IPL 2020: The annual festival of cricket arrives in UAE

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Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. (AFP)

Dubai - The tournament also made us love several international stars, who we were used to seeing in the opposition teams before this event

By Siddhant Vashistha and Nathan Gomes

Published: Wed 2 Sep 2020, 5:55 PM

Last updated: Wed 2 Sep 2020, 8:03 PM

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) started in 2008, the Rajasthan Royals were the weakest team with little or no big stars from the cricketing world.

It was in 2008 when we first saw Rajasthan Royals live in the S.M.S. Stadium, Jaipur. Playing against the Kings XI Punjab, the team were on a losing streak, but they won that game and went on to win the title against all odds.
From then on, the IPL became an annual festival of cricket. The league became a ritual where being glued to the TV set every night at 8 (IST) was the norm.
The tournament also made us love several international stars, who we were used to seeing in the opposition teams before this event.

"IPL will bring joy to millions back in India."

Ahead of the #Dream11IPL, @BhuviOfficial speaks to @ameyatilak about @SunRisers' bowling unit, "amazing" @rashidkhan_19 and more.

Full video ???? https://t.co/N3FFm6VPy2 pic.twitter.com/QmqQSRb8Xw
- IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 1, 2020

The IPL provided a complete package with the thrill, joy, sorrow and commotion.
For cricket fans, even two months of daily cricket wasn't enough and when the tournament would finally end, there used be a void in our lives!

Now, it's an exciting time to be here in Dubai. The cricket fever is running high among our friends in town. Each one of us has already picked up our favourite teams. As always, the Chennai Super Kings were one of the big favourites. But now, it is not going to be easy for them as their key player Suresh Raina has pulled out of the tournament.

It doesn't really matter who wins, though. After all, it's all about keeping the sporting spirit high and giving fans a time to remember. That's what T20 cricket is known to do, isn't it?