Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody
has said that the IPL, now in its seventh season, has reached a plateau
in its growth as a product, which, he feels, will continue to be
robust. Moody was referring to the tournament's resilience despite all
the negative publicity and scandals over the years, most damagingly the
corruption scandal of 2013 and the attendant court cases that threatened
its future.
"I think there's been a number of things over the last few years that
have potentially damaged the IPL as a product, but because it is a very
good product and it is robust, it has been resilient to those external
influences," Moody told ESPNcricinfo. "And I think what we're seeing is a
quality product plateau and a show that it is here to stay. It is a
terrific idea that was brought together from the day of its inception
and I think it will only, if anything, have an upward curve going
forward."
The IPL began in 2008 with eight teams and it expanded to ten for the
2011 season. Over seven seasons, three teams, including Kochi Tuskers
Kerala, Deccan Chargers and Pune Warriors have been dissolved due to
ownership and financial issues. In addition, the future of Kings XI
Punjab, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals has also been
threatened, the last two over the corruption scandal.
Moody said the initial frenzy over the IPL was understandable, with
sponsors looking for maximum mileage and fans thronging stadiums with
the launch of a new concept. Moody gave credit to the ICC and the IPL
for doing their bit to ensure the tournament is clean and that the
players are honest.
"At the end of the day you hope that anything you are involved in is
policed well, whether it is the IPL, whether it is anything you do from
day to day in any walk of life," Moody said. "And I think the IPL and
the ICC are doing their very best, in cricket in general, not just in
the IPL, to police and make it as even a playing field as possible. I
think education is very important in that regard, and the IPL and ICC
are doing a very good job."
Sunrisers Hyderabad had entered the IPL in 2013 following the
dissolution of the previous Hyderabad-based franchise Deccan Chargers.
Moody was named Sunrisers coach in December 2012 when the team was launched. He said the corruption scandal had not affected his side.
"Certainly with my exposure at Sunrisers Hyderabad over the last couple
of years, it has had no influence whatsoever. We have been very focused
on forming a unit and an environment that is a formidable one and an
enjoyable one. We basically have a mantra of wanting to develop as
players day in and day out. And what happens outside is not relevant to
what we are as a group."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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