Changing equations

People write about it, debate endlessly and purists even scoff at it. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) on, the one thing that strikes you repeatedly is how cricket has changed.u00a0u00a0

Once upon a time in cricket...

The scoreboard did not say 'humongous' and 'deft' when a batsman hit a shot but simply showed the score.
Spectators only knew about a six, not a fix in cricket.

Cricket administrators (example Lalit Modi) were not pursued by investigating agencies.

Cricketers made a little money (Rs 200) by advertising for hair creams and flattened the hair on their heads earning the tag of the Brylcream Boys and did not make the millions they do now.

Cricket matches were watched by families who lugged picnic lunches to the Wankhede Stadium and security did not confiscate those lunch baskets because there might be an explosive inside.

Earlier, commentators were not former cricketers who now talk as if they never put a wrong foot forward in their lives as players

Businessmen thought about buying companies not cricket teams. Similarly, actors thought about acting not buying teams.u00a0

Industrialist's wives did not give the cricket teams their husbands bought, fielding practice.

Lata Mangeshkar held a concert post the 1983 World Cup win so that cricketers could get cash rewards.

Today, the Board gives them Rs 1 crore each and state governments fall over each other to give them more.
Commentators were commentators, not former cricketers who now talk as if they never put a wrong foot forward in their lives as players.

You made bets for chocolates or dinner over cricket, not mind-boggling sums of money controlled by gangs.
Players did not dance in reality dance programs on television.

Wannabes coveting two minutes of fame did not promise to strip nude in dressing rooms as incentives with political parties screaming this is not Indian culture.

Cricketers did not know what shots like the 'Dilscoop' were.

Cricket stadiums did not become no-fly zones and helicopter warships or anti-aircraft tanks were not spotted outside cricket stadiums.

Only planes took the aerial route, not cricketers.

You read columns full of tripe like this, then tore them out and tucked them under your arm to put under your backside when you sat on cement benches that got hot while you watched matches at the Wankhede.