang of her friends. Whether this is good for the tournament or not is a conundrum for the organisers.

Those who came were determined to have a good time. Face-painters did brisk business outside the stadium, plenty of people turned up in the distinctive red-and-gold jerseys, there were loads of Royal Challengers' flags being waved and even before the game began, chants of "RCB, RCB" rang round the stadium.

The bugle, that old favourite, continued to bring loud cheers even when trumpeted at the oddest of times, such as after Chris Gayle harmlessly left the first ball of the match. A newer gimmick, fireworks after every wicket or six, also entertained initially - someone seemed to have hit the mute button at the Chinnaswamy when local boy Mayank Agarwal was dismissed for a duck in the first over, but the noise was back as the crowd took in the pyrotechnic display to mark the dismissal. By the time the chase began, the Mexican wave made its appearance as the fans rejoiced the big-hitting cameos from several of the home side's stars.

The opening match had several things to please the cricket fan. The boundary ropes were not pulled in to allow cheap sixes, a common practice during the IPL. It might have been a different result if the organisers had given in to the temptation to shorten the boundary. Would Mohammad Kaif have got to the ball quicker from long-on on the final delivery, which could have resulted in a game-tying run-out? Nine of the wickets in the match were catches in the deep - how many would have sailed over for six? Another plus is that there are only five sponsor logos on the outfield, about half the IPL norm.

The tournament has evolved in the two years since it began, but Friday's game had some uncanny resemblances to the 2009 season-starter. Even then the Royal Challengers thought they had put enough runs on the board against a South African franchise. Even then it came down to more than a run-a-ball in the final over of the chase. Even then the fancied Royal Challengers lost, and the celebratory atmosphere enveloping the stadium for much of the match vanished.