New format, new rivalries

The Indian Premier League is a novel concept for cricket fans used to nation v nation contests for it throws up all sorts of possibilities including watching Sachin Tendulakr take on Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath bowling to Ricky Ponting. Here are a few pointers that captains, coaches and fans may want to keep in mind before the start of the tournament.

	Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath will face each other off in the IPL © Getty Images

Individual match-ups: Cricket fans spend hours and hours discussing how Viv Richards would have coped against the West Indian pace attack of the '70s or how Shane Warne would have fared against the might of the modern Australian batting line-up. The IPL will offer a glimpse of these mini-battles with Glenn McGrath bowling to Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar facing up to Anil Kumble. The Twenty20 format may not provide a lengthy battle but it will offer a tiny window into strategies, intensity and banter.

"There is no friendship on the field. "[Mahendra Singh] Dhoni is a comrade in the dressing room, but when our teams play each other, we will be rivals playing for pride and triumph. We can joke outside the field but when we are on the field, we will be competitors. Yes, the spectators can expect a Yuvraj versus Dhoni challenge."," said Yuvraj Singh when asked about his possible face-off with Dhoni in the opening game. Muttiah Muralitharan has echoed similar sentiments: "I will be bowling at Tendulkar, Adam Gilchrist, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara. They all know me well, particularly Kumar, still it will be a challenge to bowl at them."

Apart from opponents, there is also a chance to see how great players will perform alongside each other - Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya could walk out to open the batting and Dhoni could keep to Murali. It offers the fans a chance to see great players performing in tandem.

With each team being allowed only four overseas players per game, it will be interesting to see how the franchises utilise them. Some players will leave mid-way while others will join in but the biggest challenge may relate to benching the big stars - some of whom would not be too used to the axe in their international careers.

"We're going to be upfront and transparent," said Martin Crowe, the chief cricket officer of the Bangalore side. "It's a marathon 44-day tournament so the opportunity will come to all players. It's just a matter of being patient and growing as a unit."

No player, though, likes to be told he's benched, irrespective of the amount of money he's getting. "It's tough to break the bad news," said Crowe, "but they're also professional enough to understand that it's in the best interests of the team."

Crowe has compared the league to a marathon and not a sprint - 14 games for each team before the play-offs. It would require some shrewd captains to navigate through seven home games and seven more away. Ground sizes will obviously be a big factor - sending big hitters early may be more feasible in Mohali than Eden Gardens, as will dewy outfields and humidity levels.

Pitch conditions may stay the same but captains from the eight franchises would have plenty on their plate. Will Sourav Ganguly lead with the same brashness that he led India? Will Yuvraj turn into a surprise package? Will Warne show what Australia missed? It's a fascinating sub-plot that may provide several twists and turns during the course of the tournament.

Will the familiar complaint regarding international stars not pushing themselves when they play in domestic competitions resurface? Given the salaries they're being paid one would expect them to give it their all but how fiercely will Matthew Hayden go after Warne or how intent will Herschelle Gibbs be to brutalise Shaun Pollock. Will Chaminda Vaas bowl the final over with the same passion with which he does for Sri Lanka? Can the cricketers replicate the eagerness with which they approach a World Cup? Also, with some international series coming up, how eager will the players be to avoid injuries?

The reverse scenario is a bigger possibility: players pushing themselves harder for their franchises than their countries. New Zealand, Australia and West Indies are set to be involved in international series soon after and it would be tough on all the sides if big players are injured at the IPL. In the long-term, such a situation provides a recipe for disaster - one which could see Test and ODI cricket being devalued in comparison to the IPL.