Is the IPL sport?

It has been an astonishing success, but an evening spent at an IPL game reveals a grand spectacle desperately in search of a point, writes Barney Ronay in the Guardian.

Having sat through (and enjoyed) back-to-back Delhi Daredevils fixtures, later described separately in the Indian press as "pulsating" and "mighty", I would identify two problems. First the standard of cricket is mixed: spectacularly skilful moments, combined with some mediocre bowling and often appalling fielding. Secondly it simply doesn't matter who wins. As a sporting contest these matches have no real content. The franchises are still hotchpotches of familiar faces, (most of whom will rotate in the next two years). The allegiance in the stands is only replica shirt-deep, and the IPL itself still a vehicle mainly for personal achievement.